--Toy Train Collecting and Operating, by John Grams. Used 1033's for sidings and the switching yard its self. Get 20 articles about compact layouts and how to build them. If you plan to add a second loop for another train in the near future, the 14198 would be a wise investment. Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month, Calculating transformer size for layout size. Again, if you have a very long run between switches, going a little larger is less likely to cause problems with voltage loss. 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 that means theyre affordable. Price Received. Join Today! These small power supplies are designed to supply a few amps of power. 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. 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. While those locomotives and their sound systems are designed to operate using conventional transformers like your ZW, digital controllers are needed to activate additional features like special sound effects and coupler activation. The iconic and legendary 270-watt Lionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. Fortunately, in the early 21st century it is easier to expand your starter set than ever before. Our community is FREE to join. properly wired transformer can handle any amount of track. 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. Add a PW dual motor F3 (4 amps) with 5 lighted cars (another 10 bulbs - 1 amp) and you are cooking (9 amps). You may never use all the amps, but it's usually cheaper to grow into a power supply than to continually upgrade. Wire gauges are coded by their size. The insulation on the outside of the wire also varies greatly. The Lionel Track & Power catalog is BACK with the latest information for more ways to make your layout even bigger, better and more powerful! For a transformer less or equal to 500 kilovolt-amperes, a typical %Z impedance may vary between 2.3% and 5.2% based on the voltage level. JavaScript is disabled. Wow.thanks for all the advice so far, guys!! As you progress with your layout there are a lot of people here who will help you with any questions you have. It can be a great secondary power supply for lighted buildings, signals, and other accessories. That might work, but it's probably borderline, especially if you are using something like a 1033 transformer that tops out at 16 volts. 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. 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 chances are that little power supply isn't going to keep the train running over a full mile, however. The Lionel RW also happens to be a great transformer for Marx or American Flyer trains too, when you connect the track leads to the B and U posts instead of the A and U posts youd normally use for most Lionel setups. That could also be the reason the other transformers don't work. As far as new transformers go, someone else may be able to help more than I can. $2799. Twin coil machines have a higher current draw when in motion but are also much faster-acting than the motorized versions. 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. I recently acquired a beautiful Lionel NH Alco 420. Everything you need to get going is included, its reliable, and setup is usually very easy. If you are using only LEDs for lighting, you could get away with even less. If youre buying a transformer, youll be able to easily find one that a professional refurbished and upgraded with the links I provide below. Click here to learn about the Unlimited Membership. Reverse the above if planning to run mostly Lionel and go with the Lionel command system, either the full Legacy system or the upcoming CAB-1L and just add a Track Power Controller and a cable to run most MTH engines in conventional with the Lionel systems. In the middle range, Lionel made a lot of other transformers. If they do, follow their recommendations. 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. As time goes on you can add higher wattage bricks one by one. It does not work with O27. This comes primarily from the locomotive(s) but also from lights and other accessories. Everyone wanted the two-handled, football-shaped, 275-watt powerhouse that was the ZW. Scale cars almost always have the number 7 as the second digit in their number [17623, 27241, etc]. Both are lighted. I have a 3amp, 40watt transformer. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. OTTS Founder The Lionel Multi-control 1033 is a 90 watt transformer produced from 1948 to 1956. Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; A small set that came with track, transformer, etc. 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? Classic Toy Trains 5-Year Collection 2015-2019 DVD-ROM. 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. 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. There are also numerous static accessories that do not operate but add visual interest to your layout, such as the #24219 girder bridge. This wire is very fine and can be found in many color combinations. What do I need to do that with? This is because the demands for power are becoming more than your transformer can handle. 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. This signifies compatibility with 50 Hertz power. Lionel makes two expansion sets for this purpose. A starter set is the best way to start with the train hobby. Hello, I'm new to this site, and completely new to toy trains also - so please pardon my ignorance! --The O Gauge Railroading Primer, by Christopher Ritchie. These systems still require a power supply but it only needs to supply a constant voltage to the rails. DCC decoders are one good example where the wire colors are critical. If you have a very long run, you may want to consider Number 12 wire. But Lionel now produces four Track Expansion Sets, which expand this basic loop into something more exciting. Although I am an electrical engineer, I just add stuff until the transformer gets too warm and then I branch off and add another. 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. I am assuming that your starter set came with either o27, brown ties, or 031, black ties, track and it runs well as is. 