Besides the train and track, accessories provide a lot of fun and animation to any setup. The iconic and legendary 270-watt Lionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. In the middle range, Lionel made a lot of other transformers. Professionals Need: Kindle Direct Publishing Indie Digital & Print Publishing Made Easy Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime: Prime Video Direct It is 5" long. is always one of the first questions asked when someone starts to build a model railroad. The first Lionel electric trains were powered by wet-cell batteries, which were, of course, dangerous. This means that you will have about.5 volt drop if your train draws 5 amperes. There are many advantages in repairing or reconditioning your transformers. I run an MTH 4-6-2 PS-1 pulling five Madisons on about fifty feet of track and the transformer I am using (Z-4000) has a digital amp readout. I know this has nothing to do with Mike's original problem but is more of a reflection on Trainman's reply. Not unlike the relationship between the locomotive engineer and the fireman. These bus wires are often more important than the size of the power supply itself in getting good results. This would be more than enough for any single train and a few accessories. As you progress with your layout there are a lot of people here who will help you with any questions you have. Power the odd blocks with the other transformer. Outdoor railroads are, of course, an exception! However, there are times when the solid wire has advantages, particularly when soldering in small locations. This comes primarily from the locomotive(s) but also from lights and other accessories. electronically controlled outputs. Beginners Ask Trains New trains; old transformers. Because of this, like with lighting and accessories, your power supply and wiring for switch machines do not need to be as robust. Sell Your Trains Yourself At Train Shows. Best bang for the buck for command are the Lionel 180W Powerhouse bricks IMO. 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. It is not uncommon to see 50-year-old transformers still going strong on a model railroad. Length of track or type of track doesn't (or shouldn't) matter. Fortunately, there is an easy way to tell these cars apart, and the key is the numbers Lionel assigns to them. Good choices are the Lionel 32923 Accessory Transformer, or another 80-watt transformer like the one included in your set, #14198. I would check yoour connections and wire size, just to be safe. The house's current is reduced to the required low voltage by Trainmaster Transformers. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. It is much easier to be ready ahead of time then to have to do some changes afterwards. My question is.how big of a transformer will I need to power this thing? Again, an independent power supply and distribution bus is a good idea for your switches. Ive talked about why here. Ill try to find a link to it for you. When running a mixed bag train show with new and old trains of mixed types such as Loinel and MTH which is better? "O" Gauge is what Lionel is today, along with "O27". If you found this post informative or helpful, please share it! A: According to Lionel's head of customer service, on the underside of their CW80 transformers, starting in late 2009, the vendor applied a sticker that states "QC50" on it. Price Received. Model train transformer- 6 steps to understanding how they work Price Received. 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. Now, I diconnected that old dinosaur and connected two separate smaller ones which weren't powerful enough to run my Amtrack MTH trains. Model Train Track & Transformer at Lionel Trains Lionel Fastrack Track System O Scale Trains | Lionel Fastrack for Sale Sign-up for email today! 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Controlled Magnetics has the manufacturing experience, knowledge, and facilities to repair a wide variety of electrical power transformers. Thanks in advance for any information, Mike. Ryan developsmodeltrainlayouts for public andprivate display. The best of the best Lionel trains are very valuable. * NOTE: We do not recommend loading a transformer above 80% of its KVA rating. These can all have uses for your layout. Right now I am running 8 motors on one KW [the new one I found] and got the old one for reserve. to run conventional you will need Legacy plus a Powermaster and Powermaster Bridge or Legacy and a TPC 300/400. how much track can a transformer handle? | Model Train Forum Like command control, these trains still require a constant voltage to the rails. In most cases, stranded wire is preferred because the multiple threads provide more conductivity and flexibility. 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 typ miniature incandecents we use average about 100 ma of current each. The Lionel motor is a collection of four electromagnetic plates with a rotating sweeper arm called a brush. 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. Lionel and other train manufacturers have worked hard to make adding to a set easy, affordable, and fun. All members here are welcome to drop in and visit. How Many Lights Can I Connect To My Transformer? - LightUp I really doubt you will need more than that. I have a post war ZW and a KW and a Z, all three are good transformers, just meant for differant needs. Unlimited Members, sign in to enjoy sitewide access. With the ever-increasing amount of small electronics in today's sophisticated models, this protection is more important than ever. Should it be a Lionel or should it be an MTH with command control? The insulation on the outside of the wire also varies greatly. Everything you need to get going is included, its reliable, and setup is usually very easy. 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. Price Received. As your needs grow, you can employ a larger transformer of fixed voltage. Do not connect this product to any other power supply. You should take care, however, to replace worn cords and wires. I bet they would be great for running lights and unloading the main transformer. Lionel makes two expansion sets for this purpose. Amazon.com: Lionel Transformer Our community is FREE to join. 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. Amazon.com: Lionel O Gauge Transformer But if you already have a 1034 and dont need a whistle button, go ahead and use it. A new ZW will run you in the neighborhood of $450.00 or a little less depending on your dealership. Classic Toy Trains magazine offers information about toy trains operating and collecting, toy train product news and reviews, toy train layout tips, toy train layout designs and track plans, and more. 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. Mike, The size of the transformer is dictated by what you want to run, the more you run the more power you will need. American Flyer Trains Basic Operating Information What size Lionel transformer do I need? The backside of a control panel can turn into a "rat's nest" of wiring very quickly. The Best Technical and Innovative Podcasts you should Listen, Essay Writing Service: The Best Solution for Busy Students, 6 The Best Alternatives for WhatsApp for Android, The Best Solar Street Light Manufacturers Across the World, Ultimate packing list while travelling with your dog. I have purchased diodes to put into the older transformers to see if this resolves the issue with newer tenders. 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.". They give a true 180 watts and have excellent electronic breakers. If youre looking for Lionel transformer comparisons, youve come to the right place. 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. Why Sign In? VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Sell Your Trains Yourself On eBay. For a passenger train with lighted cars, getting a little more power isnt a bad idea. If the second digit is 9, it could be either, so be careful when considering one of them. [:)]. Get updates and special offers via email from Trains.com brands! This type of transformer is cheap, its reliable, and its easy to find. Different wiring projects call for different standards. Plug one of your transformers into each Fixed in. New trains; old transformers | Classic Toy Trains Magazine M3103. I've got around 320 ft of track between all of the mainline, sidings, etc and I don't have any problems running my engines anywhere on the layout. This is why my wife loves me so. The same is true for other electronic projects around your layout and inside buildings, train cars, and even locomotives. That's about enough to run a single locomotive and perhaps power a few lighted accessories or passenger cars. --I wish I had some more cars to put behind the engine. 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