Here are some simple definitions for these electrical terms: Most power supplies will be labeled as to the scales they are meant to handle. Problem with Rail King Protocol Sounds reversing unit, My D-190 Back in Action After Move to to NC, Caboose Identification - late era vintage, Continuing Saga Newtown Hardwrare House WIP. Although all Lionel cars operate on O Gauge track, the bodies of the cars are made in two slightly different sizes. 10 Easy Ways to Improve a Christmas Train Display, Wiring a Model Railroad for Block Operation, How to Build and Wire Reverse Loops for Model Trains, How to Choose the Right Transformer for Your Model Trains, Compatibility of Different Model Train Brands, HO Scale Track Plans for Model Train Layouts, buildings, streets, and other scenic accessories. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. Lots of good information for building any size O Gauge layout. I bet they would be great for running lights and unloading the main transformer. The insulation on the outside of the wire also varies greatly. Tech Support for the OGR Forum (NOT FOR TRAINS), PRR fellas!lets build an S2!! Everything you need to get going is included, its reliable, and setup is usually very easy. And even when Lionel trains run on AC, they sometimes do some DC trickery. Apparently there is a difference between old conventional and new conventional power. A solid and stranded wire of the same gauge will be the same total diameter. Also, I found an old guide printed by lionel on power requirements. You can't count on a lack of compatibility issues for one Legacy locomotive being definitive for all Legacy locomotives, for example. Wow.thanks for all the advice so far, guys!! VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. OTTS Founder And again regardless of scale or manufacturer, switch machines of these two types will have similar needs and performance. As the train goes by, the door to the shed opens and a figure pops out, and once the train has passed the figure re-enters the building and the door shuts. These sets use a remote control which talks directly to a receiver in the locomotive. Whatever colors and pattern you choose, just make sure to keep a good notebook handy to reference later. Viola, DCS on alternate power blocks, Max signal, Happiness. Electric Trains make great power supplies, depending on usage, on a DCS controlled layout. --Heck, watching one train run is great, Ill bet TWO would be even more fun! The Lionel Multi-control 1033 is a 90 watt transformer produced from 1948 to 1956. Frankly, its hard to go wrong with either of these transformers, especially at todays prices. If they do, follow their recommendations. DCC decoders are one good example where the wire colors are critical. Right now I am running 8 motors on one KW [the new one I found] and got the old one for reserve. The next evolution in model train control is radio- or bluetooth-controlled trains. This is where the Lionel transformer comparisons should begin. How do you choose the right power supply for your model trains? The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. The Lionel 1033 can be used for small or medium-sized layouts. The same is true for other electronic projects around your layout and inside buildings, train cars, and even locomotives. June 5, 2022; cleveland open chess 2021; mexican martial arts xilam I have one R transformer from which I run everything - but only 1 train at a time and a few accessories for a layout in a space about 24 by 10 ft. --The O Gauge Railroading Primer, by Christopher Ritchie. Our transformer sizing calculator allows you to obtain the minimum single or three-phase transformer size required based on the load you need to power. If you need a device that converts from different voltages so it can power another device, then a transformer will fulfill that role perfectly. The iconic and legendary 270-watt Lionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. Not wanting to give up, I experimented with an 80 watt modern Lionel transformer and got great results. All of the transformers that have more than 90 Watts are in great demand today as more collectors are operating retro-layouts. Digital command control systems (DCC) uses digital information to control the electrical power to the train. The backside of a control panel can turn into a "rat's nest" of wiring very quickly. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. When they were manufactured by The American Flyer Manufacturing Company, they were made in Standard Gauge and a version of "O" gauge. Make sure you are getting the right type of power supply for your layout. It has FasTrack connectors on one end and O Gauge track pins on the other. Effort. Thanks in advance for any information, Mike. If you have to ask,your needs are a lot more modest than that. The Lionel motor is a collection of four electromagnetic plates with a rotating sweeper arm called a brush. JavaScript is disabled. As time goes on you can add higher wattage bricks one by one. 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. Most people start with a pre-packaged train set. In three-rail systems, the outer rails are both grounded, and the center rail is "hot.". Here are some guidelines for the most common wiring jobs you'll find. Good choices are the Lionel 32923 Accessory Transformer, or another 80-watt transformer like the one included in your set, #14198. 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. Tales From Harmon Shops, WTB: LIONEL AUTRORACKS SPECIFICALLY SOUTHERN,GRAND TRUNK,BNSF,FERROMEX. There are many advantages in repairing or reconditioning your transformers. Ill try to find a link to it for you. Actually it was a train show with varied trains of all different eras being run I have mostly MTH trains though and they wouldn't run because the transformer that was running wasn't powerful enough to cycle through my MTH trainsounds. The transformer, when operated at the lower frequency, may . 