what size lionel transformer do i need

Many manufacturers assemble cases with special screws to prevent access to the inside and accidental shock. This will spread the load of your lighted passenger consist across the two transformers. I had 3 lionel cw80's and two quit working. Lionel makes two expansion sets for this purpose. Ive talked about why here. The motor takes electricity through a small wire attached to a metal wheel that rests on the middle rail underneath. If you want a station for your trains to stop at, there are both station platforms [#24159] as well as full sized stations [#14257]. Needless to say the "Spring into Spring" train show very nearly became unsprung! 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 whistle requires more power than the outfits that don't have it. Ran 6 motors [MPC's]. Price Received. This conserves the trains' power supply for their needs and makes troubleshooting much easier. Here are a couple examples: As you can see, with a bit of experimentation and imagination, numerous different track layouts can be created. Adding lights to buildings, streets, and other scenic accessories usually do not require anywhere near the amperage demand of the trains themselves. Are you running command or conventional? Click here to learn about the Unlimited Membership. Understanding the difference is important in getting the right power supply for your needs. Keeping in mind that I will likely continue to add to the layout as my addiction develops! 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. If the second digit is 9, it could be either, so be careful when considering one of them. 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. If youre looking for Lionel transformer comparisons, youve come to the right place. Get updates and special offers via email from Trains.com brands! Length of track or type of track doesn't (or shouldn't) matter. God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of theNRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified. 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. Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; This diagram shows all of the controls and the pinout for the Lionel RW transformer. All power supplies will be rated for volts, amps, and watts. 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?. I use to use one KW for 70 feet of main line, sidings and switching yard entry track. 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). As you progress with your layout there are a lot of people here who will help you with any questions you have. For more realistic operation, you need some kind of speed control (throttle) between the 10340 Automatic Reversing Unit and your transformer. Some people even find it fun. This is interesting stuff. Lionel has a new 180 watt transformer due out soon that will be a nice upgrade. And even when Lionel trains run on AC, they sometimes do some DC trickery. A solid and stranded wire of the same gauge will be the same total diameter. 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. Solid wire is preferable as it is much easier to solder to the rails. What size Lionel transformer do I need? Some systems will use bluetooth technology enabling you to control the trains with your tablet or cell phone. Sign-up for email today! The house's current is reduced to the required low voltage by Trainmaster Transformers. 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. And both of them give more wattage per handle than a KW or ZW. It has FasTrack connectors on one end and O Gauge track pins on the other. $2799. I talk more in depth about the 1033 here. Not really a how-to-build-a-layout book, but it is a good general introduction to the hobby full of interesting stuff. In either case, however, voltage and amperage draw is low and peak for only brief periods. 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. 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. 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. 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. He directs production at Lionel, the premier model train manufacturer, and he istheformer president of theConrail HistoricalSociety. 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. If you have time, check out the "Coffee Pot". 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 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. * NOTE: We do not recommend loading a transformer above 80% of its KVA rating. If the transformer fails, you most likely have a short or overload somewhere in the control circuit. There are also numerous static accessories that do not operate but add visual interest to your layout, such as the #24219 girder bridge. Lionel Trains|MTH Train|Lionel Train Sets| HO model Trains| G Scale|Dept 56 Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. Mint-in-box examples of vintage Lionel trains are still valuable and will continue to appreciate in value over time, because there are so few of them. And if the power supply does fail, it is best not to repair it on your own. Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following, $12.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable). 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. 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. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. Turn on the throttle, then short the A and U posts (in the case of Lionel) or variable and base posts (in the case of Flyer) with a screwdriver or a piece of wire for a maximum of five seconds. M3103. 12V DC to 120V AC 60Hz pure sine inverter. Keep the power supplies in an area where they get plenty of air circulation to prevent overheating. And again regardless of scale or manufacturer, switch machines of these two types will have similar needs and performance. Some DCC systems also recommend solid wire for certain applications. 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. What size Lionel transformer do I need? Most people start with a pre-packaged train set. Like command control, these trains still require a constant voltage to the rails. 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. Here are some guidelines for the most common wiring jobs you'll find. 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? 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. The load voltage and load amps must be known to calculate KVA rating. They run on O Gauge track, but they are not exact O Scale cars. It does not work with O27. Transformers are sized by determining the total load required (in amps). Forgot about light bulbs since I don't got some yet. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. What type is your old transformer? 