railroad design.
You can isolate a section of track by
installing Lionel plastic insulating pins
in the center rail at each block boundary.
In a multi-PowerMaster setting, eachbase
occupiesitsown, electricallyisolatedblock
of track. That isolation comes from the
use ofLionelplastic insulating pins, avail-
able from your Lionel dealer. To isolate
a block, simply replace the center-rail
metal connector pin at each point of iso-
lation-for example, at the entrance to
a yard or siding.
With the block now electrically isolated,
connect the center rail's wire to Power-
Master's A terminal and the outer rail
wire to U. Insert PowerHouse's wire into
the PowerMaster input. Plug Power-
House in and turn it on. The new Pow-
erMaster's green light will illuminate.
Make sure its switches are on
Run
and
Conventional.
This section of track now
has its own source ofelectricity,separate
from the other block that's being fed by
the original PowerMaster.
A model railroad with isolated blocks
powered by multiple transformers must
be "phased." Simply put, the output of
each power supply must "match" one
another. "Phased" electricitywon't cause
excess sparking or short circuiting as
locomotives pass from one block to
10
Lionel TrainMaster
another. Phasing is nothing more than
plugging everything in the same way.
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I
The easiest way to phase multiple Pow-
erMaster-PowerHouse pairs on your
railroad isby using a multi-outlet power
strip (available at hardware stores). If
you're not using a power strip
or
are using
standard transformers, you need to phase
each power supply. Start by removing
all locomotives from your layout and
turning on all PowerHouses and Zor
transformers (transformers must be set
to maximum). Make sure each Power-
Master you've installed has identical track
connections (center rail to the A termi-
nal, outer rail to U). Ensure the center
rails at block boundaries are insulated
with Lionel plastic insulating pins.
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~ ~ ~
~
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Make sure your multi-block layout is prop-
erly "phased." Connect a low-voltage test
light between two electrified, isolated center
rails. If the bulb is off or dim, the two
PowerMasters are in phase.
Slide each PowerMaster's COMM/
CONY switch to
Command.
Thisincreases
PowerMaster's output to maximum.
Connect a test light or voltmeter (avail-
able at electronic supply stores) between
the A terminals on the first and second
PowerMasters. Youcan also connect the
light or voltmeter between two isolated
Lionel TrainMaster
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