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I've read that it is good practice to add feeders every 10 sections of track or sothat seems like a lot but I suppose that beats having "dead" spots in the track. The good news is, Lionel made a lot of good transformers over the years. Length of track or type of track doesn't (or shouldn't) matter. (NEW/LIKE NEW), running TMCC And DCS engines with DCS handheld, terrible crash in Greece, multiple fatalities, Its.Public Delivery Track ..NEWSpecial run corner, Improving Appearance of 0-gauge Tubular Track. For safety reasons, the batteries were soon replaced by a 110 volt transformer. Starter sets almost always include a power supply along with the track and train. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. 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. Viola, DCS on alternate power blocks, Max signal, Happiness. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Make sure you are getting the right type of power supply for your layout. 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. The locomotives are battery-powered and made of durable plastic. Lionel Postwar 1033 Transformer Watch on It is important to remember that the real test of the power supply is the load you'll place on it. Stop it with your hand to full stall, and it goes up to four amps--sixty watts--trying to pull. LGB throttles 51070, 52120 and 52121 will all work with the 50061 and other LGB transformers. Thus an appliance with a 15-ampere plug (the usual kind with parallel blades) must draw no more than 12 amperes. It can run four tracks at one time, so you layout can grow. Ryan developsmodeltrainlayouts for public andprivate display. Ran 6 motors [MPC's]. Here are some guidelines for the most common wiring jobs you'll find. Although all Lionel cars operate on O Gauge track, the bodies of the cars are made in two slightly different sizes. Tech Support for the OGR Forum (NOT FOR TRAINS), PRR fellas!lets build an S2!! If you found this post informative or helpful, please share it! But a 12-gauge solid wire is one strand, while a 12-gauge stranded wire may be made up of more than a dozen much smaller individual strands spun together. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. The Lionel 1033 can be used for small or medium-sized layouts. 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. The thing that eats current is a lot of light bulbs on the layout. Good choices are the Lionel 32923 Accessory Transformer, or another 80-watt transformer like the one included in your set, #14198. Solid wire is preferable as it is much easier to solder to the rails. First, a few general notes about choosing wire. 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. Adding lights to buildings, streets, and other scenic accessories usually do not require anywhere near the amperage demand of the trains themselves. 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. Mark. This is different from the stranded wire in that the different individual wires, each with their color-coded insulation, is placed inside a secondary insulation wrap. It has FasTrack connectors on one end and O Gauge track pins on the other. Lionel and other train manufacturers have worked hard to make adding to a set easy, affordable, and fun. This thing has more power then I will ever need. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. Within that range, it is generally recommended to go for the most robust power supply possible. Most feeders will be only a few inches long so the smaller diameter wire will not be a problem. This type of transformer is cheap, its reliable, and its easy to find. --Heck, watching one train run is great, Ill bet TWO would be even more fun! They are fun to have. A small set that came with track, transformer, etc. Ill try to find a link to it for you. The CW-80 Transformer was meant to operate on 120-volt, 60-Hertz power. Sign up for new product releases, promotions, and more. Lionel Vintage Model Railroad & Train Transformers - eBay Dave: That certainly qualifies, don't forget the anti-gun lobbyist with the picket sign's. I had 3 lionel cw80's and two quit working. With multiple switches, lights, power supplies and more all concentrated in a small space, color coding and neatness pay off. Ok our layout is 10 x 20 = 200 sq ft x 2 = 400 watts. Are you running command or conventional? Sell Your Trains To A Train Dealer or a Single Buyer. There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, so you'll need to consider what you want to do and measure your options accordingly. You have pretty much pointed up the major problem, everything is different. A Passenger consist can easily use more power than the engine. For a classic setup of a single freight train running on a 48 sheet of plywood, a 90 watt Lionel 1033 or 1042 is an excellent choice. However, in the future if you continue in the hobby and your roster expands you may acquire motive power which requires larger curves than what came with your set. What does a Lionel transformer do? If you want to connect ten landscape lights to a magnetic transformer, and the lights use 30 watts each, you would need a 375 watt transformer. My question is.how big of a transformer will I need to power this thing? 