Lionel trains value varies depending on design, materials, and era. 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. Number 26 to 20 wire (depending on the length of your bus) will be sufficient for most applications. 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. Which Lionel transformer do I need? you ask? Now, I diconnected that old dinosaur and connected two separate smaller ones which weren't powerful enough to run my Amtrack MTH trains. This is why my wife loves me so. 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. Not really a how-to-build-a-layout book, but it is a good general introduction to the hobby full of interesting stuff. Price Received. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. 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?. The 110-wattLionel RW is a cheap option, and the 125-watt LW, while a bit more expensive, gives a bit more power. The smallest wire you can work with will be more than sufficient. Beginners Ask Trains New trains; old transformers. From 25 Watts to 275 Watts, a Lionel transformer could be found for every power requirment from simple circles of track to extensive railroads. Big Ed Railroad Tycoon What does a Lionel transformer do? That said, if youre uncomfortable fixing a transformer, I wont look down on you for buying one someone else fixed up. 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. 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. Viola, DCS on alternate power blocks, Max signal, Happiness. But if you already have a 1034 and dont need a whistle button, go ahead and use it. That's about enough to run a single locomotive and perhaps power a few lighted accessories or passenger cars. Transformer capacity is rated in KVA (kilo-volt-amperes). As far as new transformers go, someone else may be able to help more than I can. That could also be the reason the other transformers don't work. It will require a minimum of 108' of track just to do a basic rectangle before I add any switches, etc. As your needs grow, you can employ a larger transformer of fixed voltage. Dave, you're so eloquent and inspiring - my undergraduate degree was in American Studies, now I'm in charge of among other things all our college's technology - also self-taught.. Hello All: Re: Dave Farquhar, Dave you left out sense of humor Regards Steve. The 190-wattLionel KWwas the second biggest and second best transformer of the postwar era. Extending the Reach of Your Power 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. This tool will allow you calculate the KVA that you need. If the transformer fails, you most likely have a short or overload somewhere in the control circuit. Tech Support for the OGR Forum (NOT FOR TRAINS), PRR fellas!lets build an S2!! The typ miniature incandecents we use average about 100 ma of current each. --I need a station for the train to stop at. David, looking at your layout I notice there is a two rail and a three rail ? I talk more in depth about the 1033 here. The circuit breaker should trip with a click and the transformer should go dead. If you are using only LEDs for lighting, you could get away with even less. Ryan Kunkle is a nationally recognized professional model train expert and writer with over 25 years of experience. $7.89 delivery Feb 2 - 6. 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. 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. In either case, however, voltage and amperage draw is low and peak for only brief periods. I'll take this information and run with it to help get me started. 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 customer will still need a step down transformer to get the 220V to 110V. The smaller the number, the larger the wire. My current layout uses about 28 sections of track (Lionel o-27). 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. (using 4 of the 180 watt Lionel bricks) That's 10 amps per channel on all 4 channels. For more realistic operation, you need some kind of speed control (throttle) between the 10340 Automatic Reversing Unit and your transformer. Besides the train and track, accessories provide a lot of fun and animation to any setup. Any of the below transformers from M.T.H. The preferred choice for wiring control panels is telephone or telecommunications wire. Lionel CW80's can be found for around $50 at Greenberg and other train shows. "O" Gauge is what Lionel is today, along with "O27". 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. LGB throttles 51070, 52120 and 52121 will all work with the 50061 and other LGB transformers. Find 500+ popular train rides, museums, and railroad vacation destinations in the U.S and Canada! Mark. It has FasTrack connectors on one end and O Gauge track pins on the other. Thanks in advance for any information, Mike. How do you choose the right power supply for your model trains? From 25 Watts to 275 Watts, a Lionel transformer could be found for every power requirment from simple circles of track to extensive railroads. Because of this, like with lighting and accessories, your power supply and wiring for switch machines do not need to be as robust. We're sorry. --Heck, watching one train run is great, Ill bet TWO would be even more fun! But Lionel now produces four Track Expansion Sets, which expand this basic loop into something more exciting. The CW-80 Transformer was meant to operate on 120-volt, 60-Hertz power. Some people even find it fun. 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. ransformers were issued by Lionel thoughout the Post War period. 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. And again regardless of scale or manufacturer, switch machines of these two types will have similar needs and performance. Not wanting to give up, I experimented with an 80 watt modern Lionel transformer and got great results. First, a few general notes about choosing wire. I would check yoour connections and wire size, just to be safe. (Electrical Contractor with dear old Dad for 30 years) Regards Steve. Heavier insulation not only adds to the cost of the wire but also makes it harder to bend. It can be a great secondary power supply for lighted buildings, signals, and other accessories. The iconic and legendary 270-wattLionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. Effort. Within that range, it is generally recommended to go for the most robust power supply possible. Join Today! In the middle range, Lionel made a lot of other transformers. Daniel Defense firearms, parts and accessories, http://www.modeltrainforum.com/showthread.php?t=9670, http://www.modeltrainforum.com/album.php?u=2334, 14X16 Switching style [url]http://www.modeltrainforum.com/showthread.php?t=8241, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkMHvbckuBLo3pJN1FGE1Gg. And both of them give more wattage per handle than a KW or ZW. The first is the traditional or classic size, which are the cars that match starter sets. For a passenger train with lighted cars, getting a little more power isnt a bad idea. Lionel is also introducing a new 180 watt transformer to accompany the 80 watt CW 80. 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. Yes, but the train will probably run too fast, depending on the output voltage of the transformer. 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. 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. These sets use a remote control which talks directly to a receiver in the locomotive. It is not uncommon to see 50-year-old transformers still going strong on a model railroad. Lest I offend, in another plane of existence I was an electronics tech. Tales From Harmon Shops, WTB: LIONEL AUTRORACKS SPECIFICALLY SOUTHERN,GRAND TRUNK,BNSF,FERROMEX. Ive talked more about the Lionel RW and the LW as well. For safety reasons, the batteries were soon replaced by a 110 volt transformer. --The O Gauge Railroading Primer, by Christopher Ritchie. Again, an independent power supply and distribution bus is a good idea for your switches. I'm guessing the MTH Z1000 is around $100 and the other suggestions are much more expensive. 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.
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