what size lionel transformer do i need

Best bang for the buck for command are the Lionel 180W Powerhouse bricks IMO. If you like fixing things, fixing an old transformer is rewarding. 6 Best Transformer For Ho Trains - LEDS.CC 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. Lionel Fastrack Track System O Scale Trains | Lionel Fastrack for Sale what size lionel transformer do i need. What size Lionel transformer do I need? (Use buss/feeder lines to distribute power.) Solid wire is preferable as it is much easier to solder to the rails. I will make a note here. 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. These are all good, dependable transformers from the postwar era that are easy to find today, have adequate wattages ranging from 90-270 watts, have a circuit breaker for safety and have a whistle controller. Everyone wanted the two-handled, football-shaped, 275-watt powerhouse that was the ZW. I don't want to buy a lot more track, but then find out the transformer is too weak, if that make sense. 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. And of course, individual Fastrack sections are also available. This tool only evaluates common voltages for North America (ie. Pretty much suffered the same fate, too. Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide 1901-2022. I justhave a very basic 027 set (guessin' mid 80's?). The CW-80 Transformer was meant to operate on 120-volt, 60-Hertz power. Although not necessarily a mandated standard, white, black and or red are used for track power on most layouts - if for no other reason than these colors are easiest to find. www.spankybird.shutterfly.com, God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of theNRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified. Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. It also has an optional bell sound that can be turned on and off. How do you choose the right power supply for your model trains? Just like with your track bus and feeders, running an accessory bus of slightly heavier wire to connect to each light or accessory with a smaller feeder is a good plan. [:)]. Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading. Great for learning all you will ever want to know about Lionels track system. If you plan to add a second loop for another train in the near future, the 14198 would be a wise investment. It states: 1.25 amps for each motor, 0.2 amps for each bulb. Retrofitting a subway line into existing benchwork - and are subway sets still being made? For more realistic operation, you need some kind of speed control (throttle) between the 10340 Automatic Reversing Unit and your transformer. 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. Thanks in advance for any information, Mike. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. We feature Lionel, American Flyer, MTH, Atlas O, Williams Trains, K-Line, Weaver Models, and more. It is best to use at least two different colors for your track wiring (one for each rail). The thing that eats current is a lot of light bulbs on the layout. Like command control, these trains still require a constant voltage to the rails. 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. Connecticut Valley Railroad -- A Branch of the New York, New Haven, And Hartford. I recently read an article/product review in the OGR magazine for the new Lioneltransformerand wassurprisedto learn that not all voltage outputwave-formsare created equal (pure sine wave versus some type of clipped sine wave). Some systems will use bluetooth technology enabling you to control the trains with your tablet or cell phone. The choice of a control system is somewhat, but not necessarily, dependent on which manufacturers engines you prefer or have the most of. 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. The larger transformers could operate up to four trains independently. Lionel is also introducing a new 180 watt transformer to accompany the 80 watt CW 80. The Lionel ZW has four sets of posts and six controls. Although all Lionel cars operate on O Gauge track, the bodies of the cars are made in two slightly different sizes. Extending the Reach of Your Power Number 22 solid wire works best on most scales. A bigger transformer is better and always looks nicer too! Then the K's will do siding and switching yard duty. The typ miniature incandecents we use average about 100 ma of current each. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Heavier insulation not only adds to the cost of the wire but also makes it harder to bend. It can run four tracks at one time, so you layout can grow. Accessories often interact with the train, such as a crossing gate that lowers as the train passes. Ryan Kunkle is a nationally recognized professional model train expert and writer with over 25 years of experience. The circuit breaker should trip with a click and the transformer should go dead. 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. These transformers are much cheaper than they were even just a few years ago, but that just makes them a bigger bargain today. Some people even find it fun. If you are wiring with a common rail for your blocks, then keeping the common rail the same color all the time while changing the color for the other rail in each block is also an option. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. --Build a Better Toy Train Layout, by John Grams and Dick Christianson. In most cases, stranded wire is preferred because the multiple threads provide more conductivity and flexibility. However, if you begin adding more than 1 or 2 cars, be sure to get some extra track, or your longer train will be chasing its tail very quickly. Lionel CW80's can be found for around $50 at Greenberg and other train shows. