The modern equivalent is the Lionel CW-80, but frankly I like the old ones better. 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. Forgot about light bulbs since I don't got some yet. Then the K's will do siding and switching yard duty. 10 Easy Ways to Improve a Christmas Train Display, Compatibility of Different Model Train Brands, How to Build and Wire Reverse Loops for Model Trains, Wiring a Model Railroad for Block Operation, Wire Gauge Standards for Model Train Layouts, Model Train Track Grades and Maximum Grade Issues. $7.89 delivery Feb 2 - 6. Should it be a Lionel or should it be an MTH with command control? All of the transformers that have more than 90 Watts are in great demand today as more collectors are operating retro-layouts. Three conductor wire is common for household use. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Lionel Trains|MTH Train|Lionel Train Sets| HO model Trains| G Scale|Dept 56 It does not work with O27. Many manufacturers assemble cases with special screws to prevent access to the inside and accidental shock. It can be a great secondary power supply for lighted buildings, signals, and other accessories. The locomotives are battery-powered and made of durable plastic. Lionel developed and perfected its model designs and layouts during the Pre-War Era (1901-1942). Sell Your Trains To A Train Dealer or a Single Buyer. You should take care, however, to replace worn cords and wires. Is there anyway of saying how much track it will power? 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 greatest transformer Lionel made in the postwar era was the 270 watt Lionel ZW. Here are some guidelines for the most common wiring jobs you'll find. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. As Paul said, the power needed doesn't have anything to do with the distance; but the voltage needed does. TRANSFORMERS ransformers were issued by Lionel thoughout the Post War period. HO gauge is very popular because of its size. Digital command control systems (DCC) uses digital information to control the electrical power to the train. I thought you wanted information related to your layout not operations at a trains show. 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. It will require a minimum of 108' of track just to do a basic rectangle before I add any switches, etc. 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. 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. 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. A while back, approximately 2 weeks ago while running two very lengthy loops of fast track an old transformer nearly fried (50 years old) one of my wires that I was running to my Fastrac. Adding more freight or passenger cars [also known as rolling stock] to your set is another way to quickly expand your railroad. In either case, however, voltage and amperage draw is low and peak for only brief periods. Sign up for new product releases, promotions, and more. The smaller the number, the larger the wire. From 25 Watts to 275 Watts, a Lionel transformer could be found for every power requirment from simple circles of track to extensive railroads. 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 most layouts, and most scales, Number14 stranded wire will work best for your bus. Checklist Transformer Size Calculator When sizing a transformer, you need to know the kilovolt-amps (KVA) that your machine requires. There have been issues with chopped waveform transformers, i.e. As the train goes by, the door to the shed opens and a figure pops out, and once the train has passed the figure re-enters the building and the door shuts. The Lionel Track & Power catalog is BACK with the latest information for more ways to make your layout even bigger, better and more powerful! Lots of good tips for building a layout from two of the most experienced people in the hobby. The multi-conductor wire is also available. The 1044 is just a 1033 in a different case. JavaScript is disabled. Just not quite as much. 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. Everything you need to get going is included, its reliable, and setup is usually very easy. Lionel made a lot of other transformers over the years. (using 4 of the 180 watt Lionel bricks) That's 10 amps per channel on all 4 channels. Plug one of your transformers into each Fixed in. 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. If you have the proper wire size and a properly-sized circuit breaker, you should not have any problems using the old transformer. Heavier insulation not only adds to the cost of the wire but also makes it harder to bend. Join Today! Wow.thanks for all the advice so far, guys!! M3103. My question is.how big of a transformer will I need to power this thing? Used 1033's for sidings and the switching yard its self. Serious or fatal injuries may result. These can all have uses for your layout. Traditionally, Lionel trains run on AC but there are exceptions. 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 --Build a Better Toy Train Layout, by John Grams and Dick Christianson. The iconic and legendary 270-watt Lionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. Lionel makes two expansion sets for this purpose. 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. This is because the demands for power are becoming more than your transformer can handle. I went to mth Z1000, jason's train shop has the best price's I have seen for these. The thing that eats current is a lot of light bulbs on the layout. 