In addition to the wire itself, connectors like crimp-on terminals and terminal blocks must also be purchased in larger (and more expensive) sizes. Keeping in mind that I will likely continue to add to the layout as my addiction develops! This type of transformer is cheap, its reliable, and its easy to find. To determine the maximum transformer current, divide the transformer VA by transformer secondary voltage. You may never use all the amps, but it's usually cheaper to grow into a power supply than to continually upgrade. By creating alternate routes, more complex loops, and storage tracks, your trains will suddenly be even more interesting to watch and they will begin providing you the feeling that they are going somewhere and that you are running a small railroad. Many manufacturers assemble cases with special screws to prevent access to the inside and accidental shock. Whatever colors and pattern you choose, just make sure to keep a good notebook handy to reference later. 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. The smaller of the two is # 12028, which turns your oval into this: There is also the larger 12031 plan, which has a couple extra straight track pieces included, creating this: Even better, one or more of the expansion sets can be combined to create even more interesting track layouts. Although all Lionel cars operate on O Gauge track, the bodies of the cars are made in two slightly different sizes. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. PDF Lionel CW-80 Transformer Owner's Manual - thomconte.com I'll take this information and run with it to help get me started. $7.89 delivery Feb 2 - 6. . The smaller the number, the larger the wire. Price Received. An Essential Guide for Toy Train Enthusiasts! Ive talked about why here. These small power supplies are designed to supply a few amps of power. 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. 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're experiencing problems with your wiring due to humidity, for example, you are going to face even greater issues with the trains and tracks themselves. Of all the questions fielded by the staff of Classic Toy Trains, inquiries regarding layout wiring top the list.While you might expect numerous questions regarding complex techniques or new technologies, CTT. 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. 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. 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)! Sell Your Trains Through an Online Auction Service. Mike, The size of the transformer is dictated by what you want to run, the more you run the more power you will need. When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Join Today! Getting Started - 3 RAIL TRAINS It is not uncommon to see 50-year-old transformers still going strong on a model railroad. 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. Like tankist stated.It's only running multiple engines that I run into issues. If you like fixing things, fixing an old transformer is rewarding. The thing that eats current is a lot of light bulbs on the layout. 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. 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. Which Lionel transformer do I need? - The Silicon Underground A 10 amp breaker and 16 gauge wire would be appropriate for an old ZW. Starter set locomotives can pull up to 12 cars easily, and most can handle up to 20, so building a longer train will not harm your engine. I will make a note here. Now, I diconnected that old dinosaur and connected two separate smaller ones which weren't powerful enough to run my Amtrack MTH trains. There are many advantages in repairing or reconditioning your transformers. View More! Because the runs are short and power demands so low, this fine wire poses no safety threat. Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership. Lionel is also introducing a new 180 watt transformer to accompany the 80 watt CW 80. Ive written more about the Lionel ZW here. If you plan to just run MTH go with their DCS system if you plan to have a number of different engines or the MTH DCS Remote Commander which is limited to running only one engine at a time. In the middle range, Lionel made a lot of other transformers. 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. Frankly, its hard to go wrong with either of these transformers, especially at todays prices. We use a ZW 275 and a KW on this, so 405 watts. (using 4 of the 180 watt Lionel bricks) That's 10 amps per channel on all 4 channels. Lionel Fastrack Track System O Scale Trains | Lionel Fastrack for Sale If the system's train transformer is run in Europe with a step-down transformer alone (converting only voltage from 230V to 115V AC at a 50 Hz), it may not operate as intended. June 5, 2022; cleveland open chess 2021; mexican martial arts xilam 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. JavaScript is disabled. Yes, but the train will probably run too fast, depending on the output voltage of the 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 As your needs grow, you can employ a larger transformer of fixed voltage. 24v, 120v, 208v, 240v, 480v, and 600v). This conserves the trains' power supply for their needs and makes troubleshooting much easier. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Handbook of layout wiring | Classic Toy Trains Magazine When they were manufactured by The American Flyer Manufacturing Company, they were made in Standard Gauge and a version of "O" gauge. Make your Christmas complete with a Lionel HO Train under your. Lionel trains value varies depending on design, materials, and era. Needless to say the "Spring into Spring" train show very nearly became unsprung! I'm sure I'll need more help along the way, so I'll be checking back in with more silly questions! There are a few standards when it comes to the color-coding. The power supply that comes with these sets is usually a very small wall pack plug-in that cannot be easily expanded. Never Enough Room, Time or Money for all the Trains! The wire can also be purchased as solid or stranded. Our community is FREE to join. The two types of cars will connect together just fine, but when side-by-side in a train, they may look a bit odd. As far as new transformers go, someone else may be able to help more than I can. My question is this in order that this doesn't happen again what type of transformer would you recommend? In this case Id go with a postwar TW 175 watt transformer. The Lionel Multi-control 1033 is a 90 watt transformer produced from 1948 to 1956. All of the transformers that have more than 90 Watts are in great demand today as more collectors are operating retro-layouts. The farther from the transformer the more resistance in the rails and your engine will slow down. 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. Obviously, for a lot of people, the $700 Lionel ZW-L transformer is overkill. The transformer included with your starter set should be adequate to handle a modest expansion of your train set discussed above. Used 1033's for sidings and the switching yard its self. It is also a good idea to run your accessories off of a separate power supply and wire grid from the trains themselves. The iconic and legendary 270-watt Lionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. The insulation on the outside of the wire also varies greatly. Do not connect this product to any other power supply. Expanding Your Lionel Starter Set - Trainz Digital command control systems (DCC) uses digital information to control the electrical power to the train. Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading. Transformer Sizing Calculator Sell Your Trains Using a Live Auction House. 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. Why Do Lionel Trains Have 3 Rails? | Worldwide Rails I got a lot of lightweight transformers that came with starter sets over the years. Plug one of your transformers into each Fixed in. The whistle requires more power than the outfits that don't have it. Now, I am going to make a suggesstion that you use a larger diameter curve for your corners. Price Received. They run on O Gauge track, but they are not exact O Scale cars. The only time you might not get your full moneys worth is during operation of locomotives equipped with Lionels TMCC or MTHs DCS command-control systems.