Re: Power Monitor

[Bill Lohman <844bill@gmail.com>]

It wasn't a power "surge" protector per se.  It was a Scotts Odds n Ends TVS advertised as a Transient Voltage Supression (TVS) spike (short duration, high voltage) clipping device.  According to the expert testimony and consensus on the OGR Forum it's internal wiring was wrong and it wasn't even providing spike protection by clipping the spikes.

 

As it stands now the layout has absolutely no TVS type "spike" protection.  So, any electronics in our engines or elsewhere that are susceptible to being scrambled or destroyed by spikes are vulnerable. 

 

In contrast, we do have "surge" protection in the form of circuit breakers.  The tripping mechanism in most circuit breakers is heat caused by "excessive" current.  This current must flow long enough for the heat to build up before the breaker trips.  This time can vary quite a bit among even the same spec'd circuit breakers.  This can take enough time with some breakers that the electronics in engines and elsewhere can be burned out or wheels can be welded before the circuit breaker trips.  Ask Rick about the latter.

 

For this reason on my home layout I use very fast acting good old fashioned low tech Buss glass fuses for surge protection (usually shorts).  They blow extremely fast.  Sometimes too fast and this can be a headache too.  But, at least it's a cheap headache.  Fuses over circuit breakers is the standard recommendation by and consensus of  the experts on the OGR Forum.

 

And for spike protection I removed my ineffective Scott's Odds N Ends TVS and now use two TVS's produced by IC Controls several years ago.  The consensus on the OGR Forum is that the IC Controls TVS's are very effective.  But, they are pricey.  I happened to have them so I use them.  But, there are lest costly very effective solutions.

 

Several of you will remember that I've been mentioning this to you in passing for a while now.  I think the Board take a hard look at both of these forms of protection.  Don't take my word for it.  Take a look at these topics on the OGR Forum and judge for yourself.

 

Bill 

 

On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 1:02 PM, Michael Graziano <mgraziano@austin.rr.com> wrote:

Do we know what caused the surge?  Is there anything beyond the SOE surge
protector that we can employ to prevent this from happening again?  Isn't
this what the surge protector is supposed to protect against?  It doesn't
seem to have worked.

-----Original Message-----
From: ttat-members-owner@aoot.com [mailto:ttat-members-owner@aoot.com] On
Behalf Of Ira Schneider
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 12:49 PM
To: TTAT Members
Subject: Power Monitor

Hi,

The Power Monitor was damaged when the Scott's Odds-N-Ends surge protector
burned out two weeks ago.

Right now, the red/green LEDs which indicate the status of the circuit
breakers
on tracks 1 and 2 are inoperative.  The circuit breakers themselves work,
but
there is no indication that they are tripped.  If you lose power on tracks 1
or 2,
first press the circuit breaker on the Power Monitor (as if the LED was
red).
If that doesn't work, you will have to reset the circuit breaker on the
transformers
and/or the TPC.

The ammeter for track 2 is not functioning properly, so I disconnected it.
You
can still read the track voltage, but not the current being drawn.  The
other
volt meters and ammeters appear to be working properly.

I will replace the LEDs before the SAMRA show (in two weeks).  It will take
longer for me to acquire a replacement ammeter.  Hopefully, I will be able
to
replace the meter before the show following SAMRA.

I am sorry for the inconvenience.



Ira



------
TTAT members reflector.

------
TTAT members reflector.