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. 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. Find 500+ popular train rides, museums, and railroad vacation destinations in the U.S and Canada! 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. 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. 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. The Lionel motor is a collection of four electromagnetic plates with a rotating sweeper arm called a brush. The other type of cars are the Scale cars, which are exact or near-exact replicas of actual freight cars. Lionel makes a seemingly infinite number of cars to in a variety of colors, types, and road names. To determine the maximum transformer current, divide the transformer VA by transformer secondary voltage. A 10 amp breaker and 16 gauge wire would be appropriate for an old ZW. Part of the Lionel line since the 1930s, the gateman today is offered not only with a regular railroad-type figure, but also in versions with Santa Claus and a nutcracker figure for the Christmas season. The Lionel Track & Power catalog is BACK with the latest information for more ways to make your layout even bigger, better and more powerful! Most people start with a pre-packaged train set. I have noticed that my old transformers do not work well or not work at all with newer electronic whistle tenders. The larger wire is usually more expensive and more challenging to work with. Classification/marker lights on the PRR steam engine, For Sale: Lionel 6-11127 Legacy Southern Pacific GS-4 Daylight, Lionel Bethlehem Steel slag car and ATLAS NYC Baggage car, Lionel O 2333790 TrainWorld & RBP Trains Chris Raines -Exclusive - Katy LEGACY ES44AC #2021, Converting MTH Rail king GS-4 PROTO 2 to ERR Cruise Commander, The Harpers Ferry Layout II - Backdrop panels completed. 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. If you're looking to only have one loop with multiple sidings then you'll only need 1 source of power for the whole layout. Many will still run on the track in your starter set, but because they are scale sized, the bodies of these cars may be slightly wider and longer than those in your set. Professionals Need: Kindle Direct Publishing Indie Digital & Print Publishing Made Easy Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime: Prime Video Direct As your layout grows so, too, will its power demand. We feature Lionel, American Flyer, MTH, Atlas O, Williams Trains, K-Line, Weaver Models, and more. The power supply that comes with these sets is usually a very small wall pack plug-in that cannot be easily expanded. Then the K's will do siding and switching yard duty. Also, you wont be able to take advantage of independent control of multiple engines on the same track without a digital controller. If your track joints aren't near perfect or if you should want to split that loop into two blocks, you'll double the voltage drop. I cant see you needing more than a capacity of 5 amps. editors report that most of the wiring issues they address involve basic principles of electricity - the stuff that Ben Franklin played with when he flew his kite. By continuing to use this site, you indicate you accept these terms. One rail is positive, the other negative. Apparently there is a difference between old conventional and new conventional power. 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. The smaller the number, the larger the wire. Of course, if you happen to have enough Number12 wire left over from a home renovation project to install all the buses on your small layout, it won't do any harm. You should take care, however, to replace worn cords and wires. But it is important to take a close look at the cars to make sure that they are a good match for your set. 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. Join Today! For most layouts, and most scales, Number14 stranded wire will work best for your bus. Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following, $12.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable). 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. Most command systems use a constant AC power supply, and trains are controlled by impulses sent through the rails. Many manufacturers assemble cases with special screws to prevent access to the inside and accidental shock. If you like fixing things, fixing an old transformer is rewarding. Ive talked more about the Lionel RW and the LW as well. 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. 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?. its the amount of engines you need to worry about, I'm currently running my entire layout on a single DC power supply that came with an Athearn engine/track set. You can also minimize voltage drop at the rail joints by soldering the rails together. 