Sell Your Trains Using a Live Auction House. Length of track or type of track doesn't (or shouldn't) matter. "O" Gauge is what Lionel is today, along with "O27". If the second digit is 9, it could be either, so be careful when considering one of them. This will solve the slowdown problem. 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. Our community is FREE to join. Why Sign In? Older transformers I had this issue with are RW, 1033, KW, ZW.newer transformers were all made by MTH. If youre comfortable doing some work yourself, you can buy a fixer-upper, and my informational links will tell you more about fixing one yourself. Connecticut Valley Railroad -- A Branch of the New York, New Haven, And Hartford. The farther from the transformer the more resistance in the rails and your engine will slow down. A Passenger consist can easily use more power than the engine. Join Today! Retrofitting a subway line into existing benchwork - and are subway sets still being made? Use this index to see additional details about the individual transformers issued by Lionel during the post-war period. Its expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. We feature Lionel, American Flyer, MTH, Atlas O, Williams Trains, K-Line, Weaver Models, and more. 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. You can use bus and feeder wires to more evenly distribute the power over your track. --I need a station for the train to stop at. For more realistic operation, you need some kind of speed control (throttle) between the 10340 Automatic Reversing Unit and your transformer. However, if you begin to add lighted cars, or more than a couple accessories, you may find that your train will not run as fast, or that it will shut off entirely. Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership. If the system's train transformer is run in Europe with a step-down transformer alone (converting only voltage from 230V to 115V AC at a 50 Hz), it may not operate as intended. HO trains are very durable and are made with high quality parts and pieces to ensure the longevity of the Lionel train brand! And again regardless of scale or manufacturer, switch machines of these two types will have similar needs and performance. Of all the questions fielded by the staff of Classic Toy Trains, inquiries regarding layout wiring top the list.While you might expect numerous questions regarding complex techniques or new technologies, CTT. This is where the Lionel transformer comparisons should begin. Make your Christmas complete with a Lionel HO Train under your. It is much easier to be ready ahead of time then to have to do some changes afterwards. If you add a lot of track and find that your train slows down as it gets farther from your transformer, you will need to run jumper wires to the opposite side of your track layout. The good news is, Lionel made a lot of good transformers over the years. 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. 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. Extending the Reach of Your Power What about removing flanges from diesel wheels? Again, if you have a very long run between switches, going a little larger is less likely to cause problems with voltage loss. Ive talked more about the KW here. The larger wire is usually more expensive and more challenging to work with. The old transformer is not really the problem, the problem is the supply wire, particularly under heavyload (or derailment without the benefit of a quicker breaker). If your layout is bigger than 48, you may actually find trains run a bit better with a KW than with a smaller transformer. For a 300W set up this will cost you about 100. Check out my O scale layout progress at MTF, does track consume power? The choice of a control system is somewhat, but not necessarily, dependent on which manufacturers engines you prefer or have the most of. But after a little while, you will likely want your train to do more, and youll start thinking along these lines: --It sure would be neat if it did more than run in a circle. The smaller the number, the larger the wire. He directs production at Lionel, the premier model train manufacturer, and he istheformer president of theConrail HistoricalSociety. I'm not sure I completely understand your question. I have had the same problem. The 110-wattLionel RW is a cheap option, and the 125-watt LW, while a bit more expensive, gives a bit more power. Past,presentand future. You can't count on a lack of compatibility issues for one Legacy locomotive being definitive for all Legacy locomotives, for example. Come join the discussion about brands, various scales, repairs, storage, displays, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! The whistle requires more power than the outfits that don't have it. This means that they are not exact 1:48 replicas of the real thing but instead are selectively compressed to negotiate the tight turns of regular Lionel track. The locomotives are battery-powered and made of durable plastic. The 1044 is just a 1033 in a different case. It was one of Lionel's more venerable postwar products, lasting on the market for 18 years from 1948 to 1966. He directs production at Lionel, the premier model train manufacturer, and he istheformer president of theConrail HistoricalSociety. While those locomotives and their sound systems are designed to operate using conventional transformers like your ZW, digital controllers are needed to activate additional features like special sound effects and coupler activation. This tool only evaluates common voltages for North America (ie. Lionel makes two expansion sets for this purpose. Max Watts on one TIU is 720W. Lionel trains value varies depending on design, materials, and era. Three conductor wire is common for household use. 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. The larger transformers could operate up to four trains independently. The transition section (#12040) allows you to connect conventional O Gauge track to FasTrack. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. 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. 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! My current layout uses about 28 sections of track (Lionel o-27). There are a few standards when it comes to the color-coding. I've got around 320 ft of track between all of the mainline, sidings, etc and I don't have any problems running my engines anywhere on the layout. One rail is positive, the other negative. 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? In this case Id go with a postwar TW 175 watt transformer. The iconic and legendary 270-watt Lionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. Some of the variables are obvious, others not so much. 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. While most of the American Flyer products are re-issues using old Gilbert tooling from the 1950s, the O scale equipment is a combination of new designs and reissues. Ryan Kunkle is a nationally recognized professional model train expert and writer with over 25 years of experience. If you found this post informative or helpful, please share it! They do not include a track or power supply, so you will need to buy both separately. 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. It is 5" long. 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. This wire is very fine and can be found in many color combinations. They run on O Gauge track, but they are not exact O Scale cars. 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. A small set that came with track, transformer, etc. By only supplying power to the trains that need it, you can greatly reduce your needs. 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. 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. The other type of cars are the Scale cars, which are exact or near-exact replicas of actual freight cars. What does a Lionel transformer do? Digital command control systems (DCC) uses digital information to control the electrical power to the train. Find 500+ popular train rides, museums, and railroad vacation destinations in the U.S and Canada! 24v, 120v, 208v, 240v, 480v, and 600v). The two types of cars will connect together just fine, but when side-by-side in a train, they may look a bit odd. The polarities can be reversed to change the direction of the train. The customer will still need a step down transformer to get the 220V to 110V. 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. This has the added advantage that Lionel TMCC (command control) will operate correctly. A small set that came with track, transformer, etc. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. The article you suggest would be a daunting task, as you'd have to gather virtually every known locomotive and transformer! 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. In either case, however, voltage and amperage draw is low and peak for only brief periods. Effort. Solid wire is preferable as it is much easier to solder to the rails. You don't want to try to solder even Number 16 gauge wire right to your rails, however. http://www.lccuk.org.uk/lccuk Regards Nick Save Reply Quote N Nick12DMC Registered For a transformer less or equal to 500 kilovolt-amperes, a typical %Z impedance may vary between 2.3% and 5.2% based on the voltage level. Ive written more about the Lionel ZW here. I went to mth Z1000, jason's train shop has the best price's I have seen for these. Reverse the above if planning to run mostly Lionel and go with the Lionel command system, either the full Legacy system or the upcoming CAB-1L and just add a Track Power Controller and a cable to run most MTH engines in conventional with the Lionel systems. --The O Gauge Railroading Primer, by Christopher Ritchie. I cant see you needing more than a capacity of 5 amps. Subscribers, sign in to access exclusive content. American Flyer Trains were made in several gauges. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. 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. Lionel makes a seemingly infinite number of cars to in a variety of colors, types, and road names. They give a great deal of power in a single handled transformer, and if you run trains along with another person, it can be more convenient for you to both have a smaller transformer than for two people to huddle around a larger KW or ZW transformer and share its handles. It was a symbiotic relationship, the engineer designed it and the tech built it, then they both troubleshot it. The accessory activation track (#12029) is used to activate Lionel trackside accessories. 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. A solid and stranded wire of the same gauge will be the same total diameter. It can be a great secondary power supply for lighted buildings, signals, and other accessories. Just not quite as much. I'll take this information and run with it to help get me started. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. For safety reasons, the batteries were soon replaced by a 110 volt transformer. Transformers are sized by determining the total load required (in amps). Hello, I'm new to this site, and completely new to toy trains also - so please pardon my ignorance! Some great beginner accessories are the #12052 Fastrack Highway Signal set, which is a set of highway signals that blink as the train goes by. Classic Toy Trains 5-Year Collection 2015-2019 DVD-ROM. Here are a few: --The Lionel Fastrack Book, by Robert Schleicher. Multi-conductor wires with many strands of finer wire are more common for telecommunications and electronics. All power supplies will be rated for volts, amps, and watts. A new ZW will run you in the neighborhood of $450.00 or a little less depending on your dealership. Serious or fatal injuries may result. Power the odd blocks with the other transformer. Forgot about light bulbs