You should take care, however, to replace worn cords and wires. So, if you want to connect eight landscape lights to an electronic transformer, and the lights use 20 watts each, you would need a 160 watt transformer. Kind Regards Steve, QUOTE: by Dave Has anyone here ever blown a transformer from hauling a double-headed Allegheny coal drag up a 2 percent grade?. Lionel uses red and black (red always for the center rail, black for the two outer rails) as a standard in its instructions and most 3-Rail O Gauge layouts are probably wired this way. As the kit grows and you start putting in turnouts (or the point switching systems) to move your train from one track to another track, you will not only need more than 1 transformer, you will. To participate you must either login or register for an account. The circuit breaker should trip with a click and the transformer should go dead. With the ever-increasing amount of small electronics in today's sophisticated models, this protection is more important than ever. The load voltage and load amps must be known to calculate KVA rating. Just get a Lionel #12053 Accessory wire set and enough extra wire to connect from the wire set back to your transformer [speaker wire works well]. Number 24 to Number20 wire will all work with most layouts. You have pretty much pointed up the major problem, everything is different. Effort. The Best Technical and Innovative Podcasts you should Listen, Essay Writing Service: The Best Solution for Busy Students, 6 The Best Alternatives for WhatsApp for Android, The Best Solar Street Light Manufacturers Across the World, Ultimate packing list while travelling with your dog. There was a video by Mike Reagan from Lionel about better smoke output from a chopped wave transformer, but the pure sine wave didn't cause any operational issues. Here at Trainz, we carry all of the products you will need to go from a starter set to a miniature railroad empire. If the transformer fails, you most likely have a short or overload somewhere in the control circuit. You can also minimize voltage drop at the rail joints by soldering the rails together. The larger transformers could operate up to four trains independently. I went to mth Z1000, jason's train shop has the best price's I have seen for these. The higher powered units would not meet todays safety standards as issued by Underwriters Laboratories. A bigger transformer is better and always looks nicer too! www.spankybird.shutterfly.com, God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of theNRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified. If you were to get a ZW 275 you need external short protection. If they do, follow their recommendations. TRANSFORMERS ransformers were issued by Lionel thoughout the Post War period. It can run four tracks at one time, so you layout can grow. In most cases, because we are dealing with relatively low voltage and amperage and in a normally stable temperature and humidity climates, our wiring does not require any extra insulation. Controlled Magnetics has the manufacturing experience, knowledge, and facilities to repair a wide variety of electrical power transformers. Lionel Rolling Stock Identification Guide. Obviously, for a lot of people, the $700 Lionel ZW-L transformer is overkill. Ive talked more about the Lionel RW and the LW as well. If you have to ask,your needs are a lot more modest than that. A new ZW will run you in the neighborhood of $450.00 or a little less depending on your dealership. Well Mike what I am about to suggest may be a little pricy or at least it was for me but I have managed to buy a new Lionel ZW. Lionels HO Gauge items are back! Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Thanks! 12V DC to 120V AC 60Hz pure sine inverter. The whistle requires more power than the outfits that don't have it. Do not operate the CW-80 Transformer with a damaged cord, plug, or case. Like tankist stated.It's only running multiple engines that I run into issues. But Lionel now produces four Track Expansion Sets, which expand this basic loop into something more exciting. But it is important to take a close look at the cars to make sure that they are a good match for your set. Smaller layouts (a typical 4 foot by 8 foot being a good example) can usually get by with Number16 since the length of the run from the power supply to the track is never more than a few feet. Another classic is the Automatic Gateman. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The first is the traditional or classic size, which are the cars that match starter sets. I have purchased diodes to put into the older transformers to see if this resolves the issue with newer tenders. For Lionel power the 45 watts is good for a 4 by 8 as a rule of thumb to compensate poor track you just use more feeders. At auction, Lionel train sets, pieces, and accessories can sell for a few hundred dollars or for a few thousand dollars, depending on the rarity and condition of the piece. Here are some guidelines for the most common wiring jobs you'll find. Fortunately, there is an easy way to tell these cars apart, and the key is the numbers Lionel assigns to them. Twin coil machines have a higher current draw when in motion but are also much faster-acting than the motorized versions. Lionel makes two expansion sets for this purpose. Never had a problem. Older transformers I had this issue with are RW, 1033, KW, ZW.newer transformers were all made by MTH. Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide 1901-2022. Alternating current (AC) is the preferred power for most O Gauge three-rail trains as well as some two-rail systems in smaller scales. Although all Lionel cars operate on O Gauge track, the bodies of the cars are made in two slightly different sizes. He directs production at Lionel, the premier model train manufacturer, and he istheformer president of theConrail HistoricalSociety. And even when Lionel trains run on AC, they sometimes do some DC trickery. Expanding the basic oval from the set is the quickest way to add more interest to your trains. Lionel trains value varies depending on design, materials, and era. When they were manufactured by The American Flyer Manufacturing Company, they were made in Standard Gauge and a version of "O" gauge. The chances are that little power supply isn't going to keep the train running over a full mile, however. Lionel, LLC continued to manufacture and market trains and accessories in O scale under the Lionel brand and S gauge under the American Flyer brand. Like command control, these trains still require a constant voltage to the rails. For Lionel power the 45 watts is good for a 4 by 8 as a rule of thumb to compensate poor track you just use more feeders. Sell Your Trains Through an Online Auction Service. This is because the demands for power are becoming more than your transformer can handle. Lest I offend, in another plane of existence I was an electronics tech. This is interesting stuff. Yes, but the train will probably run too fast, depending on the output voltage of the transformer. Faq No: 1029 Lionel Ready-to-Play is a large sized train that's made to be affordable and easy-to-use for both kids and adults alike. I have had the same problem. 24v, 120v, 208v, 240v, 480v, and 600v). Also, you wont be able to take advantage of independent control of multiple engines on the same track without a digital controller. My question is.how big of a transformer will I need to power this thing? If you have a starter set and have had thoughts like this, youre not alone. Price Received. Steve's rule of thumb for derating is very close to and in the same spirit as the NEC rule that an appliance may not draw more than 80 percent of the current rating of the outlet. Now, I diconnected that old dinosaur and connected two separate smaller ones which weren't powerful enough to run my Amtrack MTH trains. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. I am currently running about 40 bulbs, which at 0.1 A each total 4 amps! The larger transformers could operate up to four trains independently. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. LGB throttles 51070, 52120 and 52121 will all work with the 50061 and other LGB transformers. Amperes = VA/Secondary Volts or 40VA/28V = 1.43 amperes. Max Watts on one TIU is 720W. Been there, done that. Lionel made these for years and kept them in production under a different model number well into the 1970s because it was a reliable, dependable design and had enough power for a typical starter set while leaving some room to grow. I got a lot of lightweight transformers that came with starter sets over the years. If you have a very long run, you may want to consider Number 12 wire. Classic cars have a 5 or 6 as their second digit [25051, 16686, etc]. I know my train club had an issue with conventional locomotives not running properly on a layout with DCS and TMCC and apparently solved it by replacing a Lionel transformer with an MRC transformer that puts out a pure sine wave. Dave, the nice thing about Lionel transformers is you can run them until the bimetallic breaker pops and then you let it cool and you are back in action (after shutting a few things down)! And of course, Lionel also makes lots of figures to populate your town. Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following, $12.