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. That might work, but it's probably borderline, especially if you are using something like a 1033 transformer that tops out at 16 volts. to run conventional you will need Legacy plus a Powermaster and Powermaster Bridge or Legacy and a TPC 300/400. Transformer Calculator KVA Calculator Full Load Amps Calculator This will spread the load of your lighted passenger consist across the two transformers. The smaller of the two is #12028, which turns your oval into this: There is also the larger 12031 plan, which has a couple extra straight track pieces included, creating this: Even better, one or more of the expansion sets can be combined to create even more interesting track layouts. A rule of thumb from the elders, (I had to go to the mountain top for this one), Add 2 more watts for Spankybird's fun-filled layout! 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. (using 4 of the 180 watt Lionel bricks) That's 10 amps per channel on all 4 channels. 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. Enter your e-mail address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by e-mail. 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. This tool will allow you calculate the KVA that you need. 4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars (15) Ages: 14 years and up. Make your Christmas complete with a Lionel HO Train under your. The load voltage and load amps must be known to calculate KVA rating. 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. To my knowledge, you should have no compatibility issues with a pure sine wave track feed with any major brand locomotive. The first Lionel electric trains were powered by wet-cell batteries, which were, of course, dangerous. PDF Lionel CW-80 Transformer Owner's Manual - thomconte.com Amazon.com: Lionel O Gauge Transformer The KW used to be really expensive, but since Lionel started making big transformers again, you can get a KW for what a 1033 used to cost, which makes it a very nice bargain today on a rugged and powerful transformer with an impressive presence. These transformers are much cheaper than they were even just a few years ago, but that just makes them a bigger bargain today. You must be signed in to continue. A. A while back, approximately 2 weeks ago while running two very lengthy loops of fast track an old transformer nearly fried (50 years old) one of my wires that I was running to my Fastrac. By only supplying power to the trains that need it, you can greatly reduce your needs. 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)! By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. This is why my wife loves me so. However, there are times when the solid wire has advantages, particularly when soldering in small locations. If you are wiring with a common rail for your blocks, then keeping the common rail the same color all the time while changing the color for the other rail in each block is also an option. 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? It would be advantageous if OGR magazine would put an article together comparing the major manufacturers transformers output waveform compatibility/ incompatibilitywith the various manufacturer's locomotives - Atlas O, Weaver, 3rd Rail, MTH , Lionel etc and conventional , DCS , TMCC, Legacy command control. --Build a Better Toy Train Layout, by John Grams and Dick Christianson. In the middle range, Lionel made a lot of other transformers. The customer will still need a step down transformer to get the 220V to 110V. LGB FAQs : Power The circuit breaker should trip with a click and the transformer should go dead. If youre buying a transformer, youll be able to easily find one that a professional refurbished and upgraded with the links I provide below. Three conductor wire is common for household use. Lionel introduced a few LionChief Plus 2.0 starter sets in 2022. Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; This tool only evaluates common voltages for North America (ie. Transformers are sized by determining the total load required (in amps). Thanks in advance for any information, Mike. These sets use a remote control which talks directly to a receiver in the locomotive. * NOTE: We do not recommend loading a transformer above 80% of its KVA rating. Get 20 articles about compact layouts and how to build them. Besides the train and track, accessories provide a lot of fun and animation to any setup. Over the years I have collected boxed(mostly liquor boxes) sets from attics.So I have a variety of transformers on hand. