lionel zw transformer question

[harleyman75]

First let me say hello to everyone, new to this site---question has to do with the AU and DU terminals. When plugged in and AU lever is activated, not only do i get voltage across AU but also DU. Not the same amount but about 1/2. The same goes for when I use the DU lever. The transformer has never been worked on or altered in any way--I am a retired electrican, so I am sure that no internal wiring is loose or broken etc.---any ideas   Greg

[lionelsoni]

Are you using a high-impedance (probably digital) voltmeter?

When a control is at the lowest setting, the output that it controls is completely disconnected from the transformer.  Unless there is a little conductance (like a traditional analog voltmeter) connected to that output, capacitive coupling from another circuit can cause a significant voltage to appear at the disconnected output.

If you don't have an analog voltmeter handy just put a small load, like a single incandescent lamp on the circuit you're measuring.  

[lionelsoni]

It's happened again:  two threads on the same topic.  The original poster, who has just joined the forum, notices that his post didn't show up and doesn't realize that it won't until he is vetted, so he posts again.  When he is vetted, both posts show up at once.  Then members start replying to both, creating a confusing trail of responses.

I replied yesterday to the earlier original post.  Then I posted a warning on the later post, in the hope that other members would avoid that one and allow a single thread to develop.  Alas, my warning didn't stop Big Al from replying to the earlier original post.

It would be nice if the forum software issued an immediate warning to a first-time poster about the vetting process, to forestall the double post.  Failing that, we can do a better job of noticing the double posts and all replying to the same one.

 

[BigAl 956]

And in neither case has the original poster returned to aknowlege the responses he got.

[rtraincollector]

Big Al That seems to be the normal any more, folks want answers but won't even comment thank-you. 

[lionelsoni]

I agree that posters should acknowledge any help they get.  But I don't fault this guy for giving up sometime in the week after he posted, when he not only got no help with his problem but didn't even see his question posted.  Why does it take a week to vet a new member?  Or, if we really need that long to investigate him, why not let him know what's going on, so he doesn't give up on us?