Ok here's the deal. I am creating an O gauge layout for my son. I hooked up a lionel transformer and it works fine. My question is, with the unit plugged in, but the handle turned to no power (or off), if my son wants to change cars that the engine is pulling , and he accidently touches the outside rails, will he get zapped? or is it more of a strange tingle? [I was installing a new dishwasher in my house over the summer and was playing with hot wires and got zapped.] Is it that bad or worse? Second question: Does he have to complete the circuit by touching something else metal or just the inside/outside rails? I haven't been in volved with trains for over 25 years and need assurance....
If the transformer is absolutely in the off position, there's no power available at the track for even a tingle. The dishwasher is a completely different wiring situation. I have never heard of a Lionel transformer going bad so as to cause power from the household side to get over to output. When they go bad, they simply quit working. Millions have been made and used by children very safely for decades. Boxcab E50
Does this help? With out knowing the transformer voltage I would only be guessing with a answer. But that said. With the dial in the off location it is safe to change cars, touch the rails or lay your arm across both rails at once. Most train transformers put out DC voltages with low current that you almost can't feel. The house voltage 120VAC you talk about can be deadly because of the high current available. Make sure your son understands the wall plug and the wires going from the wall to the transformer are not to be played with. They are the part that will hurt. Do note that although you can't always feel the voltage on the track when it shorts it can heat up enough to burn out small electrical parts like found in engines or electric switches so turning off the knob any time something jumps the track or changeing cars is a good practice to get into. I hope I didn't scare you away from this great hobby I just wanted to make sure to use care when around electricity.
I can't tell from the message if the trains run normally. If it hasn't been run yet, make sure the correct output from the transformer is connected to the track. The AC accessory output is live all the time but the DC track output is only live when the handle is moved from off.
May I throw my two cents in? NO! Aw, come on. Here we go. We are talking about three rail O gauge. The older/original Lionel transformers only had one outlet. AC to the track. The locomotives had an interesting way of reversing. This was due to an internal/on board solenoid switch or reversing switch that would reverse the loco as you rotated the speed handle or throttle. To stop the train you shut of the throttle. Pull the throttle back up and the loco will stay put and you can hear a click as it activates the reversing switch. Shut it back down and pull the throttle back up and you are in a reverse move. Repeat and you are back to running forward. This still holds true today. Along came the new transformers Ie., MRC with an accessory outlet. These are still AC to the track. The newer transformers and locomotives have all kinds of bells and whistles built into them...literally. Diesel Idling, whistles, bells, radio chatter to and from the DS. Neat stuff. "All A Board" as hollered by the conductor. More fun then a cracker barrel full of monkeys. Will it shock a child or adult? Tingles, bites and hand warmers...mainly. I've tested the output of most of the transformers and you are dealing with 12 to 18 volts and only an amp., or two. This isn't likely to burn you, set your hair to standing straight or even light up your fingernails. Tingle a little bit, bite a tad and/ or warm up your hand. It's perfectly safe to use when you need to get information out of your teenagers...ahh...I mean for your kids to play with. What, what, what did he say? (Getting old isn't it, even Letterman isn't using that line anymore). The only time I was seriously bitten (not smitten) was when my hands were wet and I reached out to touch the refrigerator, to close the door. Yep, we had the train set-up on the kitchen floor. Zap, pop, wang and what are those stars I see? The refrigerator had a short and between the two electrical sources I got a wake up call. It had nothing to do with the Lionel O Transformer. Believe me. I tried in vane to make that goofy transformer, do it again. That's when I discovered it was the frig.. eek: Have fun and be safe.
I can testify to the electrical safety of this. I played with my dads Lionel when I was 5 years old without any problems. When I was 10, I used the Lionel transformer to imbed slot cars into wall as they went around the bend at 200 mph. I lost a few slot cars and burnt up my track so severely that it ended up in the trash, but never once did any of us kids ever get a shock. And believe me, we tried to shock each other. I came from a very large family with over 55 cousins, all born within 5 years of each other and we brought new meaning to the baby boomers. There also was a Lionel under each families Christmas tree. I let my all grandkids play with my Lionel trains every Christmas without any problems. Last year I heard the kids laughing and carrying on so loud while playing with the trains that I had to take a look. I found my two year old grandson was sitting on the tracks with dripping wet diapers while the older kids where trying to ram him with the train.mg: Luckily the two year old knew enough to standup when the train came along or he might have some bruises, not from the 12 volts but from the force of the train. I say, let the kid have fun. You know my family always said, I was the one you to had to keep an eye on because you couldn’t tell what I was going to next, but now they say I’m the one with most common sense. Well I think I got my common sense by having full hands-on experiences. :thumbs_up: And just clarify what others already said, you do not have house current on the tracks. It is a small inductive current created from the magnetic fields in the windings of the transformer. The only way you’re going to get 120V is by driving a large nail through the transformer, but the fuse or circuit breaker would most likely trip. And if you really are worried about it, plug it into a circuit with Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI).
I think this is a Spammer. I don't know how it works exactly, but it’s going on quite a lot at the other forums and this definitely smells of it.
Johnny B. I feel the same as you. Spammed or scammed I'm not sure which. There is another thread discussing the same thing over on DCC & Electronics. Nobody seems to be home over there...as well. It's the courteous thing to do, to come back and participate in the discussion you started. It's not in anyone's interest to just start a thread and ignore it. I do keep track of those who ask and disappear and never return to the discussion. We have one or two here...more actually, who won't engage themselves in a follow-up question or participate. Never mind a thank-you. We spin our wheels and wonder why. If you are going to stir the pot at least stick around and let us help you...grin! Johnny, keep in touch. Seems to me the last time we talked you were headed for Barstow. Has that happened yet and did you get a motel room? Oop's wrong thread.
No, I talked to some locals who told me that it wasn’t very safe in that part of town. They told me about a guy last year that stayed in a motel instead of commuting and had his truck broke into the 1st night and then robbed the next night. I know who the guy is, but I don’t know him, so I don’t know all the circumstances. I’m going over to Barstow tomorrow, but I don’t know how much time I’ll have. Actually I’m going to Newberry springs.
A better place to go. Newberry springs is a better place to go. May I suggest, that if you have to stay over night in Barstow, stay in the motels on the east end of town. Still watch your back. Since the highway 66 was paved and the I-15 freeway came through town Barstow has attracted the criminal element. You've got a lot of drug traffic flowing through the area. It used to be a feel safe town and a good place to raise kids. Not so much anymore. Stay cool.