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of theNRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified. It was a symbiotic relationship, the engineer designed it and the tech built it, then they both troubleshot it. I went to mth Z1000, jason's train shop has the best price's I have seen for these. I thought you wanted information related to your layout not operations at a trains show. Today, with some luck, you can get one for closer to $100. The 190-wattLionel KWwas the second biggest and second best transformer of the postwar era. Lionel Rolling Stock Identification Guide. This set also includes an uncoupling track section, which will disconnect cars from one another at the touch of a button, and a bumper, which keeps cars from rolling off the end of the track. Just not quite as much. The wire can also be purchased as solid or stranded. Retrofitting a subway line into existing benchwork - and are subway sets still being made? 5 years of Classic Toy Trains at your fingertips! I'll take this information and run with it to help get me started. All about the Lionel ZW - The Silicon Underground Although it will not have any impact on the performance of the wire within, choosing multiple colors of wire, and standardizing on a specific color for each function, will go a long way in making your wiring easier to install and easier to detect flaws later on. Then power every other one with one of your smaller transformers. You don't really need a diagram -- you want to pick your interval (some would recommend as often as 3'), drill a hole down through your base, and connect a wire to a bus which runs beneath the layout and connects to your transformer (obviously, you need two wires, one for each powered rail). By creating alternate routes, more complex loops, and storage tracks, your trains will suddenly be even more interesting to watch and they will begin providing you the feeling that they are going somewhere and that you are running a small railroad. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Price Received. Add a PW dual motor F3 (4 amps) with 5 lighted cars (another 10 bulbs - 1 amp) and you are cooking (9 amps). All Lionel transformer comparisons should include the common 1033, RW, LW, KW and ZW transformers. Classic Toy Trains 5-Year Collection 2015-2019 DVD-ROM. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. Take the hint. Members enjoy 15% off any purchase in our store. Ive talked about why here. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. If your going to run anything more that what came with the set then you should probably upgrade to something a little bigger. Ryan Kunkle is a nationally recognized professional model train expert and writer with over 25 years of experience. The 1044 is just a 1033 in a . Our community is FREE to join. The Lionel ZW has four sets of posts and six controls. It states: 1.25 amps for each motor, 0.2 amps for each bulb. All of the transformers that have more than 90 Watts are in great demand today as more collectors are operating retro-layouts. Frankly, its hard to go wrong with either of these transformers, especially at todays prices. Ryan developsmodeltrainlayouts for public andprivate display. Some systems will use bluetooth technology enabling you to control the trains with your tablet or cell phone. 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. UpBright 18V AC/DC Adapter Compatible with Lionel O Gauge Fastrack 10" Remote Control Terminal Straight LionChief System Track 6-1923100 HKYF45-180230T-US DC18V 2300mA 18VDC Power Supply Cord Charger. Regardless of your scale, all model railroad switch machines fall into one of two categories, a slow-motion electric motor or a "twin coil" relay. For instance, a 100 kilovolt-ampere transformer with 8.32 kilovolts (or less) on the high side has a typical value of 2.6% impedance. Older transformers I had this issue with are RW, 1033, KW, ZW.newer transformers were all made by MTH. The two types of cars will connect together just fine, but when side-by-side in a train, they may look a bit odd. Come join the discussion about brands, various scales, repairs, storage, displays, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Keep the power supplies in an area where they get plenty of air circulation to prevent overheating. Get the newest photos, videos, stories, and more from Trains.com brands. Do not operate the CW-80 Transformer with a damaged cord, plug, or case. I am currently running about 40 bulbs, which at 0.1 A each total 4 amps! The best of the best Lionel trains are very valuable. Doug, there's definitely room for the liberal arts approach to the hobby--I have a journalism degree; how I became a computer technician was pretty much an accident. Of course, the answer to that question depends on many things. This has the added advantage that Lionel TMCC (command control) will operate correctly. The power supply that comes with these sets is usually a very small wall pack plug-in that cannot be easily expanded. Hello All: Another simple way of doing it, Only load the transformer to 75% of it's capacity, or take your total load & multiply by 125% for proper transformer sizing. What about removing flanges from diesel wheels? Below weve listed these transformers in numerical order in the Numerical Index. A solid and stranded wire of the same gauge will be the same total diameter. That means there are lots of them. How to open tamper resistant outlets, Xxcopy vs Xcopy: Command line copy utilities, Where to connect the red wire to a light switch, Brains 25 cents: The story behind the meme. Ive talked more about the KW here. With two switches, you can create an alternative route for your trains. And if the power supply does fail, it is best not to repair it on your own. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Actually the choice of transformer is secondary to the choice of control systems since you can operate O gauge trains with most any good modern transformer. I recently acquired a beautiful Lionel NH Alco 420. RemembertheVeterans. Yes, but the train will probably run too fast, depending on the output voltage of the transformer. This is because the demands for power are becoming more than your transformer can handle. Also, you must have a built-in circuit breaker to prevent a short circuit from causing permanent damage to the power supply or the trains. Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers' Henry V. I am a person with a very active inner child. Scale cars almost always have the number 7 as the second digit in their number [17623, 27241, etc]. --The O Gauge Railroading Primer, by Christopher Ritchie. Make sure you are getting the right type of power supply for your layout. There are also numerous static accessories that do not operate but add visual interest to your layout, such as the #24219 girder bridge. A small set that came with track, transformer, etc. It is best to use at least two different colors for your track wiring (one for each rail). I use to use one KW for 70 feet of main line, sidings and switching yard entry track. 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. Best bang for the buck for command are the Lionel 180W Powerhouse bricks IMO. I can remember a time when a Lionel ZW would set you back $275. A: According to Lionel's head of customer service, on the underside of their CW80 transformers, starting in late 2009, the vendor applied a sticker that states "QC50" on it. The 1033 is not the same as the 1044. Its a good transformer. Transformer Size Calculator - Electram These small power supplies are designed to supply a few amps of power. Power the odd blocks with the other transformer. Transformer capacity is rated in KVA (kilo-volt-amperes). And even when Lionel trains run on AC, they sometimes do some DC trickery. You should always, always test your transformer for safetybefore you set it up, andunplug it when youre not using it. I would check yoour connections and wire size, just to be safe. This would be more than enough for any single train and a few accessories. They run on three rail track. Safety first. Wow.thanks for all the advice so far, guys!! Now, I diconnected that old dinosaur and connected two separate smaller ones which weren't powerful enough to run my Amtrack MTH trains. Number 24 to Number20 wire will all work with most layouts. Anyway if it takes me 100 years to finish this thing one thing is for sure I will not have to worry about powering anything and everything. Expanding Your Lionel Starter Set - Trainz Sell Your Trains Yourself On eBay. Lionel Electric Toy Train Transformer Identification Guide A bigger transformer is better and always looks nicer too! OTTS Founder EXPLORE FasTrack 10" Straight Track 4-Pack 6-12032 $ 21.99 FasTrack Grade Crossing with Flashers 6-12052 $ 99.99 FasTrack O36 Curved Track 4-Pack 6-12033 $ 21.99 Legacy AMC-2 Motor Controller 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. It will require a minimum of 108' of track just to do a basic rectangle before I add any switches, etc. Lionel 1033 90 Watt Multi-control Transformer (102) $9.99 1 bid $16.00 shipping 2d 9h Lionel Type Z 250 Watt Transformer & One 167 Whistle Controllers. The Lionel Multi-control 1033 is a 90 watt transformer produced from 1948 to 1956. Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. There is the 12030 Figure-8 set, which along with the track included in your set makes your layout into this: Figure-8s are great because they create a crossing, giving the appearance of a railroad junction, they break up the oval, and the parts to create them are relatively cheap. What type is your old transformer? Thanks! Plan on using the KW's for the big layout and 1033's like I did before. But if you already have a 1034 and dont need a whistle button, go ahead and use it. It can be a great secondary power supply for lighted buildings, signals, and other accessories. While it is tempting to go with the biggest wire possible to guarantee excess capacity, there are drawbacks to putting in more than you need. Note that when working with specific products, manufacturers will often recommend a wire size and type. Does Lionel still make standard gauge trains? Do not connect this product to any other power supply. If you have to ask,your needs are a lot more modest than that. Forgot about light bulbs since I don't got some yet. Stop it with your hand to full stall, and it goes up to four amps--sixty watts--trying to pull. Lots of good tips for building a layout from two of the most experienced people in the hobby. 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.