Hello All: Another simple way of doing it, Only load the transformer to 75% of it's capacity, or take your total load & multiply by 125% for proper transformer sizing. 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. Starter sets almost always include a power supply along with the track and train. Understanding the difference is important in getting the right power supply for your needs. Dang, this math makes my head hurt. The article you suggest would be a daunting task, as you'd have to gather virtually every known locomotive and transformer! The iconic and legendary 270-watt Lionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. Its expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. 7 Best Transformer For Model Railway - LEDS.CC Sell Your Trains Yourself On eBay. The larger transformers could operate up to four trains independently. Over the years I have collected boxed(mostly liquor boxes) sets from attics.So I have a variety of transformers on hand. Are you looking for a product or serviceif so, then read this BEFORE you post! This is where the Lionel transformer comparisons should begin. I'm sure I'll need more help along the way, so I'll be checking back in with more silly questions! :-). Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. The Lionel Track & Power catalog is BACK with the latest information for more ways to make your layout even bigger, better and more powerful! CW80 Transformer. With two switches, you can create an alternative route for your trains. You can also minimize voltage drop at the rail joints by soldering the rails together. 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. The 1033 is not the same as the 1044. This diagram shows all of the controls and the pinout for the Lionel RW transformer. This works for command control layouts too, since those parked trains are still drawing some current. We're sorry. A model railroad train set designed for use in the United States will have a 115V AC 60Hz power requirement. The house's current is reduced to the required low voltage by Trainmaster Transformers. I thought you wanted information related to your layout not operations at a trains show. As your layout grows so, too, will its power demand. If you have a starter set and have had thoughts like this, youre not alone. The larger wire is usually more expensive and more challenging to work with. Over the years I have collected boxed (mostly liquor boxes) sets from attics.So I have a variety of transformers on hand. The greatest transformer Lionel made in the postwar era was the 270 watt Lionel ZW. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. 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. Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following, $12.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable). Choosing the Right Transformer for Your Model Trains - The Spruce Crafts A. There are many advantages in repairing or reconditioning your transformers. 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. Ive talked more about the Lionel RW and the LW as well. For more realistic operation, you need some kind of speed control (throttle) between the 10340 Automatic Reversing Unit and your transformer. That said, if youre uncomfortable fixing a transformer, I wont look down on you for buying one someone else fixed up. Needless to say the "Spring into Spring" train show very nearly became unsprung! If you were to get a ZW 275 you need external short protection. All of the transformers that have more than 90 Watts are in great demand today as more collectors are operating retro-layouts. Price Received. My question is this in order that this doesn't happen again what type of transformer would you recommend? Sign-up for email today! Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. Faq No: 1029 Good choices are the Lionel 32923 Accessory Transformer, or another 80-watt transformer like the one included in your set, #14198. --I wish I had some more cars to put behind the engine. Lionel Vintage Model Railroad & Train Transformers - eBay Because of this, like with lighting and accessories, your power supply and wiring for switch machines do not need to be as robust. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. My question is.how big of a transformer will I need to power this thing? 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. Most recommend the TPCs over the powermasters The CW 80 will work to begin with. Transformer Size Requirement? - Classic Toy Trains Magazine Our community is FREE to join. A lot of people are using the MTH Z1000's who have smaller layouts while others have moved up to the MTH Z4000. Best bang for the buck for command are the Lionel 180W Powerhouse bricks IMO. Lionel 1033 90 Watt Multi-control Transformer (102) $9.99 1 bid $16.00 shipping 2d 9h Lionel Type Z 250 Watt Transformer & One 167 Whistle Controllers. I bet they would be great for running lights and unloading the main transformer. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. How Many Lights Can I Connect To My Transformer? - LightUp Then power every other one with one of your smaller transformers. Most two-rail track systems use direct current (DC). A solid and stranded wire of the same gauge will be the same total diameter. Please see our article on Fastrack here for more information. Price Received. Retrofitting a subway line into existing benchwork - and are subway sets still being made? Many manufacturers assemble cases with special screws to prevent access to the inside and accidental shock. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. They run on three rail track. What type is your old transformer? [:)]. Again, if you have a very long run between switches, going a little larger is less likely to cause problems with voltage loss. It can run four tracks at one time, so you layout can grow. Connecticut Valley Railroad -- A Branch of the New York, New Haven, And Hartford. But Lionel now produces four Track Expansion Sets, which expand this basic loop into something more exciting. It is best to use at least two different colors for your track wiring (one for each rail). 