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DC Circuit Breakers

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  • Member since
    July 2018
  • 2 posts
Posted by prrintx on Thursday, November 29, 2018 7:35 PM

You might look at NTE series 59 breakers such as this: https://www.frys.com/product/1965566?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG.  They're available from 0.25 amps on up.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 4:14 PM

MRC transformers are almost bulletproof and cheap on Ebay

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 3:12 PM

That isn’t even an almost a power supply.  Its only a half amp power supply, even if you use a bulb that draws a half amp it will severely drop the voltage to the train.  A higher current bulb won’t help protect it.  You really need a protected power pack.
 
 
Mel
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 2:47 PM

Welcome to the Model Railroader forums. Your first few posts will be delayed by the site moderators, but that ends pretty quickly. I hope you stick with us and become a regular contributor.

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The easiest solution is to wire a low current draw 12 volt lamp in series with the tracks. That way if the rails short out, the lamp just comes on very bright, and no overload takes place. That is really a stone-age solution, but it still works.

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Also, please get a better power supply! That is something you will never regret.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

  • Member since
    December 2016
  • 1 posts
DC Circuit Breakers
Posted by boggle on Monday, November 26, 2018 6:11 PM

I recently installed a small DC HO layout in a local library. Today I discovered one of the cheap Life Like 390j transformers I am using was not functioning at all. It stopped functioning after a derailment on the track it was connected to. I assumed that they had circuit breakers built in but I guess I was wrong. I replaced it with a spare 390j but was wondering if there was a circuit breaker or fuse I could install between the track and the transformer to keep from destroying too many more of them. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

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