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I'm sure I'll need more help along the way, so I'll be checking back in with more silly questions! I am currently running about 40 bulbs, which at 0.1 A each total 4 amps! Here are a few: --The Lionel Fastrack Book, by Robert Schleicher. to run conventional you will need Legacy plus a Powermaster and Powermaster Bridge or Legacy and a TPC 300/400. 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. Lionel Trains|MTH Train|Lionel Train Sets| HO model Trains| G Scale|Dept 56 Make sure you are getting the right type of power supply for your layout. I suggest that you proactively lay an 10-2 AWG NM cable (or at least 12-2) along the track and tap into it as needed to keep the voltage up. A starter set is the best way to start with the train hobby. How to Properly Size a Transformer | Behler-Young While those locomotives and their sound systems are designed to operate using conventional transformers like your ZW, digital controllers are needed to activate additional features like special sound effects and coupler activation. Ive talked more about the KW here. Been there, done that. I have a 3amp, 40watt transformer. Why Sign In? Is there anyway of saying how much track it will power? Add a PW dual motor F3 (4 amps) with 5 lighted cars (another 10 bulbs - 1 amp) and you are cooking (9 amps). 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. It does run on conventional power but not great and no whistle or bell. In either case, however, voltage and amperage draw is low and peak for only brief periods. Lest I offend, in another plane of existence I was an electronics tech. Electric Trains make great power supplies, depending on usage, on a DCS controlled layout. Dave: That certainly qualifies, don't forget the anti-gun lobbyist with the picket sign's. The 110-wattLionel RW is a cheap option, and the 125-watt LW, while a bit more expensive, gives a bit more power. You have pretty much pointed up the major problem, everything is different. This comes primarily from the locomotive(s) but also from lights and other accessories. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. "What size wire should I use?" It will require a minimum of 108' of track just to do a basic rectangle before I add any switches, etc. 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. Effort. 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). This conserves the trains' power supply for their needs and makes troubleshooting much easier. You should take care, however, to replace worn cords and wires. Never Enough Room, Time or Money for all the Trains! Improve ready-to-run freight cars with a little paint. DCC decoders are one good example where the wire colors are critical. If youre comfortable doing some work yourself, you can buy a fixer-upper, and my informational links will tell you more about fixing one yourself. 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. converting a 2-rail freight car to 2-rail with Atlas trucks, My Triple Level Layout -FREEBIE UPDATE- 3/2/23, Successful Open House Upstate (NY) Model Railroaders, FS: Lionel MPC and modern traditional size rolling stock. What size Lionel transformer do I need? Traditionally, Lionel trains run on AC but there are exceptions. Adding lights to buildings, streets, and other scenic accessories usually do not require anywhere near the amperage demand of the trains themselves. Keeping in mind that I will likely continue to add to the layout as my addiction develops! For most layouts, and most scales, Number14 stranded wire will work best for your bus. This tool will allow you calculate the KVA that you need. The new Lionel ZW-L is getting a lot of good reviews and is a very powerful transformer for most layouts. The old transformer is not really the problem, the problem is the supply wire, particularly under heavyload (or derailment without the benefit of a quicker breaker). They are known as HO train sets because they are half the size of O-guage. Early issues used a Bakelite case while later releases had a case made out of plastic. Lionel Multi-Car Freight Sets + More MTH Halloween! Use the CW-80 Transformer only for its intended purpose. I thought you wanted information related to your layout not operations at a trains show. Most feeders will be only a few inches long so the smaller diameter wire will not be a problem. You could have a poor connection that caused the wire to heat up. For a classic setup of a single freight train running on a 48 sheet of plywood, a 90 watt Lionel 1033 or 1042 is an excellent choice. 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. As you can see, a lot of great helpers here. But Lionel now produces four Track Expansion Sets, which expand this basic loop into something more exciting. Just not quite as much. --I need a station for the train to stop at. Expanding the basic oval from the set is the quickest way to add more interest to your trains. 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. Can't plug into outlet? Regardless of your scale, all model railroad switch machines fall into one of two categories, a slow-motion electric motor or a "twin coil" relay. By only supplying power to the trains that need it, you can greatly reduce your needs. Lionel 1033 Transformer Renovation Part I - YouTube They run on O Gauge track, but they are not exact O Scale cars. Mike, The size of the transformer is dictated by what you want to run, the more you run the more power you will need. 