Lionel 1044 90 watt not working- need help

[Anonymous]

Hi, I recently obtained a 1044 lionel transformer and I get no buzz, no power output at all. I check the cord attach points and connected. the very thin wires that are soldered onto the cord attach points are also there. I have no idea the problem, but I get nothing. This transformer does not look complicated, but any idea on a repair item on this?

Chris

[ChiefEagles]

Wish I could help. Maybe Lionelsoni, Leonard or Roy could give you a clue. Could be contact rollers on top of coil, wire broken in coil, bad relay that is open. Get out the volt olm meter.

[Anonymous]

Your report of no hum at all concerns me. Make sure you have house current at the wall socket to rule out the possibility that you are "down-stream" from a popped Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter or house fuse/circuit breaker. (I always make sure I have a lamp on the same circuit as the transformer I'm working on so that I know for sure that there is house power there.)

If all is good, VERY CAREFULLY check where the cord connects inside the transformer. If your have power at that point, use an insulated probe to check the connections of the cord to the wires from the primary coil by giving them a SLIGHT wiggle. Then wiggle the circuit-breaker a little. If none of this elicits any response, and you haven't knocked yourself across the room, it may be time to take it to a Lionel Authorized Service Station. These devices can be dangerous.

Wiring diagram and pictorials available at the "Library" at

http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/

under "Lionel Tansformers," "1044," or directly at

http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/searchcd31.htm?itm=648

if the link works.

Don't kill yourself!

wolverine49

[Anonymous]

Just take it back to the guy you bought it from unless you bought it on ebay.

One year's worth of production Lionel made them wrong and 75% were replaced, sounds like you got one of those.

[lionelsoni]

If it doesn't hum at all, the problem is on the primary side. If the primary winding is open, it would be very difficult to fix it. You have already checked the connections between the primary and the cord. The only remaining possibilities seem to be an open circuit in the cord, an open circuit in the plug, or no voltage at the outlet.

[Anonymous]

I wondered about the power cord. Now you want to switch the meter to AC to check at where the cord attaches to the points of the transformer right? We did AC and it seemed as though the power was going to the tops fine. the wire from the windings seems to be attached to both terminals. I will check real close to make sure that I have current to it though. Should read 120 V at those points to the transformer, right? But I get no humm.

[lionelsoni]

I got this by e-mail from Chris:

"bob, Why does the coil break? was it wound wrong from the factory too tight to create a break, or is it heat or something? I should junk it then? Could whoever replaced the cord screwed up the winding? So if no humm, then I may be screwed if the power cord is not bad."

The winding could have been burned out by putting excessive voltage on it. There could have been breaks in the enamel wire insulation that eventually caused a short circuit inside the winding, with the resulting current burning it out. There could have been a nick in the wire that corroded and finally broke the wire.

It does sound like the winding is open, if you are getting 120 volts to the ends of it. To verify this, unplug the transformer and put an ohmeter across the terminals inside the case. If you see infinite resistance, the coil is bad.

[Anonymous]

Look very carefully at the enamel wire that is wrapped around the terminals for the line cord. Does it have the enamel removed so that the solder has "wet" the lead fully? It is possible to have an open connection if the enamel hasn't been removed.

[Anonymous]

figured out the problem.... The power lead. SOmeone put a new cord on with a in-line switch like a lamp cord. I replaced it and the thing works as good as new. New internal issues, just the power cord! WOW. anyhow something that simple, but I am glad it works. Thanks for all of the educational feedback. I am a novice with the transformers.
Thanks again.
Chris