since I don't got some yet. Ran 6 motors [MPC's]. Then the K's will do siding and switching yard duty. The iconic and legendary 270-wattLionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. Lots of good tips for building a layout from two of the most experienced people in the hobby. Faq No: 1029 What size Lionel transformer do I need? Sell Your Trains Yourself At Train Shows. The same is true for other electronic projects around your layout and inside buildings, train cars, and even locomotives. The multi-conductor wire is also available. I recently read an article/product review in the OGR magazine for the new Lioneltransformerand wassurprisedto learn that not all voltage outputwave-formsare created equal (pure sine wave versus some type of clipped sine wave). "What size wire should I use?" It has FasTrack connectors on one end and O Gauge track pins on the other. Today Lionel includes the same basic track oval in all starter sets8 36-inch diameter curve sections, 3 10 straight track sections, and 1 10 straight terminal section, which create this layout: Until recently, to add to this layout, you would need to buy separate straight, curved, and other track sections and wing it in creating a larger setup. The KW has constant voltage outputs for accessories, the ZW don't have that feature just four handles for supplying power to four tracks or accessories if you like, both have whistle & direction feature. Yes, but the train will probably run too fast, depending on the output voltage of the transformer. To amplify CTvalley's very valid instructions: A forum community dedicated to model train owners and enthusiasts. 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. They give a true 180 watts and have excellent electronic breakers. It's expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. As your needs grow, you can employ a larger transformer of fixed voltage. The fraction of your transformer's power lost in the track will therefore be well under 10 percent, since it is proportional to the voltage drop. All Lionel transformer comparisons should include the common 1033, RW, LW, KW and ZW transformers. It is best to use at least two different colors for your track wiring (one for each rail). Besides the train and track, accessories provide a lot of fun and animation to any setup. If youre looking for Lionel transformer comparisons, youve come to the right place. These systems still require a power supply but it only needs to supply a constant voltage to the rails. Right now I am running 8 motors on one KW [the new one I found] and got the old one for reserve. I have noticed that my old transformers do not work well or not work at all with newer electronic whistle tenders. Because of this, like with lighting and accessories, your power supply and wiring for switch machines do not need to be as robust. If you have a starter set and have had thoughts like this, youre not alone. Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers' Henry V. I am a person with a very active inner child. 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. As time goes on you can add higher wattage bricks one by one. The larger transformers could operate up to four trains independently. At fifteen volts which is about as much as I can put to it without jumping the track, it pulls an average of 2.5 amps, or 37.5 watts--less than one tenth of the transformer capacity of 400. Dave: That certainly qualifies, don't forget the anti-gun lobbyist with the picket sign's. Effort. 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. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. Many manufacturers assemble cases with special screws to prevent access to the inside and accidental shock. If mixing both non-command as well as command engines, both by the way will run without any thing other than the appropriate transformer, it really depends on the budget. Lionel Rolling Stock Identification Guide. The 1033 is not the same as the 1044. 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. What size Lionel transformer do I need? Transformer capacity is rated in KVA (kilo-volt-amperes). 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. 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. Get 20 articles about compact layouts and how to build them. And of course, individual Fastrack sections are also available. Ryan developsmodeltrainlayouts for public andprivate display. 4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars (15) Ages: 14 years and up. 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. This is why my wife loves me so. I'm sure I'll need more help along the way, so I'll be checking back in with more silly questions! Not unlike the relationship between the locomotive engineer and the fireman. The Atlas and Bachmann 80 watt transformers, they are one and the same, can be had for around $75.00. Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading. QUOTE: by Skyray "Typical engineer--you need a technician. Tech Support for the OGR Forum (NOT FOR TRAINS), PRR fellas!lets build an S2!! 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. In some cases. It also has an optional bell sound that can be turned on and off. Lionel Multi-Car Freight Sets + More MTH Halloween! In three-rail systems, the outer rails are both grounded, and the center rail is "hot.". The best of the best Lionel trains are very valuable. 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 12V DC to 120V AC 60Hz pure sine inverter. 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. Of course, the answer to that question depends on many things. Mike, The size of the transformer is dictated by what you want to run, the more you run the more power you will need. Sell Your Trains Through an Online Auction Service. Which Lionel transformer do I need? you ask? Lionel made a lot of other transformers over the years.
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