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. Dave, the nice thing about Lionel transformers is you can run them until the bimetallic breaker pops and then you let it cool and you are back in action (after shutting a few things down)! Its a bargain at that price. These transformers are much cheaper than they were even just a few years ago, but that just makes them a bigger bargain today. 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. It's expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. Understanding Electrical Supplies and Controls. If you want a transformer with power to spare go get a ZW! I have had the same problem. 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. To my knowledge, you should have no compatibility issues with a pure sine wave track feed with any major brand locomotive. A solid and stranded wire of the same gauge will be the same total diameter. http://www.lccuk.org.uk/lccuk Regards Nick Save Reply Quote N Nick12DMC Registered 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. These can all have uses for your layout. Lionel 1033 90 watt Transformer Postwar from 1950s-60s Whistle, Direction. What size Lionel transformer do I need? Of course, the answer to that question depends on many things. What lionel transformer do i need - Go Quick Qna The transformer included with your starter set should be adequate to handle a modest expansion of your train set discussed above. 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. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. Transformer Sizing Calculator If mixing both non-command as well as command engines, both by the way will run without any thing other than the appropriate transformer, it really depends on the budget. (Electrical Contractor with dear old Dad for 30 years) Regards Steve. Wire gauges are coded by their size. Ryan Kunkle is a nationally recognized professional model train expert and writer with over 25 years of experience. Power the odd blocks with the other transformer. DCS Power Supplies | MTH ELECTRIC TRAINS I'm guessing the MTH Z1000 is around $100 and the other suggestions are much more expensive. Solid wire is preferable as it is much easier to solder to the rails. The Lionel ZW is Lionel's most iconic transformer of the 1950s and 1960s, and perhaps one of its most iconic products, period. 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. If they do, follow their recommendations. Lionel is also introducing a new 180 watt transformer to accompany the 80 watt CW 80. Use this index to see additional details about the individual transformers issued by Lionel during the post-war period. Lionel Ready-to-Play is a large sized train that's made to be affordable and easy-to-use for both kids and adults alike. Here are a couple examples: As you can see, with a bit of experimentation and imagination, numerous different track layouts can be created. Dave: That certainly qualifies, don't forget the anti-gun lobbyist with the picket sign's. I have a 3amp, 40watt transformer. 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. Pretty much suffered the same fate, too. Both are lighted. If youre buying a transformer, youll be able to easily find one that a professional refurbished and upgraded with the links I provide below. If you found this post informative or helpful, please share it! He directs production at Lionel, the premier model train manufacturer, and he istheformer president of theConrail HistoricalSociety. ransformers were issued by Lionel thoughout the Post War period. Lionel made these for years and kept them in production under a different model number well into the 1970s because it was a reliable, dependable design and had enough power for a typical starter set while leaving some room to grow. I cant see you needing more than a capacity of 5 amps. A large number of the Lionel Collectors Club UK use this set up to good effect. Model train transformer- 6 steps to understanding how they work what size lionel transformer do i need - senatlaevproducts.com Check out my O scale layout progress at MTF, does track consume power? Length of track or type of track doesn't (or shouldn't) matter. Just not quite as much. Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers' Henry V. I am a person with a very active inner child. This is why my wife loves me so. By continuing to use this site, you indicate you accept these terms. It can be a great secondary power supply for lighted buildings, signals, and other accessories. How to open tamper resistant outlets, Xxcopy vs Xcopy: Command line copy utilities, Where to connect the red wire to a light switch, Brains 25 cents: The story behind the meme. 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. HO gauge is very popular because of its size. Keep the power supplies in an area where they get plenty of air circulation to prevent overheating. Tales From Harmon Shops, WTB: LIONEL AUTRORACKS SPECIFICALLY SOUTHERN,GRAND TRUNK,BNSF,FERROMEX. Wow.thanks for all the advice so far, guys!! VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Lionel has a new 180 watt transformer due out soon that will be a nice upgrade. Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading. This type of transformer is cheap, its reliable, and its easy to find. I have a post war ZW and a KW and a Z, all three are good transformers, just meant for differant needs. Just not quite as much. Electric Trains make great power supplies, depending on usage, on a DCS controlled layout. Apparently there is a difference between old conventional and new conventional power. Subscribers, sign in to access exclusive content. Some of the variables are obvious, others not so much.