All Lionel transformer comparisons should include the common 1033, RW, LW, KW and ZW transformers. Never had a problem. For a classic setup of a single freight train running on a 48 sheet of plywood, a 90 watt Lionel 1033 or 1042 is an excellent choice. Different wiring projects call for different standards. Lots of good tips for building a layout from two of the most experienced people in the hobby. Classic Toy Trains 5-Year Collection 2015-2019 DVD-ROM. 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. The larger transformers could operate up to four trains independently. Our community is FREE to join. The 1033 is not the same as the 1044. There is no reason why your Lionel ZWs and Flyer big ones cant be used to run AC-powered trains of any vintage new or old. I had 3 lionel cw80's and two quit working. 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. Now, I am going to make a suggesstion that you use a larger diameter curve for your corners. It is also a good idea to run your accessories off of a separate power supply and wire grid from the trains themselves. Expanding the basic oval from the set is the quickest way to add more interest to your trains. Lionel trains value varies depending on design, materials, and era. Some systems will use bluetooth technology enabling you to control the trains with your tablet or cell phone. Lionel CW80's can be found for around $50 at Greenberg and other train shows. Get 20 articles about compact layouts and how to build them. To determine the required transformer VA, multiply the secondary voltage by the required amperes: For example, VA=Volts x Amperes or 28V x 1.2 amperes = 33.6 VA. To determine the maximum transformer current, divide the transformer VA by transformer secondary voltage. 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. Can't plug into outlet? He directs production at Lionel, the premier model train manufacturer, and he istheformer president of theConrail HistoricalSociety. The larger transformers could operate up to four trains independently. Use this index to see additional details about the individual transformers issued by Lionel during the post-war period. That could also be the reason the other transformers don't work. The Lionel Multi-control 1033 is a 90 watt transformer produced from 1948 to 1956. Safety first. Lionel made a lot of other transformers over the years. HO gauge is very popular because of its size. Like all electronic products, you want to make sure your power supplies are rated by the appropriate body for your country (UL for example). Needless to say the "Spring into Spring" train show very nearly became unsprung! I'll take this information and run with it to help get me started. In most cases, stranded wire is preferred because the multiple threads provide more conductivity and flexibility. 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. I recently acquired a beautiful Lionel NH Alco 420. When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. All members here are welcome to drop in and visit. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. These systems still require a power supply but it only needs to supply a constant voltage to the rails. Max Watts on one TIU is 720W. Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership. 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. Controlled Magnetics has the manufacturing experience, knowledge, and facilities to repair a wide variety of electrical power transformers. I am currently running about 40 bulbs, which at 0.1 A each total 4 amps! That transformer will only prolly handle 1 engine and depending on how long it is will depend on how many extra feeders you will need around the layout. There are many advantages in repairing or reconditioning your transformers. 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. Effort. Price Received. An Essential Guide for Toy Train Enthusiasts! I can remember a time when a Lionel ZW would set you back $275. what size lionel transformer do i need. Which Lionel transformer do I need? you ask? Again, if you have a very long run between switches, going a little larger is less likely to cause problems with voltage loss. The preferred choice for wiring control panels is telephone or telecommunications wire. I have noticed that my old transformers do not work well or not work at all with newer electronic whistle tenders. Although it will not have any impact on the performance of the wire within, choosing multiple colors of wire, and standardizing on a specific color for each function, will go a long way in making your wiring easier to install and easier to detect flaws later on. 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 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. I've had light 'arguments' with fellow hobbyists claiming most of their fellows are predominantly technically - oriented vs. what I would consider is a more liberal artsy approach - any way it's a great balance. 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. The same is true for other electronic projects around your layout and inside buildings, train cars, and even locomotives. Here are some guidelines for the most common wiring jobs you'll find. However, there are times when the solid wire has advantages, particularly when soldering in small locations. Pretty much suffered the same fate, too. 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. A Passenger consist can easily use more power than the engine. The accessory activation track (#12029) is used to activate Lionel trackside accessories. RemembertheVeterans. Adding lights to buildings, streets, and other scenic accessories usually do not require anywhere near the amperage demand of the trains themselves. 