That could also be the reason the other transformers don't work. Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide 1901-2022. I talk more in depth about the 1033 here. Lionel Model Railroad and Train Transformers for sale | eBay Lionel 1033 90 watt Transformer Postwar from 1950s-60s Whistle, Direction. I know my train club had an issue with conventional locomotives not running properly on a layout with DCS and TMCC and apparently solved it by replacing a Lionel transformer with an MRC transformer that puts out a pure sine wave. This is where the Lionel transformer comparisons should begin. Don't just discard your starter set pack, though. If you found this post informative or helpful, please share it! It is also a good idea to run your accessories off of a separate power supply and wire grid from the trains themselves. If you plan to add a second loop for another train in the near future, the 14198 would be a wise investment. Effort. When running a mixed bag train show with new and old trains of mixed types such as Loinel and MTH which is better? 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. With two switches, you can create an alternative route for your trains. Calculating transformer size for layout size - Classic Toy - Trains This is because the demands for power are becoming more than your transformer can handle. PDF Lionel CW-80 Transformer Owner's Manual - thomconte.com The iconic and legendary 270-wattLionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. Enter your e-mail address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by e-mail. Lionel CW80's can be found for around $50 at Greenberg and other train shows. Regardless of your scale, all model railroad switch machines fall into one of two categories, a slow-motion electric motor or a "twin coil" relay. I can remember a time when a Lionel ZW would set you back $275. * NOTE: We do not recommend loading a transformer above 80% of its KVA rating. There are many advantages in repairing or reconditioning your transformers. You don't want to try to solder even Number 16 gauge wire right to your rails, however. The 1044 is just a 1033 in a . Tech Support for the OGR Forum (NOT FOR TRAINS), PRR fellas!lets build an S2!! I know this has nothing to do with Mike's original problem but is more of a reflection on Trainman's reply. Most two-rail track systems use direct current (DC). 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 All about the Lionel ZW - The Silicon Underground Like command control, these trains still require a constant voltage to the rails. 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. Although all Lionel cars operate on O Gauge track, the bodies of the cars are made in two slightly different sizes. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Ive talked more about the KW here. The whistle requires more power than the outfits that don't have it. The only time you might not get your full moneys worth is during operation of locomotives equipped with Lionels TMCC or MTHs DCS command-control systems. It will require a minimum of 108' of track just to do a basic rectangle before I add any switches, etc. Some of the variables are obvious, others not so much. Model train transformer- 6 steps to understanding how they work The good news is, Lionel made a lot of good transformers over the years. Ran 6 motors [MPC's]. If you have a starter set and have had thoughts like this, youre not alone. In this case Id go with a postwar TW 175 watt transformer. Lionel is also introducing a new 180 watt transformer to accompany the 80 watt CW 80. How do you choose the right power supply for your model trains? This conserves the trains' power supply for their needs and makes troubleshooting much easier. An Essential Guide for Toy Train Enthusiasts! Unless I'm all wet it sounded like there are somecompatibilityissues with certain locomotives versus manufacturer's transformer output wave forms. 12V DC to 120V AC 60Hz pure sine inverter. Controlled Magnetics has the manufacturing experience, knowledge, and facilities to repair a wide variety of electrical power transformers. to run conventional you will need Legacy plus a Powermaster and Powermaster Bridge or Legacy and a TPC 300/400. It is 5" long. I'm guessing the MTH Z1000 is around $100 and the other suggestions are much more expensive. A bigger transformer is better and always looks nicer too! Traditionally, Lionel trains run on AC but there are exceptions. Another classic is the Automatic Gateman. 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. If you like fixing things, fixing an old transformer is rewarding. A new ZW will run you in the neighborhood of $450.00 or a little less depending on your dealership. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. My question is this in order that this doesn't happen again what type of transformer would you recommend? Are you running command or conventional? 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. 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. 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. If you want a station for your trains to stop at, there are both station platforms [#24159] as well as full sized stations [#14257]. Price Received. Big Ed Railroad Tycoon I would check yoour connections and wire size, just to be safe. However, in the future if you continue in the hobby and your roster expands you may acquire motive power which requires larger curves than what came with your set. Early issues used a Bakelite case while later releases had a case made out of plastic. It's expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. But if you already have a 1034 and dont need a whistle button, go ahead and use it. OTTS Founder 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. Now, I diconnected that old dinosaur and connected two separate smaller ones which weren't powerful enough to run my Amtrack MTH trains. 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. This signifies compatibility with 50 Hertz power. In some cases. 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. the amount of track is not what is important here. Heavier insulation not only adds to the cost of the wire but also makes it harder to bend. Lionel makes two expansion sets for this purpose. The Lionel ZW is Lionel's most iconic transformer of the 1950s and 1960s, and perhaps one of its most iconic products, period. Been there, done that. The Lionel Track & Power catalog is BACK with the latest information for more ways to make your layout even bigger, better and more powerful! But Lionel now produces four Track Expansion Sets, which expand this basic loop into something more exciting. Here are a couple examples: As you can see, with a bit of experimentation and imagination, numerous different track layouts can be created. Yes, but the train will probably run too fast, depending on the output voltage of the transformer. This wire is very fine and can be found in many color combinations. 