what size lionel transformer do i need

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 CW-80 is a nice little transformer, has accessory output as well,but as you have stated you will outgrow the CW-80 pretty quick. 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. The higher powered units would not meet todays safety standards as issued by Underwriters Laboratories. Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month, WELCOME TO THE FORUM Mike!! New trains; old transformers | Classic Toy Trains Magazine 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 Stop it with your hand to full stall, and it goes up to four amps--sixty watts--trying to pull. It does not work with O27. These systems still require a power supply but it only needs to supply a constant voltage to the rails. no it isn't. 5 years of Classic Toy Trains at your fingertips! (10 lights X . Don't just discard your starter set pack, though. To my knowledge, you should have no compatibility issues with a pure sine wave track feed with any major brand locomotive. The farther from the transformer the more resistance in the rails and your engine will slow down. Mike to the forum. Lionel trains value varies depending on design, materials, and era. Take the hint. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Wire Gauge Standards for Model Train Layouts - The Spruce Crafts Are you running command or conventional? Faq No: 1029 This signifies compatibility with 50 Hertz power. 24v, 120v, 208v, 240v, 480v, and 600v). EXPLORE FasTrack 10" Straight Track 4-Pack 6-12032 $ 21.99 FasTrack Grade Crossing with Flashers 6-12052 $ 99.99 FasTrack O36 Curved Track 4-Pack 6-12033 $ 21.99 Legacy AMC-2 Motor Controller 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. Number 22 solid wire works best on most scales. I know this has nothing to do with Mike's original problem but is more of a reflection on Trainman's reply. Transformer sizing for new systems To amplify CTvalley's very valid instructions: A forum community dedicated to model train owners and enthusiasts. HO gauge is very popular because of its size. If you want a spur track to store an extra car or two, Lionel makes another expansion set [#12044] that does just that: Note that this set includes one switch which is the track section that makes the track diverge onto two separate routes. Wow.thanks for all the advice so far, guys!! Get 20 articles about compact layouts and how to build them. Amazon.com: Lionel Transformer The 1044 is just a 1033 in a different case. All Lionel transformer comparisons should include the common 1033, RW, LW, KW and ZW transformers. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content. He directs production at Lionel, the premier model train manufacturer, and he istheformer president of theConrail HistoricalSociety. (Electrical Contractor with dear old Dad for 30 years) Regards Steve. I would check yoour connections and wire size, just to be safe. This set also includes an uncoupling track section, which will disconnect cars from one another at the touch of a button, and a bumper, which keeps cars from rolling off the end of the track. --Heck, watching one train run is great, Ill bet TWO would be even more fun! The CW-80 Transformer was meant to operate on 120-volt, 60-Hertz power. Different wiring projects call for different standards. Lionel Rolling Stock Identification Guide. 6 Best Transformer For Ho Trains - LEDS.CC The next evolution in model train control is radio- or bluetooth-controlled trains. Not wanting to give up, I experimented with an 80 watt modern Lionel transformer and got great results. Our transformer sizing calculator allows you to obtain the minimum single or three-phase transformer size required based on the load you need to power. --I wish I had some more cars to put behind the engine. Which Lionel transformer do I need? you ask? The chances are that little power supply isn't going to keep the train running over a full mile, however. Heavier insulation not only adds to the cost of the wire but also makes it harder to bend. Price Received. American Flyer Trains were made in several gauges. (using 4 of the 180 watt Lionel bricks) That's 10 amps per channel on all 4 channels. Professionals Need: Kindle Direct Publishing Indie Digital & Print Publishing Made Easy Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime: Prime Video Direct Do not connect this product to any other power supply. Sign up for new product releases, promotions, and more. But if you already have a 1034 and dont need a whistle button, go ahead and use it. Price Received. All of the transformers that have more than 90 Watts are in great demand today as more collectors are operating retro-layouts. The typ miniature incandecents we use average about 100 ma of current each. Ive talked about why here. This will solve the slowdown problem. I cant see you needing more than a capacity of 5 amps. 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. Do not operate the CW-80 Transformer with a damaged cord, plug, or case. They give a true 180 watts and have excellent electronic breakers. Ok our layout is 10 x 20 = 200 sq ft x 2 = 400 watts. If this happens, you will need another transformer to share the load. A small set that came with track, transformer, etc. The choice of a control system is somewhat, but not necessarily, dependent on which manufacturers engines you prefer or have the most of. Wire gauges are coded by their size. $2799. 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). Now, I diconnected that old dinosaur and connected two separate smaller ones which weren't powerful enough to run my Amtrack MTH trains. If they do, follow their recommendations. 