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. Steve's rule of thumb for derating is very close to and in the same spirit as the NEC rule that an appliance may not draw more than 80 percent of the current rating of the outlet. Also, you wont be able to take advantage of independent control of multiple engines on the same track without a digital controller. With two switches, you can create an alternative route for your trains. Tech Support for the OGR Forum (NOT FOR TRAINS), PRR fellas!lets build an S2!! The smaller the number, the larger the wire. 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. Price Received. Of all the questions fielded by the staff of Classic Toy Trains, inquiries regarding layout wiring top the list.While you might expect numerous questions regarding complex techniques or new technologies, CTT. As the train goes by, the door to the shed opens and a figure pops out, and once the train has passed the figure re-enters the building and the door shuts. If you need a device that converts from different voltages so it can power another device, then a transformer will fulfill that role perfectly. The KW has constant voltage outputs for accessories, the ZW don't have that feature just four handles for supplying power to four tracks or accessories if you like, both have whistle & direction feature. It is not uncommon to see 50-year-old transformers still going strong on a model railroad. A small set that came with track, transformer, etc. Our community is FREE to join. If your going to run anything more that what came with the set then you should probably upgrade to something a little bigger. Well Mike what I am about to suggest may be a little pricy or at least it was for me but I have managed to buy a new Lionel ZW. A Passenger consist can easily use more power than the engine. Do not use this device if water is present. 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. Not really a how-to-build-a-layout book, but it is a good general introduction to the hobby full of interesting stuff. The iconic and legendary 270-wattLionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. Lionel developed and perfected its model designs and layouts during the Pre-War Era (1901-1942). Keep the power supplies in an area where they get plenty of air circulation to prevent overheating. I would check yoour connections and wire size, just to be safe. The backside of a control panel can turn into a "rat's nest" of wiring very quickly. 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. Tales From Harmon Shops, WTB: LIONEL AUTRORACKS SPECIFICALLY SOUTHERN,GRAND TRUNK,BNSF,FERROMEX. Get the newest photos, videos, stories, and more from Trains.com brands. M3103. 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. This type of transformer is cheap, its reliable, and its easy to find. "What size wire should I use?" Good choices are the Lionel 32923 Accessory Transformer, or another 80-watt transformer like the one included in your set, #14198. Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month, WELCOME TO THE FORUM Mike!! Extending the Reach of Your Power The smallest wire you can work with will be more than sufficient. (Electrical Contractor with dear old Dad for 30 years) Regards Steve. We feature Lionel, American Flyer, MTH, Atlas O, Williams Trains, K-Line, Weaver Models, and more. But if you already have a 1034 and dont need a whistle button, go ahead and use it. This diagram shows all of the controls and the pinout for the Lionel RW transformer. Lionel makes two expansion sets for this purpose. You don't want to try to solder even Number 16 gauge wire right to your rails, however. I can remember a time when a Lionel ZW would set you back $275. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. It also has an optional bell sound that can be turned on and off. I don't want to buy a lot more track, but then find out the transformer is too weak, if that make sense. Lest I offend, in another plane of existence I was an electronics tech. That it not to say that there are not engineering formulae to calculate the current draw and thus the wattage, but far and away the easiest method is to measure it. Never had a problem. The larger transformers could operate up to four trains independently. 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. Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers' Henry V. I am a person with a very active inner child. 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. Subscribers, sign in to access exclusive content. 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. 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. In most cases, stranded wire is preferred because the multiple threads provide more conductivity and flexibility. If you want a transformer with power to spare go get a ZW! Forgot about light bulbs since I don't got some yet. I have purchased diodes to put into the older transformers to see if this resolves the issue with newer tenders. Although all Lionel cars operate on O Gauge track, the bodies of the cars are made in two slightly different sizes. A new ZW will run you in the neighborhood of $450.00 or a little less depending on your dealership. This means that you will have about.5 volt drop if your train draws 5 amperes. Ill try to find a link to it for you. Faq No: 1029 Unless I'm all wet it sounded like there are somecompatibilityissues with certain locomotives versus manufacturer's transformer output wave forms. Ran 6 motors [MPC's]. It is also a good idea to run your accessories off of a separate power supply and wire grid from the trains themselves. $7.89 delivery Feb 2 - 6. The 1044 is just a 1033 in a . http://www.lccuk.org.uk/lccuk Regards Nick Save Reply Quote N Nick12DMC Registered First, a few general notes about choosing wire. A large number of the Lionel Collectors Club UK use this set up to good effect. Just like with your track bus and feeders, running an accessory bus of slightly heavier wire to connect to each light or accessory with a smaller feeder is a good plan. The Lionel ZW has four sets of posts and six controls.
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