As Paul said, the power needed doesn't have anything to do with the distance; but the voltage needed does. Lionel is also introducing a new 180 watt transformer to accompany the 80 watt CW 80. 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. It would be advantageous if OGR magazine would put an article together comparing the major manufacturers transformers output waveform compatibility/ incompatibilitywith the various manufacturer's locomotives - Atlas O, Weaver, 3rd Rail, MTH , Lionel etc and conventional , DCS , TMCC, Legacy command control. If you are using only LEDs for lighting, you could get away with even less. If you like, tell us more about yourself. It does not work with O27. Price Received. Not really a how-to-build-a-layout book, but it is a good general introduction to the hobby full of interesting stuff. no it isn't. The insulation on the outside of the wire also varies greatly. White and black are common selections. Buyers truly want all-original trains that have never been tampered with. Within that range, it is generally recommended to go for the most robust power supply possible. Effort. 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. Lionel Postwar 1033 Transformer Watch on Effort. Improve ready-to-run freight cars with a little paint. Big Ed Railroad Tycoon Smaller feeder wires are used to bridge the small gap from the bus to the track. It was one of Lionel's more venerable postwar products, lasting on the market for 18 years from 1948 to 1966. 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. The power supply that comes with these sets is usually a very small wall pack plug-in that cannot be easily expanded. Note that when working with specific products, manufacturers will often recommend a wire size and type. There have been issues with chopped waveform transformers, i.e. Connecticut Valley Railroad -- A Branch of the New York, New Haven, And Hartford. 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. 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. 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. 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. Now, I diconnected that old dinosaur and connected two separate smaller ones which weren't powerful enough to run my Amtrack MTH trains. (8 lights X 20 watts = 160 watts). Ive talked about why here. 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. The house's current is reduced to the required low voltage by Trainmaster Transformers. Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide 1901-2022. THE BASICS "O", "S", "HO". Use the CW-80 Transformer only for its intended purpose. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. But were talking the trains that are in the absolute best condition and might not have ever run on the track. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. 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. It's expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. 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. 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. Transformers are sized by determining the total load required (in amps). The choice of a control system is somewhat, but not necessarily, dependent on which manufacturers engines you prefer or have the most of. Which Lionel transformer do I need? you ask? Lionel has a new 180 watt transformer due out soon that will be a nice upgrade. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Is there anyway of saying how much track it will power? 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. 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. However, there are times when the solid wire has advantages, particularly when soldering in small locations. Never Enough Room, Time or Money for all the Trains! If you like fixing things, fixing an old transformer is rewarding. Again, if you have a very long run between switches, going a little larger is less likely to cause problems with voltage loss. 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. The 1033 is not the same as the 1044. The car on the left is scale, and the one on the right is the classic, underscale size. Then the K's will do siding and switching yard duty. Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month, WELCOME TO THE FORUM Mike!! You can also minimize voltage drop at the rail joints by soldering the rails together. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. And of course, individual Fastrack sections are also available. The smaller the number, the larger the wire. Frankly, its hard to go wrong with either of these transformers, especially at todays prices. The iconic and legendary 270-wattLionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. You don't want to try to solder even Number 16 gauge wire right to your rails, however. DCC is less common in starter sets, but some are available. Over the years I have collected boxed (mostly liquor boxes) sets from attics.So I have a variety of transformers on hand. Lest I offend, in another plane of existence I was an electronics tech. David, looking at your layout I notice there is a two rail and a three rail ? Sell Your Trains Yourself On eBay. In most cases, stranded wire is preferred because the multiple threads provide more conductivity and flexibility. While most of the American Flyer products are re-issues using old Gilbert tooling from the 1950s, the O scale equipment is a combination of new designs and reissues. 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. It is best to use at least two different colors for your track wiring (one for each rail). View More! Lionel is also introducing a new 180 watt transformer to accompany the 80 watt CW 80. Classic Toy Trains 5-Year Collection 2015-2019 DVD-ROM. 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. Solid wire is preferable as it is much easier to solder to the rails. Number 24 to Number20 wire will all work with most layouts. If your going to run anything more that what came with the set then you should probably upgrade to something a little bigger. Do not use this device if water is present. 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 don't want to buy a lot more track, but then find out the transformer is too weak, if that make sense. 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. Expanding the basic oval from the set is the quickest way to add more interest to your trains. .
This type of transformer is cheap, its reliable, and its easy to find. It also has an optional bell sound that can be turned on and off. What do I need to do that with? When they were manufactured by The American Flyer Manufacturing Company, they were made in Standard Gauge and a version of "O" gauge. Here at Trainz, we carry all of the products you will need to go from a starter set to a miniature railroad empire. I'm guessing the MTH Z1000 is around $100 and the other suggestions are much more expensive. I went to mth Z1000, jason's train shop has the best price's I have seen for these. I have a 3amp, 40watt transformer. Lionel Rolling Stock Identification Guide. These systems still require a power supply but it only needs to supply a constant voltage to the rails. Lionel developed and perfected its model designs and layouts during the Pre-War Era (1901-1942). 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. (Electrical Contractor with dear old Dad for 30 years) Regards Steve. 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 This tool will allow you calculate the KVA that you need. Most feeders will be only a few inches long so the smaller diameter wire will not be a problem. If you have a very long run, you may want to consider Number 12 wire. For safety reasons, the batteries were soon replaced by a 110 volt transformer. This will solve the slowdown problem. The iconic and legendary 270-watt Lionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. Everything you need to get going is included, its reliable, and setup is usually very easy. Are you running command or conventional? Whatever colors and pattern you choose, just make sure to keep a good notebook handy to reference later. Early issues used a Bakelite case while later releases had a case made out of plastic. The Lionel 1033 can be used for small or medium-sized layouts. These can all have uses for your layout. It is much easier to be ready ahead of time then to have to do some changes afterwards. God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of theNRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified. Plug one of your transformers into each Fixed in. Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month, Calculating transformer size for layout size. For a passenger train with lighted cars, getting a little more power isnt a bad idea. This means that you will have about.5 volt drop if your train draws 5 amperes. Alternating current (AC) is the preferred power for most O Gauge three-rail trains as well as some two-rail systems in smaller scales. The new Lionel ZW-L is getting a lot of good reviews and is a very powerful transformer for most layouts. 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. The locomotives are battery-powered and made of durable plastic. Amperes = VA/Secondary Volts or 40VA/28V = 1.43 amperes. Most power supplies will perform very well for years if used within their limits. 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 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. 4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars (15) Ages: 14 years and up. Three conductor wire is common for household use. Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers' Henry V. I am a person with a very active inner child. Fortunately, there is an easy way to tell these cars apart, and the key is the numbers Lionel assigns to them. The circuit breaker should trip with a click and the transformer should go dead. The smallest wire you can work with will be more than sufficient. UpBright 18V AC/DC Adapter Compatible with Lionel O Gauge Fastrack 10" Remote Control Terminal Straight LionChief System Track 6-1923100 HKYF45-180230T-US DC18V 2300mA 18VDC Power Supply Cord Charger. As you progress with your layout there are a lot of people here who will help you with any questions you have. As your needs grow, you can employ a larger transformer of fixed voltage. Ill try to find a link to it for you. --Heck, watching one train run is great, Ill bet TWO would be even more fun! Some great beginner accessories are the #12052 Fastrack Highway Signal set, which is a set of highway signals that blink as the train goes by. They have everything you need for a basic setup, and the larger ones are capable of running the smaller layouts you see in the train magazines, so they have some room for growth.