These transformers are much cheaper than they were even just a few years ago, but that just makes them a bigger bargain today. 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. Lionel is also introducing a new 180 watt transformer to accompany the 80 watt CW 80. Can't plug into outlet? Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. If you plan to add a second loop for another train in the near future, the 14198 would be a wise investment. 6 Best Transformer For Ho Trains - LEDS.CC Our community is FREE to join. By only supplying power to the trains that need it, you can greatly reduce your needs. Best bang for the buck for command are the Lionel 180W Powerhouse bricks IMO. Most people start with a pre-packaged train set. In three-rail systems, the outer rails are both grounded, and the center rail is "hot.". Everyone wanted the two-handled, football-shaped, 275-watt powerhouse that was the ZW. Ive talked more about the KW here. Number 22 solid wire works best on most scales. Again, an independent power supply and distribution bus is a good idea for your switches. Here are a few: --The Lionel Fastrack Book, by Robert Schleicher. We feature Lionel, American Flyer, MTH, Atlas O, Williams Trains, K-Line, Weaver Models, and more. 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. 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. This type of transformer is cheap, its reliable, and its easy to find. I'm sure I'll need more help along the way, so I'll be checking back in with more silly questions! Both are lighted. So far, I haven't seen any way to do this except to take amp measurements or just wing it and see how hot your transformer gets. Frankly, its hard to go wrong with either of these transformers, especially at todays prices. 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. I think the RW is a bit better value, but that could just be timing. Lionel CW80's can be found for around $50 at Greenberg and other train shows. It is important to remember that the real test of the power supply is the load you'll place on it. Tales From Harmon Shops, WTB: LIONEL AUTRORACKS SPECIFICALLY SOUTHERN,GRAND TRUNK,BNSF,FERROMEX. how much track can a transformer handle? | Model Train Forum They run on three rail track. Remember, the only silly question is the one that you did not ask. If you want a transformer with power to spare go get a ZW! 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. Sell Your Trains To A Train Dealer or a Single Buyer. Use the CW-80 Transformer only for its intended purpose. Retrofitting a subway line into existing benchwork - and are subway sets still being made? (Use buss/feeder lines to distribute power.) How to correctly size a transformer | Consulting - Specifying Engineer If you add a lot of track and find that your train slows down as it gets farther from your transformer, you will need to run jumper wires to the opposite side of your track layout. 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. Faq No: 1029 A rule of thumb from the elders, (I had to go to the mountain top for this one), Add 2 more watts for Spankybird's fun-filled layout! In either case, however, voltage and amperage draw is low and peak for only brief periods. I can remember a time when a Lionel ZW would set you back $275. Transformer for Lionel that works in AUSTRALIA QUOTE: by Skyray "Typical engineer--you need a technician. In addition to the wire itself, connectors like crimp-on terminals and terminal blocks must also be purchased in larger (and more expensive) sizes. Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers' Henry V. I am a person with a very active inner child. New trains; old transformers | Classic Toy Trains Magazine This diagram shows all of the controls and the pinout for the Lionel RW transformer. A locomotive on a mile-long loop will draw as many amps as it does on a 4x8 platform. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. A Passenger consist can easily use more power than the engine. My current layout uses about 28 sections of track (Lionel o-27). Although all Lionel cars operate on O Gauge track, the bodies of the cars are made in two slightly different sizes. Do not use this device if water is present. This conserves the trains' power supply for their needs and makes troubleshooting much easier. With multiple switches, lights, power supplies and more all concentrated in a small space, color coding and neatness pay off. The insulation on the outside of the wire also varies greatly. Serious or fatal injuries may result. 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. OTTS Founder 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. Mike, The size of the transformer is dictated by what you want to run, the more you run the more power you will need. 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. . Also, I found an old guide printed by lionel on power requirements. 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. Different wiring projects call for different standards. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. I have one R transformer from which I run everything - but only 1 train at a time and a few accessories for a layout in a space about 24 by 10 ft. I talk more in depth about the 1033 here. JavaScript is disabled. Click here to learn about the Unlimited Membership. A solid and stranded wire of the same gauge will be the same total diameter. If you have to ask,your needs are a lot more modest than that. In most cases, stranded wire is preferred because the multiple threads provide more conductivity and flexibility. If youre going to run more than one train, you can pair up two smaller transformers, or you can look at the two-handled transformers. They do not include a track or power supply, so you will need to buy both separately. If you like fixing things, fixing an old transformer is rewarding. And both of them give more wattage per handle than a KW or ZW. This is where the Lionel transformer comparisons should begin. This would be more than enough for any single train and a few accessories. A bigger transformer is better and always looks nicer too! It's expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. Like command control, these trains still require a constant voltage to the rails. Use this index to see additional details about the individual transformers issued by Lionel during the post-war period. 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. 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. THE BASICS "O", "S", "HO". But it is important to take a close look at the cars to make sure that they are a good match for your set. 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. As your layout grows beyond the basic oval of track that comes with most starter sets, a good power distribution network is essential to getting consistent performance from your train all the way around. Then the K's will do siding and switching yard duty. This works for command control layouts too, since those parked trains are still drawing some current. (8 lights X 20 watts = 160 watts). Not unlike the relationship between the locomotive engineer and the fireman. The preferred choice for wiring control panels is telephone or telecommunications wire. Transformer Calculator KVA Calculator Full Load Amps Calculator Sign-up for email today! Adding lights to buildings, streets, and other scenic accessories usually do not require anywhere near the amperage demand of the trains themselves. The first is the traditional or classic size, which are the cars that match starter sets. For a classic setup of a single freight train running on a 48 (or smaller) sheet of plywood, a 90-wattLionel 1033 or 1044 is an excellent choice. And of course, Lionel also makes lots of figures to populate your town. 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. The article you suggest would be a daunting task, as you'd have to gather virtually every known locomotive and transformer! 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 The locomotives are battery-powered and made of durable plastic. Power Conversion for Lionel Trains and O-Gauge - KCC Scientific Lionel has a new 180 watt transformer due out soon that will be a nice upgrade. Lionel Vintage Model Railroad & Train Transformers - eBay What is the best transformer to use? - O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum Transformer Sizing Calculator By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Sell Your Trains Yourself On eBay. DCC is less common in starter sets, but some are available. 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. 4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars (15) Ages: 14 years and up. Lionel Multi-Car Freight Sets + More MTH Halloween! From 25 Watts to 275 Watts, a Lionel transformer could be found for every power requirment from simple circles of track to extensive railroads. http://www.lccuk.org.uk/lccuk Regards Nick Save Reply Quote N Nick12DMC Registered View More! 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. The motor takes electricity through a small wire attached to a metal wheel that rests on the middle rail underneath. My layout I am building is 5 sheets of 4x8 plywood and it will probaly take me 100 years to build it (I hope I have that much time left). They give a great deal of power in a single handled transformer, and if you run trains along with another person, it can be more convenient for you to both have a smaller transformer than for two people to huddle around a larger KW or ZW transformer and share its handles. Why Do Lionel Trains Have 3 Rails? | Worldwide Rails This is interesting stuff. 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. 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. the amount of track is not what is important here. There are many advantages in repairing or reconditioning your transformers. Used 1033's for sidings and the switching yard its self. 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.
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