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable). Starter set locomotives can pull up to 12 cars easily, and most can handle up to 20, so building a longer train will not harm your engine. These are all good, dependable transformers from the postwar era that are easy to find today, have adequate wattages ranging from 90-270 watts, have a circuit breaker for safety and have a whistle controller. I'm not sure I completely understand your question. White and black are common selections. to run conventional you will need Legacy plus a Powermaster and Powermaster Bridge or Legacy and a TPC 300/400. Outdoor railroads are, of course, an exception! They have everything you need for a basic setup, and the larger ones are capable of running the smaller layouts you see in the train magazines, so they have some room for growth. If you have the proper wire size and a properly-sized circuit breaker, you should not have any problems using the old transformer. I have a basement that offers an 18" concrete ledge that goes around theentire perimeter of the house that lends itself perfectly to a neat layout. If you add feeders to the track at the farthest point (remember to get the same wire to the same rails) you will not slow down at the farthest point. Great for learning all you will ever want to know about Lionels track system. Again, an independent power supply and distribution bus is a good idea for your switches. The Lionel RW also happens to be a great transformer for Marx or American Flyer trains too, when you connect the track leads to the B and U posts instead of the A and U posts youd normally use for most Lionel setups. If this happens, you will need another transformer to share the load. I would check yoour connections and wire size, just to be safe. Multi-conductor wires with many strands of finer wire are more common for telecommunications and electronics. To determine the required transformer VA, multiply the secondary voltage by the required amperes: For example, VA=Volts x Amperes or 28V x 1.2 amperes = 33.6 VA. To determine the maximum transformer current, divide the transformer VA by transformer secondary voltage. That it not to say that there are not engineering formulae to calculate the current draw and thus the wattage, but far and away the easiest method is to measure it. electronically controlled outputs. When running a mixed bag train show with new and old trains of mixed types such as Loinel and MTH which is better? Theres nothing inherently wrong with them, though I would shy away from the smaller transformers that are less than 75 watts, including the modern CW-40. Turn on the throttle, then short the A and U posts (in the case of Lionel) or variable and base posts (in the case of Flyer) with a screwdriver or a piece of wire for a maximum of five seconds. The 110-wattLionel RW is a cheap option, and the 125-watt LW, while a bit more expensive, gives a bit more power. I covered the more common ones, but if you have another vintage Lionel transformer of more than 75 watts and its in good condition, theres no reason not to use it. View More! Atlas and Bachmann have the same transformers with 80 watt outputs as well that get good reviews and would be appropriate for a smaller layout. I run an MTH 4-6-2 PS-1 pulling five Madisons on about fifty feet of track and the transformer I am using (Z-4000) has a digital amp readout. I have a basement that offers an 18" concrete ledge that goes around the entire perimeter of the house that lends itself perfectly to a neat layout. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. A solid and stranded wire of the same gauge will be the same total diameter. Just not quite as much. Lionel Trains|MTH Train|Lionel Train Sets| HO model Trains| G Scale|Dept 56 Number 26 to 20 wire (depending on the length of your bus) will be sufficient for most applications. Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership. I suggest that you proactively lay an 10-2 AWG NM cable (or at least 12-2) along the track and tap into it as needed to keep the voltage up. It states: 1.25 amps for each motor, 0.2 amps for each bulb. For a 300W set up this will cost you about 100. Price Received. Click here to learn about the Unlimited Membership. Everyone wanted the two-handled, football-shaped, 275-watt powerhouse that was the ZW. In either case, however, voltage and amperage draw is low and peak for only brief periods. A Passenger consist can easily use more power than the engine. It has FasTrack connectors on one end and O Gauge track pins on the other. On the flip side, the new transformers do not seem to work as well with the prewar whistle tenders.Has anyone else noticed this anomaly? This will spread the load of your lighted passenger consist across the two transformers. Stop it with your hand to full stall, and it goes up to four amps--sixty watts--trying to pull. Used a 1033 for accessories and lights. If youre buying a transformer, youll be able to easily find one that a professional refurbished and upgraded with the links I provide below. Length of track or type of track doesn't (or shouldn't) matter. Transformers are sized by determining the total load required (in amps). Although I am an electrical engineer, I just add stuff until the transformer gets too warm and then I branch off and add another. The least expensive power supply you should consider is the Lionel CW80 Transformer; you can buy a new one for about $150 or a used on one eBay for about $60. The Lionel 1033 can be used for small or medium-sized layouts. Classic Toy Trains magazine offers information