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. The 190-wattLionel KWwas the second biggest and second best transformer of the postwar era. :-). 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. You should always, always test your transformer for safetybefore you set it up, andunplug it when youre not using it. In most cases, stranded wire is preferred because the multiple threads provide more conductivity and flexibility. Again, if you have a very long run between switches, going a little larger is less likely to cause problems with voltage loss. Problem with Rail King Protocol Sounds reversing unit, My D-190 Back in Action After Move to to NC, Caboose Identification - late era vintage, Continuing Saga Newtown Hardwrare House WIP. Fortunately, in the early 21st century it is easier to expand your starter set than ever before. In most cases, stranded wire is preferred because the multiple threads provide more conductivity and flexibility. Service/Tested $55.00 1 bid $14.06 shipping 1d 6h LIONEL TYPE (KW) TRAINMASTER TRANSFORMER FOR PARTS OR RESTORATION $17.05 4 bids $19.95 shipping 9h 23m Three conductor wire is common for household use. I got a lot of lightweight transformers that came with starter sets over the years. Pretty much suffered the same fate, too. I am assuming that your starter set came with either o27, brown ties, or 031, black ties, track and it runs well as is. However, if you begin to add lighted cars, or more than a couple accessories, you may find that your train will not run as fast, or that it will shut off entirely. 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. What gauge wire is used for Lionel trains? - Sage-Advices It has FasTrack connectors on one end and O Gauge track pins on the other. That could also be the reason the other transformers don't work. The load voltage and load amps must be known to calculate KVA rating. Then power every other one with one of your smaller transformers. 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. 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. Ryan developsmodeltrainlayouts for public andprivate display. Add a PW dual motor F3 (4 amps) with 5 lighted cars (another 10 bulbs - 1 amp) and you are cooking (9 amps). Our community is FREE to join. 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. "What size wire should I use?" 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. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. If the second digit is 9, it could be either, so be careful when considering one of them. Transformer capacity is rated in KVA (kilo-volt-amperes). 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. 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. We're sorry. Effort. This is different from the stranded wire in that the different individual wires, each with their color-coded insulation, is placed inside a secondary insulation wrap. Just not quite as much. 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. Mike, The size of the transformer is dictated by what you want to run, the more you run the more power you will need. QUOTE: by Skyray "Typical engineer--you need a technician. --The O Gauge Railroading Primer, by Christopher Ritchie. At an average 14 volts - this is 9x14 = 126 watts - the ZW is getting quite warm and I have not run an accessory or another train yet! This is because the demands for power are becoming more than your transformer can handle. Starter sets almost always include a power supply along with the track and train. How do you choose the right power supply for your model trains? However, there are times when the solid wire has advantages, particularly when soldering in small locations. Transformer Size Requirement? - Classic Toy Trains Magazine Ill try to find a link to it for you. These small power supplies are designed to supply a few amps of power. I've had light 'arguments' with fellow hobbyists claiming most of their fellows are predominantly technically - oriented vs. what I would consider is a more liberal artsy approach - any way it's a great balance. Lionel uses red and black (red always for the center rail, black for the two outer rails) as a standard in its instructions and most 3-Rail O Gauge layouts are probably wired this way. Note that when working with specific products, manufacturers will often recommend a wire size and type. 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. White and black are common selections. But Lionel now produces four Track Expansion Sets, which expand this basic loop into something more exciting. Dang, this math makes my head hurt. IF the Engineer is the guy that drives the locomotive then theTechnician must be the fireman is this correct? Checklist Transformer Size Calculator When sizing a transformer, you need to know the kilovolt-amps (KVA) that your machine requires. There are also numerous static accessories that do not operate but add visual interest to your layout, such as the #24219 girder bridge. Which Lionel transformer do I need? - The Silicon Underground 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. All power supplies will be rated for volts, amps, and watts. Twin coil machines have a higher current draw when in motion but are also much faster-acting than the motorized versions. 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.". A. The thing that eats current is a lot of light bulbs on the layout. Smaller layouts (a typical 4 foot by 8 foot being a good example) can usually get by with Number16 since the length of the run from the power supply to the track is never more than a few feet. River Island Gift Card, Articles W