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. The article you suggest would be a daunting task, as you'd have to gather virtually every known locomotive and transformer! The power supply that comes with these sets is usually a very small wall pack plug-in that cannot be easily expanded. 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. How to correctly size a transformer | Consulting - Specifying Engineer Most recommend the TPCs over the powermasters The CW 80 will work to begin with. As time goes on you can add higher wattage bricks one by one. I got a lot of lightweight transformers that came with starter sets over the years. You have pretty much pointed up the major problem, everything is different. Not really a how-to-build-a-layout book, but it is a good general introduction to the hobby full of interesting stuff. Most people start with a pre-packaged train set. God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of theNRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified. Getting Started - 3 RAIL TRAINS Great for learning all you will ever want to know about Lionels track system. 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. Do not connect this product to any other power supply. 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. Sell Your Trains Yourself At Train Shows. 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. LGB FAQs : Power Should it be a Lionel or should it be an MTH with command control? It does run on conventional power but not great and no whistle or bell. To my knowledge, you should have no compatibility issues with a pure sine wave track feed with any major brand locomotive. This tool will allow you calculate the KVA that you need. Checklist Transformer Size Calculator When sizing a transformer, you need to know the kilovolt-amps (KVA) that your machine requires. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. (8 lights X 20 watts = 160 watts). It states: 1.25 amps for each motor, 0.2 amps for each bulb. As the motor takes in more electricity, the arm turns faster and faster. Ryan Kunkle is a nationally recognized professional model train expert and writer with over 25 years of experience. The 110-wattLionel RW is a cheap option, and the 125-watt LW, while a bit more expensive, gives a bit more power. Lionel makes a seemingly infinite number of cars to in a variety of colors, types, and road names. 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. As you progress with your layout there are a lot of people here who will help you with any questions you have. If you have to ask,your needs are a lot more modest than that. Lionel Rolling Stock Identification Guide. The choice of a control system is somewhat, but not necessarily, dependent on which manufacturers engines you prefer or have the most of. Tales From Harmon Shops, WTB: LIONEL AUTRORACKS SPECIFICALLY SOUTHERN,GRAND TRUNK,BNSF,FERROMEX. 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. As your needs grow, you can employ a larger transformer of fixed voltage. At fifteen volts which is about as much as I can put to it without jumping the track, it pulls an average of 2.5 amps, or 37.5 watts--less than one tenth of the transformer capacity of 400. This type of transformer is cheap, its reliable, and its easy to find. 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)! Over the years I have collected boxed(mostly liquor boxes) sets from attics.So I have a variety of transformers on hand. When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. 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. Does Lionel still make standard gauge trains? IF the Engineer is the guy that drives the locomotive then theTechnician must be the fireman is this correct? Like tankist stated.It's only running multiple engines that I run into issues. To amplify CTvalley's very valid instructions: A forum community dedicated to model train owners and enthusiasts. "What size wire should I use?" The house's current is reduced to the required low voltage by Trainmaster Transformers. They are fun to have. 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. The two types of cars will connect together just fine, but when side-by-side in a train, they may look a bit odd. Ryan developsmodeltrainlayouts for public andprivate display. 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. Ive written more about the Lionel ZW here. To participate you must either login or register for an account. 6 Best Transformer For Ho Trains - LEDS.CC Both are lighted. I paid $75 + shipping for mine a year ago. 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. Stop it with your hand to full stall, and it goes up to four amps--sixty watts--trying to pull. How to open tamper resistant outlets, Xxcopy vs Xcopy: Command line copy utilities, Where to connect the red wire to a light switch, Brains 25 cents: The story behind the meme. There are also numerous static accessories that do not operate but add visual interest to your layout, such as the #24219 girder bridge. Now, I am going to make a suggesstion that you use a larger diameter curve for your corners. This will spread the load of your lighted passenger consist across the two transformers. Understanding the difference is important in getting the right power supply for your needs. That might work, but it's probably borderline, especially if you are using something like a 1033 transformer that tops out at 16 volts. The Atlas and Bachmann 80 watt transformers, they are one and the same, can be had for around $75.00. What is the best transformer to use? - O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum Lionels HO Gauge items are back! Unlimited Members, sign in to enjoy sitewide access. Accessories often interact with the train, such as a crossing gate that lowers as the train passes. A large number of the Lionel Collectors Club UK use this set up to good effect. 5 years of Classic Toy Trains at your fingertips! For safety reasons, the batteries were soon replaced by a 110 volt transformer. But it is important to take a close look at the cars to make sure that they are a good match for your set. 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. You could have a poor connection that caused the wire to heat up. It can be a great secondary power supply for lighted buildings, signals, and other accessories. Stop it with your hand to full stall, and it goes up to four amps--sixty watts--trying to pull. 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. 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. Connecticut Valley Railroad -- A Branch of the New York, New Haven, And Hartford. Check out my O scale layout progress at MTF, does track consume power? 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. As your layout grows so, too, will its power demand. That means there are lots of them. Also, I found an old guide printed by lionel on power requirements. Extending the Reach of Your Power Anyway if it takes me 100 years to finish this thing one thing is for sure I will not have to worry about powering anything and everything. Adding more freight or passenger cars [also known as rolling stock] to your set is another way to quickly expand your railroad.