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. QUOTE: by Skyray "Typical engineer--you need a technician. Keep the power supplies in an area where they get plenty of air circulation to prevent overheating. David, looking at your layout I notice there is a two rail and a three rail ? As time goes on you can add higher wattage bricks one by one. 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. The 190-wattLionel KWwas the second biggest and second best transformer of the postwar era. Effort. Three conductor wire is common for household use. I justhave a very basic 027 set (guessin' mid 80's?). The article you suggest would be a daunting task, as you'd have to gather virtually every known locomotive and transformer! Solid wire is preferable as it is much easier to solder to the rails. Do not operate the CW-80 Transformer with a damaged cord, plug, or case. Can't plug into outlet? $7.89 delivery Feb 2 - 6. 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. Ok our layout is 10 x 20 = 200 sq ft x 2 = 400 watts. This drawing illustrates all of the key functionality of a Lionel KW transformer. The 1033 is not the same as the 1044. 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. All Lionel transformer comparisons should include the common 1033, RW, LW, KW and ZW transformers. 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. 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. Needless to say the "Spring into Spring" train show very nearly became unsprung! 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. If you plan to add a second loop for another train in the near future, the 14198 would be a wise investment. American Flyer Trains were made in several gauges. 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. The iconic and legendary 270-wattLionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. 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. When running a mixed bag train show with new and old trains of mixed types such as Loinel and MTH which is better? 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. Please see our article on Fastrack here for more information. As your needs grow, you can employ a larger transformer of fixed voltage. That could also be the reason the other transformers don't work. A locomotive on a mile-long loop will draw as many amps as it does on a 4x8 platform. Controlled Magnetics has the manufacturing experience, knowledge, and facilities to repair a wide variety of electrical power transformers. It is not uncommon to see 50-year-old transformers still going strong on a model railroad. He directs production at Lionel, the premier model train manufacturer, and he istheformer president of theConrail HistoricalSociety. This works for command control layouts too, since those parked trains are still drawing some current. They are fun to have. The farther from the transformer the more resistance in the rails and your engine will slow down. Used a 1033 for accessories and lights. Effort. 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. Transformers are designed to fail if a short in the secondary or control side occurs. The whistle requires more power than the outfits that don't have it. 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. Lionel Postwar 1033 Transformer Watch on Price Received. The circuit breaker should trip with a click and the transformer should go dead. Understanding Electrical Supplies and Controls. Lionel introduced a few LionChief Plus 2.0 starter sets in 2022. This thing has more power then I will ever need. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. White and black are common selections. Been there, done that. My current layout uses about 28 sections of track (Lionel o-27). A small set that came with track, transformer, etc. Some DCC systems also recommend solid wire for certain applications. (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. 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. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. 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. Its a good transformer. Ive talked more about the KW here. We use a ZW 275 and a KW on this, so 405 watts. Lionel Multi-Car Freight Sets + More MTH Halloween! The 110-wattLionel RW is a cheap option, and the 125-watt LW, while a bit more expensive, gives a bit more power. As cheap as the 1033 is, if youre going to buy a transformer, you might as well pay a few dollars more to get a 1033. Although I am an electrical engineer, I just add stuff until the transformer gets too warm and then I branch off and add another. Lots of good tips for building a layout from two of the most experienced people in the hobby. 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. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I bet they would be great for running lights and unloading the main transformer. Which Lionel transformer do I need? you ask? 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). --The O Gauge Railroading Primer, by Christopher Ritchie. Early issues used a Bakelite case while later releases had a case made out of plastic. I know this has nothing to do with Mike's original problem but is more of a reflection on Trainman's reply. Checklist Transformer Size Calculator When sizing a transformer, you need to know the kilovolt-amps (KVA) that your machine requires. It will require a minimum of 108' of track just to do a basic rectangle before I add any switches, etc. The Lionel motor is a collection of four electromagnetic plates with a rotating sweeper arm called a brush. Just not quite as much. Because of this, like with lighting and accessories, your power supply and wiring for switch machines do not need to be as robust. The chances are that little power supply isn't going to keep the train running over a full mile, however. What does a Lionel transformer do? And even when Lionel trains run on AC, they sometimes do some DC trickery. As far as new transformers go, someone else may be able to help more than I can. 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. Our community is FREE to join. 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?. This wire is very fine and can be found in many color combinations. Its a bargain at that price. Beginners Ask Trains New trains; old transformers. 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. The insulation on the outside of the wire also varies greatly. Sell Your Trains Through an Online Auction Service. 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. 