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. You have pretty much pointed up the major problem, everything is different. As you can see, a lot of great helpers here. What size Lionel transformer do I need? 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. This would be more than enough for any single train and a few accessories. Classic cars have a 5 or 6 as their second digit [25051, 16686, etc]. This is a old school approach for sizing cables & transformers or appliances in the electrical trade, & has never let us down. Lionel CW80's can be found for around $50 at Greenberg and other train shows. 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. The two types of cars will connect together just fine, but when side-by-side in a train, they may look a bit odd. 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. 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. This comes primarily from the locomotive(s) but also from lights and other accessories. $7.89 delivery Feb 2 - 6. Get the newest photos, videos, stories, and more from Trains.com brands. The wire can also be purchased as solid or stranded. 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. As your layout grows beyond the basic oval of track that comes with most starter sets, a good power distribution network is essential to getting consistent performance from your train all the way around. Use the CW-80 Transformer only for its intended purpose. You may never use all the amps, but it's usually cheaper to grow into a power supply than to continually upgrade. Can't plug into outlet? That means there are lots of them. Lionel and other train manufacturers have worked hard to make adding to a set easy, affordable, and fun. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. I'll take this information and run with it to help get me started. ransformers were issued by Lionel thoughout the Post War period. The chances are that little power supply isn't going to keep the train running over a full mile, however. Ive written more about the Lionel ZW here. 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. 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. Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. is always one of the first questions asked when someone starts to build a model railroad. You can also run Lionel TMCC/Legacy Command Engines using the MTH DCS system with the addition of a Lionel command base and an additional cable. Lionel makes two expansion sets for this purpose. If you want a station for your trains to stop at, there are both station platforms [#24159] as well as full sized stations [#14257]. 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. It is also a good idea to run your accessories off of a separate power supply and wire grid from the trains themselves. In either case, however, voltage and amperage draw is low and peak for only brief periods. Members enjoy 15% off any purchase in our store. I have had the same problem. And that means theyre affordable. Please see our article on Fastrack here for more information. Stop it with your hand to full stall, and it goes up to four amps--sixty watts--trying to pull. Sell Your Trains To A Train Dealer or a Single Buyer. Effort. Ive talked more about the Lionel RW and the LW as well. Transformer capacity is rated in KVA (kilo-volt-amperes). 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)! I cant see you needing more than a capacity of 5 amps. To amplify CTvalley's very valid instructions: A forum community dedicated to model train owners and enthusiasts. This type of transformer is cheap, its reliable, and its easy to find. My layout I am building is 5 sheets of 4x8 plywood and it will probaly take me 100 years to build it (I hope I have that much time left). I know this has nothing to do with Mike's original problem but is more of a reflection on Trainman's reply. However, there are times when the solid wire has advantages, particularly when soldering in small locations. Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership. Understanding Electrical Supplies and Controls. If you like fixing things, fixing an old transformer is rewarding. 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. When running a mixed bag train show with new and old trains of mixed types such as Loinel and MTH which is better? HO gauge is very popular because of its size. And of course, individual Fastrack sections are also available. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. 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. The thing that eats current is a lot of light bulbs on the layout. The customer will still need a step down transformer to get the 220V to 110V. 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. The smaller the number, the larger the wire. Lionel developed and perfected its model designs and layouts during the Pre-War Era (1901-1942). 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. All Lionel transformer comparisons should include the common 1033, RW, LW, KW and ZW transformers. http://www.lccuk.org.uk/lccuk Regards Nick Save Reply Quote N Nick12DMC Registered Understanding the difference is important in getting the right power supply for your needs. If the transformer fails, you most likely have a short or overload somewhere in the control circuit. The Atlas and Bachmann 80 watt transformers, they are one and the same, can be had for around $75.00. A. I really doubt you will need more than that. I'm sure I'll need more help along the way, so I'll be checking back in with more silly questions! And if the power supply does fail, it is best not to repair it on your own.
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