Model Train Journal

https://www.tinplatetimes.com/Repair%20 ... 21/h64.htm

Is this our Jim K?

30-60VAC to the rails?

Jeez. Scary.

ScaleCraft wrote:https://www.tinplatetimes.com/Repair%20and%20Restoration/%20Marklin%20H6413021/h64.htm

Is this our Jim K?

I don't think our Jim K looked at this post, so I will answer.
No Jim Kelly is not our Jim K. Our Jim K is the creator of the Trolley Park that he posted in 2017.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17117&p=320738&hilit=trolley+park#p320738

Jim's photos of his Trolley Park died on Flickr but the videos are still alive on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/pRo3tsD6AHE?si=tEiAlPXzaNfkiO0j

I haven't seen any recent posts by Jim Kelly anywhere for a really long time...hope he's well and thriving, playing with trains in the basement.

ScaleCraft wrote:
30-60VAC to the rails?

Jeez. Scary.

It is scarier than you think.
Jim Kelly says, "for safety I use ONLY an ISOLATION variac."
There is absolutely no isolation in a variac. The output of a variac is connected directly to the mains (house wiring.)
A Lionel transformer is a variable isolation transformer.

ScaleCraft wrote:
30-60VAC to the rails?

Jeez. Scary.

Look at the windings on the 60 volt armature:
Many turns of fine wire.


Now look at the armature of a Lionel 18 Volt armature:
A few turns of larger wire for the same power at a lower voltage (but higher current.)

ScaleCraft wrote:
30-60VAC to the rails?

Jeez. Scary.

And the last nail in the coffin: Older Maerklin trains were designed to run directly off the mains, 110 to 220 volts, depending on the country.

Image Posted on July 14, 2015, by Kurt Miska on Marklinstop.
Wiring the train through a resistor and light bulbs (the circles with Xs) results in the full mains voltage appearing on the track if the locomotive falls off the track or is removed.
Reference:=> https://marklinstop.com/2015/07/220-vol ... to-safety/