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. However, in the future if you continue in the hobby and your roster expands you may acquire motive power which requires larger curves than what came with your set. Tech Support for the OGR Forum (NOT FOR TRAINS), PRR fellas!lets build an S2!! David, looking at your layout I notice there is a two rail and a three rail ? Although I am an electrical engineer, I just add stuff until the transformer gets too warm and then I branch off and add another. The wire can also be purchased as solid or stranded. 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. This is because the demands for power are becoming more than your transformer can handle. Sell Your Trains Yourself On eBay. 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. Lionel Trains|MTH Train|Lionel Train Sets| HO model Trains| G Scale|Dept 56 Handbook of layout wiring | Classic Toy Trains Magazine The power supply that comes with these sets is usually a very small wall pack plug-in that cannot be easily expanded. 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. 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)! Please see our article on Fastrack here for more information. All Lionel transformer comparisons should include the common 1033, RW, LW, KW and ZW transformers. Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month, WELCOME TO THE FORUM Mike!! Ran 6 motors [MPC's]. How Many Lights Can I Connect To My Transformer? - LightUp TRANSFORMERS ransformers were issued by Lionel thoughout the Post War period. In three-rail systems, the outer rails are both grounded, and the center rail is "hot.". For instance, a 100 kilovolt-ampere transformer with 8.32 kilovolts (or less) on the high side has a typical value of 2.6% impedance. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Unlimited Members, sign in to enjoy sitewide access. As your layout grows so, too, will its power demand. Understanding Electrical Supplies and Controls. Beginners Ask Trains New trains; old transformers. Another classic is the Automatic Gateman. 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. The customer will still need a step down transformer to get the 220V to 110V. Transformer sizing for new systems 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). Like tankist stated.It's only running multiple engines that I run into issues. Stop it with your hand to full stall, and it goes up to four amps--sixty watts--trying to pull. The Lionel ZW is Lionel's most iconic transformer of the 1950s and 1960s, and perhaps one of its most iconic products, period. From 25 Watts to 275 Watts, a Lionel transformer could be found for every power requirment from simple circles of track to extensive railroads. Most power supplies will perform very well for years if used within their limits. The iconic and legendary 270-wattLionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. 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. Plug one of your transformers into each Fixed in. Transformer capacity is rated in KVA (kilo-volt-amperes). This has the added advantage that Lionel TMCC (command control) will operate correctly. Never had a problem. I thought an ENGINEER was the guy driving the train? Lionel Postwar 1033 Transformer Watch on What about removing flanges from diesel wheels? Amperes = VA/Secondary Volts or 40VA/28V = 1.43 amperes. The KW has constant voltage outputs for accessories, the ZW don't have that feature just four handles for supplying power to four tracks or accessories if you like, both have whistle & direction feature. 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. The Lionel ZW has four sets of posts and six controls. Safety first. They give a true 180 watts and have excellent electronic breakers. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Length of track or type of track doesn't (or shouldn't) matter. To my knowledge, you should have no compatibility issues with a pure sine wave track feed with any major brand locomotive. Effort. Most recommend the TPCs over the powermasters The CW 80 will work to begin with. If you are using only LEDs for lighting, you could get away with even less. 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. We're sorry. If you want a station for your trains to stop at, there are both station platforms [#24159] as well as full sized stations [#14257]. My question is.how big of a transformer will I need to power this thing? Ryan developsmodeltrainlayouts for public andprivate display. properly wired transformer can handle any amount of track. All about the Lionel ZW - The Silicon Underground To build on the point you are running MTH trains and therefore will probably go DCS eventually: I would break the track into blocks of about 5 feet in length. 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. Yes, but the train will probably run too fast, depending on the output voltage of the transformer. Both are lighted. The 1033 is not the same as the 1044. Lionel made a lot of other transformers over the years. Model Train Track & Transformer at Lionel Trains He directs production at Lionel, the premier model train manufacturer, and he istheformer president of theConrail HistoricalSociety. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. And if the power supply does fail, it is best not to repair it on your own. 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. The 190-wattLionel KWwas the second biggest and second best transformer of the postwar era. A. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content. 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. A small set that came with track, transformer, etc. As far as new transformers go, someone else may be able to help more than I can.