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. What do I need to do that with? This tool only evaluates common voltages for North America (ie. For many first-time train buyers, once the initial excitement of setting up the train and watching it run has passed, the desire to make it do more usually begins. The multi-conductor wire is also available. Stop it with your hand to full stall, and it goes up to four amps--sixty watts--trying to pull. The house's current is reduced to the required low voltage by Trainmaster Transformers. For a classic setup of a single freight train running on a 48 (or smaller) sheet of plywood, a 90-wattLionel 1033 or 1044 is an excellent choice. If you want a transformer with power to spare go get a ZW! The locomotives are battery-powered and made of durable plastic. What size Lionel transformer do I need? Transformers are sized by determining the total load required (in amps). 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. Although all Lionel cars operate on O Gauge track, the bodies of the cars are made in two slightly different sizes. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content. 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. 4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars (15) Ages: 14 years and up. 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. to run conventional you will need Legacy plus a Powermaster and Powermaster Bridge or Legacy and a TPC 300/400. 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? The first is the traditional or classic size, which are the cars that match starter sets. Click here to learn about the Unlimited Membership. A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life.". HO gauge is very popular because of its size. The larger transformers could operate up to four trains independently. 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. With two switches, you can create an alternative route for your trains. 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. properly wired transformer can handle any amount of track. The two types of cars will connect together just fine, but when side-by-side in a train, they may look a bit odd. Some systems will use bluetooth technology enabling you to control the trains with your tablet or cell phone. As your layout grows so, too, will its power demand. Its expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. The power supply that comes with these sets is usually a very small wall pack plug-in that cannot be easily expanded. Lest I offend, in another plane of existence I was an electronics tech. Will get a Z4000 one day [this summer probably, unless I find a good deal on an older ZW] just to say I have one. Again, if you have a very long run between switches, going a little larger is less likely to cause problems with voltage loss. 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. 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. The motor takes electricity through a small wire attached to a metal wheel that rests on the middle rail underneath. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. To amplify CTvalley's very valid instructions: A forum community dedicated to model train owners and enthusiasts. Effort. And that means theyre affordable. Hello, I'm new to this site, and completely new to toy trains also - so please pardon my ignorance! Length of track or type of track doesn't (or shouldn't) matter. Best bang for the buck for command are the Lionel 180W Powerhouse bricks IMO. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. The Lionel Track & Power catalog is BACK with the latest information for more ways to make your layout even bigger, better and more powerful! Amperes = VA/Secondary Volts or 40VA/28V = 1.43 amperes. Make sure you are getting the right type of power supply for your layout. In the middle range, Lionel made a lot of other transformers. I'm not sure I completely understand your question. Most people start with a pre-packaged train set. It is much easier to be ready ahead of time then to have to do some changes afterwards. And both of them give more wattage per handle than a KW or ZW. OTTS Founder As you can see, a lot of great helpers here. The Lionel ZW has four sets of posts and six controls. 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. Viola, DCS on alternate power blocks, Max signal, Happiness. However, there are times when the solid wire has advantages, particularly when soldering in small locations. We feature Lionel, American Flyer, MTH, Atlas O, Williams Trains, K-Line, Weaver Models, and more. 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. Serious or fatal injuries may result. 12V DC to 120V AC 60Hz pure sine inverter. Lionel has a new 180 watt transformer due out soon that will be a nice upgrade. 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. Transformer sizing for new systems I think the RW is a bit better value, but that could just be timing. Lionel 1033 Transformer Renovation Part I Peter Fenzel 306 subscribers Subscribe 11K views 3 years ago Lionel 1033 Transformer gets cleaned up, a new power cord, a new whistle rectifier. Just not quite as much. Here at Trainz, we carry all of the products you will need to go from a starter set to a miniature railroad empire. Note that when working with specific products, manufacturers will often recommend a wire size and type. I paid $75 + shipping for mine a year ago. The thing that eats current is a lot of light bulbs on the layout. 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. 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. The customer will still need a step down transformer to get the 220V to 110V. 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). CW80 Transformer. Another classic is the Automatic Gateman. A small set that came with track, transformer, etc. The best of the best Lionel trains are very valuable. And of course, individual Fastrack sections are also available. I thought an ENGINEER was the guy driving the train? A solid and stranded wire of the same gauge will be the same total diameter. While better starter sets usually include a more robust transformer, as a general rule the power pack supplied with your starter set is just thata start. Adding lights to buildings, streets, and other scenic accessories usually do not require anywhere near the amperage demand of the trains themselves. The Lionel 1033 can be used for small or medium-sized layouts. Here are some simple definitions for these electrical terms: Most power supplies will be labeled as to the scales they are meant to handle. Number 26 to 20 wire (depending on the length of your bus) will be sufficient for most applications. To build on the point you are running MTH trains and therefore will probably go DCS eventually: I would break the track into blocks of about 5 feet in length. In addition to the wire itself, connectors like crimp-on terminals and terminal blocks must also be purchased in larger (and more expensive) sizes. However, if you begin adding more than 1 or 2 cars, be sure to get some extra track, or your longer train will be chasing its tail very quickly. no it isn't. This is because the demands for power are becoming more than your transformer can handle.