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 amount of track is not what is important here. Within that range, it is generally recommended to go for the most robust power supply possible. --Toy Train Collecting and Operating, by John Grams. Hello, I'm new to this site, and completely new to toy trains also - so please pardon my ignorance! Accessories often interact with the train, such as a crossing gate that lowers as the train passes. Lionel introduced a few LionChief Plus 2.0 starter sets in 2022. Do not connect this product to any other power supply. Beginners Ask Trains New trains; old transformers. First, a few general notes about choosing wire. Price Received. 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 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. As Paul said, the power needed doesn't have anything to do with the distance; but the voltage needed does. The transformer included with your starter set should be adequate to handle a modest expansion of your train set discussed above. M3103. Over the years I have collected boxed (mostly liquor boxes) sets from attics.So I have a variety of transformers on hand. Its expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. There are also numerous static accessories that do not operate but add visual interest to your layout, such as the #24219 girder bridge. Faq No: 1029 The article you suggest would be a daunting task, as you'd have to gather virtually every known locomotive and transformer! 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. 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 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. Most power supplies will perform very well for years if used within their limits. Add a PW dual motor F3 (4 amps) with 5 lighted cars (another 10 bulbs - 1 amp) and you are cooking (9 amps). Also, I found an old guide printed by lionel on power requirements. As your needs grow, you can employ a larger transformer of fixed voltage. For a passenger train with lighted cars, getting a little more power isnt a bad idea. Here are a few: --The Lionel Fastrack Book, by Robert Schleicher. There are a few standards when it comes to the color-coding. A new ZW will run you in the neighborhood of $450.00 or a little less depending on your dealership. It can be a great secondary power supply for lighted buildings, signals, and other accessories. Effort. The CW-80 Transformer was meant to operate on 120-volt, 60-Hertz power. Lionel Rolling Stock Identification Guide. It does not work with O27. I have a basement that offers an 18" concrete ledge that goes around theentire perimeter of the house that lends itself perfectly to a neat layout. 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.". If the second digit is 9, it could be either, so be careful when considering one of them. If you like, tell us more about yourself. They are fun to have. But Lionel now produces four Track Expansion Sets, which expand this basic loop into something more exciting. Make your Christmas complete with a Lionel HO Train under your. That might work, but it's probably borderline, especially if you are using something like a 1033 transformer that tops out at 16 volts. Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month, WELCOME TO THE FORUM Mike!! Any of the below transformers from M.T.H. 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. $7.89 delivery Feb 2 - 6. Use the CW-80 Transformer only for its intended purpose. 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. Wire gauges are coded by their size. You must be signed in to continue. --I need a station for the train to stop at. [:)]. View More! Why Sign In? If you fried a wire going to the track it may not be a transformer problem. Classic cars have a 5 or 6 as their second digit [25051, 16686, etc]. Lionel is also introducing a new 180 watt transformer to accompany the 80 watt CW 80. Of course, the answer to that question depends on many things. If they do, follow their recommendations. IF the Engineer is the guy that drives the locomotive then theTechnician must be the fireman is this correct? 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. That said, if youre uncomfortable fixing a transformer, I wont look down on you for buying one someone else fixed up. When you get DCS, keep the blocks and run the 2 sets off 2 Fixed channels out. 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. Although all Lionel cars operate on O Gauge track, the bodies of the cars are made in two slightly different sizes. In the middle range, Lionel made a lot of other transformers. * NOTE: We do not recommend loading a transformer above 80% of its KVA rating. Solid wire is preferable as it is much easier to solder to the rails. This is different from the stranded wire in that the different individual wires, each with their color-coded insulation, is placed inside a secondary insulation wrap. 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. By only supplying power to the trains that need it, you can greatly reduce your needs. If you make a complete loop of 100 feet with good track joints, you'll have something like .1 ohm from the transformer to the farthest point, using the rule of thumb that most track is something like 16 AWG wire (.004 ohms per foot) and that there are two 50 foot tracks feeding the farthest point from two directions. American Flyer Trains were made in several gauges. Don't just discard your starter set pack, though. Scale cars almost always have the number 7 as the second digit in their number [17623, 27241, etc]. Lionel and other train manufacturers have worked hard to make adding to a set easy, affordable, and fun. 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. 