about toy trains operating and collecting, toy train product news and reviews, toy train layout tips, toy train layout designs and track plans, and more. If youre going to run more than one train, you can pair up two smaller transformers, or you can look at the two-handled transformers. This tool only evaluates common voltages for North America (ie. If you want a spur track to store an extra car or two, Lionel makes another expansion set [#12044] that does just that: Note that this set includes one switch which is the track section that makes the track diverge onto two separate routes. It can be a great secondary power supply for lighted buildings, signals, and other accessories. Over the years I have collected boxed(mostly liquor boxes) sets from attics.So I have a variety of transformers on hand. Its a good transformer. The iconic and legendary 270-wattLionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. I recently acquired a beautiful Lionel NH Alco 420. They are reasonably durable and were popular in their day, which means there are still a lot of them floating around so they tend to be inexpensive. Just like with your track bus and feeders, running an accessory bus of slightly heavier wire to connect to each light or accessory with a smaller feeder is a good plan. Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; For a classic setup of a single freight train running on a 48 (or smaller) sheet of plywood, a 90-watt Lionel 1033 or 1044 is an excellent choice. As an example, look at these two cars closely: While both are gondola cars and run on O Gauge track, note how the car on the left is much longer than the one on the right. That could also be the reason the other transformers don't work. Take the hint. They give a true 180 watts and have excellent electronic breakers. In the middle range, Lionel made a lot of other transformers. They are fun to have. First, a few general notes about choosing wire. If you plan to just run MTH go with their DCS system if you plan to have a number of different engines or the MTH DCS Remote Commander which is limited to running only one engine at a time. And that means theyre affordable. If you make a complete loop of 100 feet with good track joints, you'll have something like .1 ohm from the transformer to the farthest point, using the rule of thumb that most track is something like 16 AWG wire (.004 ohms per foot) and that there are two 50 foot tracks feeding the farthest point from two directions. Mike to the forum. Serving these devices with their own dedicated supply will not only allow you to supply them with a proper constant voltage, but it will also free your main power supply to handle the load of the train itself. Use this index to see additional details about the individual transformers issued by Lionel during the post-war period. This is why my wife loves me so. Right now I am running 8 motors on one KW [the new one I found] and got the old one for reserve. Tech Support for the OGR Forum (NOT FOR TRAINS), PRR fellas!lets build an S2!! Remember, the only silly question is the one that you did not ask. A 10 amp breaker and 16 gauge wire would be appropriate for an old ZW. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I'm sure I'll need more help along the way, so I'll be checking back in with more silly questions! For more realistic operation, you need some kind of speed control (throttle) between the 10340 Automatic Reversing Unit and your transformer. God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of theNRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified. Just not quite as much. Here are some simple definitions for these electrical terms: Most power supplies will be labeled as to the scales they are meant to handle. It is 5" long. It is also a good idea to run your accessories off of a separate power supply and wire grid from the trains themselves. As your layout grows so, too, will its power demand. Although not necessarily a mandated standard, white, black and or red are used for track power on most layouts - if for no other reason than these colors are easiest to find.
All members here are welcome to drop in and visit. ransformers were issued by Lionel thoughout the Post War period. The transition section (#12040) allows you to connect conventional O Gauge track to FasTrack. On a large loop of track you will need to have multiple drops, hook-ups, to the transformer because if you only have one hook up the train will get slower the father away it gets from the transformer. There are many advantages in repairing or reconditioning your transformers. Likewise, if you only want to run one train at a time, you can keep other trains on the track by wiring with blocks, and turning off trains that are not in use. Not wanting to give up, I experimented with an 80 watt modern Lionel transformer and got great results.
San Diego Trolley Schedule,
Quotes From Frankenstein With Page Numbers,
Hamilton Goes To The Future Fanfiction,
Articles W