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. Number 24 to Number20 wire will all work with most layouts. IF the Engineer is the guy that drives the locomotive then theTechnician must be the fireman is this correct? If you want a transformer with power to spare go get a ZW! We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. That was before all the technician assemby work was outsourced overseas and they left the poor engineers to fend for themselves. Our community is FREE to join. Model Train Track & Transformer at Lionel Trains All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. You can't count on a lack of compatibility issues for one Legacy locomotive being definitive for all Legacy locomotives, for example. Are you looking for a product or serviceif so, then read this BEFORE you post! Price Received. 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. In most cases, stranded wire is preferred because the multiple threads provide more conductivity and flexibility. Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide 1901-2022. Different wiring projects call for different standards. Sell Your Trains Yourself At Train Shows. The first Lionel electric trains were powered by wet-cell batteries, which were, of course, dangerous. Ive talked more about the KW here. I cant see you needing more than a capacity of 5 amps. The greatest transformer Lionel made in the postwar era was the 270 watt Lionel ZW. They are reasonably durable and were popular in their day, which means there are still a lot of them floating around so they tend to be inexpensive. The load voltage and load amps must be known to calculate KVA rating. Most feeders will be only a few inches long so the smaller diameter wire will not be a problem. The power supply that comes with these sets is usually a very small wall pack plug-in that cannot be easily expanded. Older transformers I had this issue with are RW, 1033, KW, ZW.newer transformers were all made by MTH. Like command control, these trains still require a constant voltage to the rails. To determine the maximum transformer current, divide the transformer VA by transformer secondary voltage. $2799. Never Enough Room, Time or Money for all the Trains! properly wired transformer can handle any amount of track. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Get 20 articles about compact layouts and how to build them. no it isn't. You don't want to try to solder even Number 16 gauge wire right to your rails, however. First, a few general notes about choosing wire. The same is true for other electronic projects around your layout and inside buildings, train cars, and even locomotives. Checklist Transformer Size Calculator When sizing a transformer, you need to know the kilovolt-amps (KVA) that your machine requires. 24v, 120v, 208v, 240v, 480v, and 600v). 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. The article you suggest would be a daunting task, as you'd have to gather virtually every known locomotive and transformer! The modern equivalent is the Lionel CW-80, but frankly I like the old ones better. 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. Keeping in mind that I will likely continue to add to the layout as my addiction develops! And that means theyre affordable. 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. If you have to ask,your needs are a lot more modest than that. Best bang for the buck for command are the Lionel 180W Powerhouse bricks IMO. Click here to learn about the Unlimited Membership. The chances are that little power supply isn't going to keep the train running over a full mile, however. Some people even find it fun. 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. Because of this, like with lighting and accessories, your power supply and wiring for switch machines do not need to be as robust. Serious or fatal injuries may result. To my knowledge, you should have no compatibility issues with a pure sine wave track feed with any major brand locomotive. 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. Remember, the only silly question is the one that you did not ask. You can also minimize voltage drop at the rail joints by soldering the rails together. 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. That means there are lots of them. Understanding Electrical Supplies and Controls. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. All of the transformers that have more than 90 Watts are in great demand today as more collectors are operating retro-layouts. Ok our layout is 10 x 20 = 200 sq ft x 2 = 400 watts. Lest I offend, in another plane of existence I was an electronics tech. They run on three rail track. The transformer, when operated at the lower frequency, may . I don't want to buy a lot more track, but then find out the transformer is too weak, if that make sense. Over the years I have collected boxed(mostly liquor boxes) sets from attics.So I have a variety of transformers on hand. Sell Your Trains Yourself On eBay. 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. 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. M3103. Most recommend the TPCs over the powermasters The CW 80 will work to begin with. The iconic and legendary 270-wattLionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. 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. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. Max Watts on one TIU is 720W. Never had a problem. The larger transformers could operate up to four trains independently. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Just not quite as much. Lionel made a lot of other transformers over the years. This works for command control layouts too, since those parked trains are still drawing some current. This type of transformer is cheap, its reliable, and its easy to find. Obviously, for a lot of people, the $700 Lionel ZW-L transformer is overkill. Controlled Magnetics has the manufacturing experience, knowledge, and facilities to repair a wide variety of electrical power transformers. A small set that came with track, transformer, etc. http://www.lccuk.org.uk/lccuk Regards Nick Save Reply Quote N Nick12DMC Registered When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. In this case Id go with a postwar TW 175 watt transformer. The backside of a control panel can turn into a "rat's nest" of wiring very quickly. You have pretty much pointed up the major problem, everything is different. The CW-80 is a nice little transformer, has accessory output as well,but as you have stated you will outgrow the CW-80 pretty quick. The smaller the number, the larger the wire. 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. 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. If you want a station for your trains to stop at, there are both station platforms [#24159] as well as full sized stations [#14257]. 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. CW80 Transformer. Come join the discussion about brands, various scales, repairs, storage, displays, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Transformer sizing for new systems This means that you will have about.5 volt drop if your train draws 5 amperes. They are fun to have. 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. American Flyer Trains Basic Operating Information By continuing to use this site, you indicate you accept these terms. Big Ed Railroad Tycoon EXPLORE FasTrack 10" Straight Track 4-Pack 6-12032 $ 21.99 FasTrack Grade Crossing with Flashers 6-12052 $ 99.99 FasTrack O36 Curved Track 4-Pack 6-12033 $ 21.99 Legacy AMC-2 Motor Controller They're controlled with a simple handheld remote control and run on easy-to-connect plastic track. I paid $75 + shipping for mine a year ago. Now, I diconnected that old dinosaur and connected two separate smaller ones which weren't powerful enough to run my Amtrack MTH trains. Over the years I have collected boxed (mostly liquor boxes) sets from attics.So I have a variety of transformers on hand. It has FasTrack connectors on one end and O Gauge track pins on the other. 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. As you progress with your layout there are a lot of people here who will help you with any questions you have. This will spread the load of your lighted passenger consist across the two transformers. Lionel makes a seemingly infinite number of cars to in a variety of colors, types, and road names. 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). Its expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. If you plan to add a second loop for another train in the near future, the 14198 would be a wise investment. Thus an appliance with a 15-ampere plug (the usual kind with parallel blades) must draw no more than 12 amperes. Because the runs are short and power demands so low, this fine wire poses no safety threat. 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. $7.89 delivery Feb 2 - 6. Choosing the Right Transformer for Your Model Trains - The Spruce Crafts
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