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 a transformer with power to spare go get a ZW! The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. These sets use a remote control which talks directly to a receiver in the locomotive. Doug, there's definitely room for the liberal arts approach to the hobby--I have a journalism degree; how I became a computer technician was pretty much an accident. They're controlled with a simple handheld remote control and run on easy-to-connect plastic track. 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. The iconic and legendary 270-watt Lionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. Amperes = VA/Secondary Volts or 40VA/28V = 1.43 amperes. 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. For most layouts, and most scales, Number14 stranded wire will work best for your bus. Because the runs are short and power demands so low, this fine wire poses no safety threat. 5 years of Classic Toy Trains at your fingertips! This thing has more power then I will ever need. Join Today! They run on O Gauge track, but they are not exact O Scale cars. They run on three rail track. Used 1033's for sidings and the switching yard its self. Do not operate the CW-80 Transformer with a damaged cord, plug, or case. I use to use one KW for 70 feet of main line, sidings and switching yard entry track. All power supplies will be rated for volts, amps, and watts. That's about enough to run a single locomotive and perhaps power a few lighted accessories or passenger cars. 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. This tool only evaluates common voltages for North America (ie. But if you already have a 1034 and dont need a whistle button, go ahead and use it. Fortunately, there is an easy way to tell these cars apart, and the key is the numbers Lionel assigns to them. Many manufacturers assemble cases with special screws to prevent access to the inside and accidental shock. I paid $75 + shipping for mine a year ago. As your needs grow, you can employ a larger transformer of fixed voltage. 4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars (15) Ages: 14 years and up. 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. June 5, 2022; cleveland open chess 2021; mexican martial arts xilam If you have to ask,your needs are a lot more modest than that. It does run on conventional power but not great and no whistle or bell. Most two-rail track systems use direct current (DC). Price Received. These bus wires are often more important than the size of the power supply itself in getting good results. 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. From 25 Watts to 275 Watts, a Lionel transformer could be found for every power requirment from simple circles of track to extensive railroads. The larger wire is usually more expensive and more challenging to work with. The two types of cars will connect together just fine, but when side-by-side in a train, they may look a bit odd. These are all good, dependable transformers from the postwar era that are easy to find today, have adequate wattages ranging from 90-270 watts, have a circuit breaker for safety and have a whistle controller. At an average 14 volts - this is 9x14 = 126 watts - the ZW is getting quite warm and I have not run an accessory or another train yet! 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. :-). Today, with some luck, you can get one for closer to $100. That was before all the technician assemby work was outsourced overseas and they left the poor engineers to fend for themselves. You can also run Lionel TMCC/Legacy Command Engines using the MTH DCS system with the addition of a Lionel command base and an additional cable. This means that you will have about.5 volt drop if your train draws 5 amperes. 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. 12V DC to 120V AC 60Hz pure sine inverter. As your layout grows so, too, will its power demand. The multi-conductor wire is also available. This drawing illustrates all of the key functionality of a Lionel KW transformer. I know this has nothing to do with Mike's original problem but is more of a reflection on Trainman's reply. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. The modern equivalent is the Lionel CW-80, but frankly I like the old ones better. Everything you need to get going is included, its reliable, and setup is usually very easy. Just get a Lionel #12053 Accessory wire set and enough extra wire to connect from the wire set back to your transformer [speaker wire works well]. You can use bus and feeder wires to more evenly distribute the power over your track. Transformers are sized by determining the total load required (in amps). He directs production at Lionel, the premier model train manufacturer, and he istheformer president of theConrail HistoricalSociety. Some people even find it fun. 40-200 20 Watt DC Transformer - Small DC transformer suitable for powering a single HO diesel or steam locomotive equipped with Proto-Sound 3.0. Lionel makes a seemingly infinite number of cars to in a variety of colors, types, and road names. Our community is FREE to join. If you're looking to only have one loop with multiple sidings then you'll only need 1 source of power for the whole layout. As far as new transformers go, someone else may be able to help more than I can. The 1044 is just a 1033 in a different case. http://www.lccuk.org.uk/lccuk Regards Nick Save Reply Quote N Nick12DMC Registered Sign up for new product releases, promotions, and more. There have been issues with chopped waveform transformers, i.e. The fraction of your transformer's power lost in the track will therefore be well under 10 percent, since it is proportional to the voltage drop. The wire can also be purchased as solid or stranded. The choice of a control system is somewhat, but not necessarily, dependent on which manufacturers engines you prefer or have the most of.
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