Number 26 to 20 wire (depending on the length of your bus) will be sufficient for most applications. I have a post war ZW and a KW and a Z, all three are good transformers, just meant for differant needs. As your needs grow, you can employ a larger transformer of fixed voltage. 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. 24v, 120v, 208v, 240v, 480v, and 600v). I know this has nothing to do with Mike's original problem but is more of a reflection on Trainman's reply. 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. For many first-time train buyers, once the initial excitement of setting up the train and watching it run has passed, the desire to make it do more usually begins. Lionel, LLC continued to manufacture and market trains and accessories in O scale under the Lionel brand and S gauge under the American Flyer brand. Lionel Multi-Car Freight Sets + More MTH Halloween! Lionel introduced a few LionChief Plus 2.0 starter sets in 2022. 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 power supply that comes with these sets is usually a very small wall pack plug-in that cannot be easily expanded. I bet they would be great for running lights and unloading the main transformer. Whatever colors and pattern you choose, just make sure to keep a good notebook handy to reference later. The preferred choice for wiring control panels is telephone or telecommunications wire. What do I need to do that with? Amazon.com: Lionel Transformer A starter set is the best way to start with the train hobby. Lionel Fastrack Track System O Scale Trains | Lionel Fastrack for Sale I have a 3amp, 40watt transformer. In this case Id go with a postwar TW 175 watt transformer. American Flyer Trains Basic Operating Information In the middle range, Lionel made a lot of other transformers. The higher powered units would not meet todays safety standards as issued by Underwriters Laboratories. Not unlike the relationship between the locomotive engineer and the fireman. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. As an example, look at these two cars closely: While both are gondola cars and run on O Gauge track, note how the car on the left is much longer than the one on the right. 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). Lots of good information for building any size O Gauge layout. Price Received. View More! The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. Most people start with a pre-packaged train set. Everyone wanted the two-handled, football-shaped, 275-watt powerhouse that was the ZW. In most cases, stranded wire is preferred because the multiple threads provide more conductivity and flexibility. This means that you will have about.5 volt drop if your train draws 5 amperes. If you are using only LEDs for lighting, you could get away with even less. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Professionals Need: Kindle Direct Publishing Indie Digital & Print Publishing Made Easy Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime: Prime Video Direct Here are some simple definitions for these electrical terms: Most power supplies will be labeled as to the scales they are meant to handle. But if you already have a 1034 and dont need a whistle button, go ahead and use it. This is a old school approach for sizing cables & transformers or appliances in the electrical trade, & has never let us down. Classic cars have a 5 or 6 as their second digit [25051, 16686, etc]. And again regardless of scale or manufacturer, switch machines of these two types will have similar needs and performance. Our community is FREE to join. They are known as HO train sets because they are half the size of O-guage. For safety reasons, the batteries were soon replaced by a 110 volt transformer. The two types of cars will connect together just fine, but when side-by-side in a train, they may look a bit odd. This is where the Lionel transformer comparisons should begin. If the transformer fails, you most likely have a short or overload somewhere in the control circuit. Digital command control systems (DCC) uses digital information to control the electrical power to the train. HO gauge is very popular because of its size. Price Received. These small power supplies are designed to supply a few amps of power. I didnt mention the 1034 above because its easier to find a 1033. How to Properly Size a Transformer | Behler-Young Power the odd blocks with the other transformer. Here are a couple examples: As you can see, with a bit of experimentation and imagination, numerous different track layouts can be created. This works for command control layouts too, since those parked trains are still drawing some current. Used 1033's for sidings and the switching yard its self. Stop it with your hand to full stall, and it goes up to four amps--sixty watts--trying to pull. I have noticed that my old transformers do not work well or not work at all with newer electronic whistle tenders. We feature Lionel, American Flyer, MTH, Atlas O, Williams Trains, K-Line, Weaver Models, and more. If you like, tell us more about yourself. 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. The house's current is reduced to the required low voltage by Trainmaster 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. M3103. Safety first. Then the K's will do siding and switching yard duty. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. But it is important to take a close look at the cars to make sure that they are a good match for your set. This is because the demands for power are becoming more than your transformer can handle. --The O Gauge Railroading Primer, by Christopher Ritchie. 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. For a passenger train with lighted cars, getting a little more power isnt a bad idea. Retrofitting a subway line into existing benchwork - and are subway sets still being made? And if the power supply does fail, it is best not to repair it on your own. Lionel Trains|MTH Train|Lionel Train Sets| HO model Trains| G Scale|Dept 56 The larger wire is usually more expensive and more challenging to work with. Lionel Model Railroad and Train Transformers Lionel Model Railroad and Train Transformers Best Selling Lionel 1908080 O Gauge CW80 Transformers - Black (4) $147.85 New $110.00 Used Lionel Legacy Powermaster Lnl637146 (13) $134.99 New $90.00 Used Lionel 634120 TMCC Direct Lock-On Transformer - Silver (21) $58.99 New $49.99 Used As Paul said, the power needed doesn't have anything to do with the distance; but the voltage needed does. The 110-wattLionel RW is a cheap option, and the 125-watt LW, while a bit more expensive, gives a bit more power. Ive talked more about the KW here. We're sorry. 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. By only supplying power to the trains that need it, you can greatly reduce your needs. Another classic is the Automatic Gateman. From 25 Watts to 275 Watts, a Lionel transformer could be found for every power requirment from simple circles of track to extensive railroads. If you have the proper wire size and a properly-sized circuit breaker, you should not have any problems using the old transformer. This conserves the trains' power supply for their needs and makes troubleshooting much easier. Faq No: 1029 Unlimited Members, sign in to enjoy sitewide access. In either case, however, voltage and amperage draw is low and peak for only brief periods. What lionel transformer do i need - Go Quick Qna Thanks! 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. To amplify CTvalley's very valid instructions: A forum community dedicated to model train owners and enthusiasts. is always one of the first questions asked when someone starts to build a model railroad. Understanding Electrical Supplies and Controls. As you can see, a lot of great helpers here. Make sure you are getting the right type of power supply for your layout. The Lionel motor is a collection of four electromagnetic plates with a rotating sweeper arm called a brush. Stop it with your hand to full stall, and it goes up to four amps--sixty watts--trying to pull. Its a good transformer. Accessories often interact with the train, such as a crossing gate that lowers as the train passes. Why Sign In? 5 years of Classic Toy Trains at your fingertips! But after a little while, you will likely want your train to do more, and youll start thinking along these lines: --It sure would be neat if it did more than run in a circle. Checklist Transformer Size Calculator When sizing a transformer, you need to know the kilovolt-amps (KVA) that your machine requires. "What size wire should I use?" The locomotives are battery-powered and made of durable plastic. Not really a how-to-build-a-layout book, but it is a good general introduction to the hobby full of interesting stuff. 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. Again, if you have a very long run between switches, going a little larger is less likely to cause problems with voltage loss. Electric Trains make great power supplies, depending on usage, on a DCS controlled layout. Just connect the jumper wires to the same connections on the back of your transformer as your original connections, and make sure that the wires are not crossed. Past,presentand future. 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. 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. A locomotive on a mile-long loop will draw as many amps as it does on a 4x8 platform. In most cases, because we are dealing with relatively low voltage and amperage and in a normally stable temperature and humidity climates, our wiring does not require any extra insulation. Ive talked more about the Lionel RW and the LW as well. 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. You can also minimize voltage drop at the rail joints by soldering the rails together. Some of the variables are obvious, others not so much. If you add feeders to the track at the farthest point (remember to get the same wire to the same rails) you will not slow down at the farthest point.
