Controller And Short Circuits - Lionel Silver Bell Express Owner's Manual

Controller operations

Controller and short circuits

Y our Lionel power pack is listed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and has been carefully
designed and tested to ensure peak performance. The Transformer is equipped with a built-
in electronic circuit breaker that alternately cuts off and restores the flow of power to the track
whenever a short circuit exists—for example, when the train derails. The circuit breaker's
action continues until the cause of the short circuit is eliminated. This circuit breaker is
incorporated into the Transformer to protect it from possible damage. It will not protect the
locomotive or electrically operated accessories, so it's important to eliminate short circuits as
soon as possible.
The power pack must be unplugged from the wall socket when a short circuit is
Note!
noticed, and the short circuit must be corrected.
A short circuit is caused by a direct connection between the two rails or by a direct connection
between bare wires. The axles of a derailed car or locomotive are the most frequent cause of
short circuits, so make sure that all wheels are properly set on the rails. Some other causes of
short circuits might be staples, nails, paper clips, or other metallic objects lying across the rails,
or two bare wires touching each other.
If too many cars or accessories are used, your Transformer will exceed its power limit and
begin to cycle on and off. To correct this problem, cars or accessories must be removed before
normal operation can resume. The same condition can occur if the power is turned up too
quickly. This also could cause your train to move too fast and derail.
After your power pack has been operating for a while, you will find it warm to the touch. It is
the nature of all electrical power equipment to become warm when in use. If your power pack is
loaded to capacity, it is a good idea to let it cool down after an hour or two of continuous use.
Unplug the power pack from the wall when the Transformer is not in use.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This controller was designed to run this set with an addition of one or
two extra cars. Any additional operating accessories could cause your controller to become
overloaded.
The Transformer included with this set should be periodically examined for
Parents!
conditions that may result in the risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons
(such as damage to the output cord, blades, housing, or other parts). In the
event that such conditions exist, the transformer should not be used until
properly repaired.
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