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. Its expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. In some cases. Dang, this math makes my head hurt. [:)]. This signifies compatibility with 50 Hertz power. Come join the discussion about brands, various scales, repairs, storage, displays, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! 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. A bigger transformer is better and always looks nicer too! Over the years I have collected boxed(mostly liquor boxes) sets from attics.So I have a variety of transformers on hand. I bet they would be great for running lights and unloading the main transformer. Never Enough Room, Time or Money for all the Trains! The good news is, Lionel made a lot of good transformers over the years. As your needs grow, you can employ a larger transformer of fixed voltage. If you're experiencing problems with your wiring due to humidity, for example, you are going to face even greater issues with the trains and tracks themselves. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. David, looking at your layout I notice there is a two rail and a three rail ? 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. 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. Like tankist stated.It's only running multiple engines that I run into issues. That might work, but it's probably borderline, especially if you are using something like a 1033 transformer that tops out at 16 volts. 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. Then the K's will do siding and switching yard duty. Ryan developsmodeltrainlayouts for public andprivate display. Not wanting to give up, I experimented with an 80 watt modern Lionel transformer and got great results. The Lionel ZW is Lionel's most iconic transformer of the 1950s and 1960s, and perhaps one of its most iconic products, period. Everything you need to get going is included, its reliable, and setup is usually very easy. That means there are lots of them. 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. 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. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Remember, the only silly question is the one that you did not ask. The farther from the transformer the more resistance in the rails and your engine will slow down. 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. Our community is FREE to join. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content. They are fun to have. This would be more than enough for any single train and a few accessories. (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. I didnt mention the 1034 above because its easier to find a 1033. They're controlled with a simple handheld remote control and run on easy-to-connect plastic track. The Lionel motor is a collection of four electromagnetic plates with a rotating sweeper arm called a brush. is always one of the first questions asked when someone starts to build a model railroad. These systems still require a power supply but it only needs to supply a constant voltage to the rails. Ryan Kunkle is a nationally recognized professional model train expert and writer with over 25 years of experience. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. This drawing illustrates all of the key functionality of a Lionel KW transformer. American Flyer Trains were made in several gauges. In addition to the wire itself, connectors like crimp-on terminals and terminal blocks must also be purchased in larger (and more expensive) sizes. Plan on using the KW's for the big layout and 1033's like I did before. You can use bus and feeder wires to more evenly distribute the power over your track. Different wiring projects call for different standards. Wow.thanks for all the advice so far, guys!! Fortunately, there is an easy way to tell these cars apart, and the key is the numbers Lionel assigns to them. Ive written more about the Lionel ZW here. 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. (using 4 of the 180 watt Lionel bricks) That's 10 amps per channel on all 4 channels. My current layout uses about 28 sections of track (Lionel o-27). I thought you wanted information related to your layout not operations at a trains show. Likewise, if you only want to run one train at a time, you can keep other trains on the track by wiring with blocks, and turning off trains that are not in use. Unlimited Members, sign in to enjoy sitewide access. Both are lighted. White and black are common selections. You should take care, however, to replace worn cords and wires. It states: 1.25 amps for each motor, 0.2 amps for each bulb. Transformers are designed to fail if a short in the secondary or control side occurs. Twin coil machines have a higher current draw when in motion but are also much faster-acting than the motorized versions. Lionel CW80's can be found for around $50 at Greenberg and other train shows. Here at Trainz, we carry all of the products you will need to go from a starter set to a miniature railroad empire. The Lionel Multi-control 1033 is a 90 watt transformer produced from 1948 to 1956. The larger transformers could operate up to four trains independently. Used a 1033 for accessories and lights. 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. For a passenger train with lighted cars, getting a little more power isnt a bad idea. When you get DCS, keep the blocks and run the 2 sets off 2 Fixed channels out. Lionel and other train manufacturers have worked hard to make adding to a set easy, affordable, and fun. If you need a device that converts from different voltages so it can power another device, then a transformer will fulfill that role perfectly. 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. Price Received. 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. Trainz carries a variety of books that build upon the information listed above. electronically controlled outputs. OTTS Founder Lionels HO Gauge items are back! Can't plug into outlet? A model railroad train set designed for use in the United States will have a 115V AC 60Hz power requirement. Not unlike the relationship between the locomotive engineer and the fireman. The greatest transformer Lionel made in the postwar era was the 270 watt Lionel ZW. A large number of the Lionel Collectors Club UK use this set up to good effect. The iconic and legendary 270-watt Lionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. This type of transformer is cheap, its reliable, and its easy to find. You can also minimize voltage drop at the rail joints by soldering the rails together. This wire is very fine and can be found in many color combinations.

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