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 bus wires are often more important than the size of the power supply itself in getting good results. If the voltage drop in the track is more than a small fraction of the transformer voltage, that is, a volt or two, you are going to have trouble running the trains anyway. Transformer capacity is rated in KVA (kilo-volt-amperes). Of course, the answer to that question depends on many things. Everyone wanted the two-handled, football-shaped, 275-watt powerhouse that was the ZW. Power the odd blocks with the other transformer. You could have a poor connection that caused the wire to heat up. You may never use all the amps, but it's usually cheaper to grow into a power supply than to continually upgrade. Get the newest photos, videos, stories, and more from Trains.com brands. 40-200 20 Watt DC Transformer - Small DC transformer suitable for powering a single HO diesel or steam locomotive equipped with Proto-Sound 3.0. The transformer included with your starter set should be adequate to handle a modest expansion of your train set discussed above. Most people start with a pre-packaged train set. Faq No: 1029 On a large loop of track you will need to have multiple drops, hook-ups, to the transformer because if you only have one hook up the train will get slower the father away it gets from the transformer. Accessories often interact with the train, such as a crossing gate that lowers as the train passes. When running a mixed bag train show with new and old trains of mixed types such as Loinel and MTH which is better? 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. Remember, the only silly question is the one that you did not ask. 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. The farther from the transformer the more resistance in the rails and your engine will slow down. Number 24 to Number20 wire will all work with most layouts. I have purchased diodes to put into the older transformers to see if this resolves the issue with newer tenders. 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. White and black are common selections. View More! Not unlike the relationship between the locomotive engineer and the fireman. The first Lionel electric trains were powered by wet-cell batteries, which were, of course, dangerous. Get updates and special offers via email from Trains.com brands! Lionel 1033 90 watt Transformer Postwar from 1950s-60s Whistle, Direction. Ive talked about why here. Find 500+ popular train rides, museums, and railroad vacation destinations in the U.S and Canada! Its expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. A bigger transformer is better and always looks nicer too! A bigger transformer is better and always looks nicer too! Sell Your Trains Yourself On eBay. However, there are times when the solid wire has advantages, particularly when soldering in small locations. 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 Great for learning all you will ever want to know about Lionels track system. Unlimited Members, sign in to enjoy sitewide access. The CW-80 Transformer was meant to operate on 120-volt, 60-Hertz power. But if you already have a 1034 and dont need a whistle button, go ahead and use it. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. Which Lionel transformer do I need? you ask? 5 years of Classic Toy Trains at your fingertips! The 1044 is just a 1033 in a different case. 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. Model train power falls into one of three categories. Whatever colors and pattern you choose, just make sure to keep a good notebook handy to reference later. 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. (10 lights X . This is interesting stuff. Subscribers, sign in to access exclusive content. Alternating current (AC) is the preferred power for most O Gauge three-rail trains as well as some two-rail systems in smaller scales. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content. This drawing illustrates all of the key functionality of a Lionel KW transformer. One rail is positive, the other negative. Its a good transformer. Our community is FREE to join. Number 22 solid wire works best on most scales. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The two types of cars will connect together just fine, but when side-by-side in a train, they may look a bit odd. It is not uncommon to see 50-year-old transformers still going strong on a model railroad. Transformers are designed to fail if a short in the secondary or control side occurs. 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. First, a few general notes about choosing wire. Ive talked more about the Lionel RW and the LW as well. Then power every other one with one of your smaller transformers. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The 110-wattLionel RW is a cheap option, and the 125-watt LW, while a bit more expensive, gives a bit more power. 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. We feature Lionel, American Flyer, MTH, Atlas O, Williams Trains, K-Line, Weaver Models, and more. If you have time, check out the "Coffee Pot". Good choices are the Lionel 32923 Accessory Transformer, or another 80-watt transformer like the one included in your set, #14198. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here.