LIONEL TRANSFORMER REPAIR
Grant Thompson
old
selenium rectifier and replacing it with a new electronic
component.
HOWEVER, since selenium can be absorbed directly through
skin, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU WEAR DISPOSABLE PLASTIC
GLOVES
when you begin this repair. The EPA indicates that you can
safely dispose of the old component in the garbage, so long
as
your garbage is picked up by a licensed, waste disposal
company.
DO NOT BURN IT IN AN INCINERATOR!
If you are not familiar with electrical wiring, and
hazardous
materials handling, it is not recommended that you attempt
this
modification/repair.
Those of us who collect LIONEL trains usually enjoy operating them, and
we
enjoy "blowing the whistle" on trains so equipped. Alas, sometimes the
whistle controllers on the larger transformers do not work due to
burned-out
selenium rectifier discs.
Since the EPA has found that selenium is a deadly poison, LIONEL
make the discs anymore. So some of us live without functioning whistles.
Until now. THERE IS A CURE!
Go to your local RADIO SHACK and buy a 276-1114 diode. (This is about
1/4"
in diameter and 3/8" long). Open up your transformer and find the
rectifier.
(This is about the size of a half-dollar, round, and 3/32" thick).
Remove the
rectifier disc and safely discard. There is a silver band on the new
diode
(the cathode end)- this wire is soldered to the large bracket the disc
was
mounted on. The other wire on the diode is soldered to the wire that was
on the other side of the disc (speed-nut side). Reassemble the
transformer,
plug in, and enjoy your new whistle!
I Picked This Info up And thought I would pass it on to everybody who is
a lionel Postwar collector.
bf...@crosslink.net
using ECG or NTE 5875 and 5872 diodes for replacing the selerium discs.
more info if interested in hom to connect them as these are not axial
type diode, but D04 packages.
Bryan Fisk
Dick Lord
>DISCALIMER: This file explains a relatively simple way of replacing the
>old
> selenium rectifier and replacing it with a new electronic
> component.
>
> HOWEVER, since selenium can be absorbed directly through
>
> skin, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU WEAR DISPOSABLE PLASTIC
>GLOVES
> when you begin this repair. The EPA indicates that you can
> safely dispose of the old component in the garbage, so long
>as
> your garbage is picked up by a licensed, waste disposal
>company.
> DO NOT BURN IT IN AN INCINERATOR!
>
>
I appreciate the concern for safety, but I would point out that in my
youth I overloaded many a selenium rectifier and I have survived !!
Blown selenium rectifiers produced a memorable stench, which stayed
with you for a while!
It certainly would not be a good idea to let your toddler chew on a
selenium stack, however.
I thought Lionel used copper-oxide rectifiers, instead of selenium.
These had a higher forward voltage, but they were safer - not that
it was a major concern in those days.
At any rate, silicon diodes certainly are a big improvement over their
1950 equivalents.
--
***____ __I_|HH|_ Dick Lord, Current Technology (603)868-2270
Y___|[]| ,~~~__ | x x | 99 Madbury Rd. Durham, NH 03824
>{|___|__|_|_____|_|_______| r...@curtech.com DCC group NMRA #092225
/oo--@-@ oo oo oo oo HO B&M/MEC Mountain div. under construction.