what size lionel transformer do i need what size lionel transformer do i need

I thought an ENGINEER was the guy driving the train? This is why my wife loves me so. Ive written more about the Lionel ZW here. Used a 1033 for accessories and lights. The customer will still need a step down transformer to get the 220V to 110V. Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers' Henry V. I am a person with a very active inner child. HO trains are very durable and are made with high quality parts and pieces to ensure the longevity of the Lionel train brand! In either case, however, voltage and amperage draw is low and peak for only brief periods. But Lionel now produces four Track Expansion Sets, which expand this basic loop into something more exciting. Kind Regards Steve, QUOTE: by Dave Has anyone here ever blown a transformer from hauling a double-headed Allegheny coal drag up a 2 percent grade?. Serving these devices with their own dedicated supply will not only allow you to supply them with a proper constant voltage, but it will also free your main power supply to handle the load of the train itself. All of the transformers that have more than 90 Watts are in great demand today as more collectors are operating retro-layouts. You could have a poor connection that caused the wire to heat up. The Lionel ZW is Lionel's most iconic transformer of the 1950s and 1960s, and perhaps one of its most iconic products, period. With multiple switches, lights, power supplies and more all concentrated in a small space, color coding and neatness pay off. All Lionel transformer comparisons should include the common 1033, RW, LW, KW and ZW transformers. Just not quite as much. To participate you must either login or register for an account. By only supplying power to the trains that need it, you can greatly reduce your needs. If you are using only LEDs for lighting, you could get away with even less. --The O Gauge Railroading Primer, by Christopher Ritchie. And again regardless of scale or manufacturer, switch machines of these two types will have similar needs and performance. I went to mth Z1000, jason's train shop has the best price's I have seen for these. 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. This works for command control layouts too, since those parked trains are still drawing some current. Plug one of your transformers into each Fixed in. CW80 Transformer. Our community is FREE to join. If you make a complete loop of 100 feet with good track joints, you'll have something like .1 ohm from the transformer to the farthest point, using the rule of thumb that most track is something like 16 AWG wire (.004 ohms per foot) and that there are two 50 foot tracks feeding the farthest point from two directions. 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. If this happens, you will need another transformer to share the load. Actually the choice of transformer is secondary to the choice of control systems since you can operate O gauge trains with most any good modern transformer. Expanding Your Lionel Starter Set - Trainz 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. Digital command control systems (DCC) uses digital information to control the electrical power to the train. --Toy Train Collecting and Operating, by John Grams. Ok our layout is 10 x 20 = 200 sq ft x 2 = 400 watts. Are you running command or conventional? Now, I am going to make a suggesstion that you use a larger diameter curve for your corners. What does a Lionel transformer do? 40-500 50 Watt AC Transformer - 50 Watt AC transformer suitable for . Max Watts on one TIU is 720W. 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. Although it will not have any impact on the performance of the wire within, choosing multiple colors of wire, and standardizing on a specific color for each function, will go a long way in making your wiring easier to install and easier to detect flaws later on. Some of the variables are obvious, others not so much. Both are lighted. The motor takes electricity through a small wire attached to a metal wheel that rests on the middle rail underneath. Lionel 1033 Transformer Renovation Part I Peter Fenzel 306 subscribers Subscribe 11K views 3 years ago Lionel 1033 Transformer gets cleaned up, a new power cord, a new whistle rectifier. The Lionel ZW has four sets of posts and six controls. Lionel trains value varies depending on design, materials, and era. no it isn't. However, there are times when the solid wire has advantages, particularly when soldering in small locations. Should it be a Lionel or should it be an MTH with command control? David, looking at your layout I notice there is a two rail and a three rail ? This tool will allow you calculate the KVA that you need. Everything you need to get going is included, its reliable, and setup is usually very easy. He directs production at Lionel, the premier model train manufacturer, and he istheformer president of theConrail HistoricalSociety. Number 22 solid wire works best on most scales. :-). I've got around 320 ft of track between all of the mainline, sidings, etc and I don't have any problems running my engines anywhere on the layout. Keep the power supplies in an area where they get plenty of air circulation to prevent overheating. Best bang for the buck for command are the Lionel 180W Powerhouse bricks IMO. Number 26 to 20 wire (depending on the length of your bus) will be sufficient for most applications. They are fun to have. Lionel Postwar 1033 Transformer Watch on They give a true 180 watts and have excellent electronic breakers. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. On the flip side, the new transformers do not seem to work as well with the prewar whistle tenders.Has anyone else noticed this anomaly? How do you choose the right power supply for your model trains? Any of the below transformers from M.T.H. A bigger transformer is better and always looks nicer too! 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. A locomotive on a mile-long loop will draw as many amps as it does on a 4x8 platform. I know my train club had an issue with conventional locomotives not running properly on a layout with DCS and TMCC and apparently solved it by replacing a Lionel transformer with an MRC transformer that puts out a pure sine wave. The 1044 is just a 1033 in a different case. The best of the best Lionel trains are very valuable. They are reasonably durable and were popular in their day, which means there are still a lot of them floating around so they tend to be inexpensive. Most feeders will be only a few inches long so the smaller diameter wire will not be a problem. Most recommend the TPCs over the powermasters The CW 80 will work to begin with. My question is.how big of a transformer will I need to power this thing? Different wiring projects call for different standards. The next evolution in model train control is radio- or bluetooth-controlled trains. I have purchased diodes to put into the older transformers to see if this resolves the issue with newer tenders. 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. That it not to say that there are not engineering formulae to calculate the current draw and thus the wattage, but far and away the easiest method is to measure it. Lest I offend, in another plane of existence I was an electronics tech. Why Sign In? Ryan Kunkle is a nationally recognized professional model train expert and writer with over 25 years of experience. All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. Effort. A new ZW will run you in the neighborhood of $450.00 or a little less depending on your dealership. This is a old school approach for sizing cables & transformers or appliances in the electrical trade, & has never let us down. Ill try to find a link to it for you. I will make a note here. In most cases, stranded wire is preferred because the multiple threads provide more conductivity and flexibility. My current layout uses about 28 sections of track (Lionel o-27). 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. Click here to learn about the Unlimited Membership. (using 4 of the 180 watt Lionel bricks) That's 10 amps per channel on all 4 channels. Theres nothing inherently wrong with them, though I would shy away from the smaller transformers that are less than 75 watts, including the modern CW-40. 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. The locomotives are battery-powered and made of durable plastic. Remember, the only silly question is the one that you did not ask. If you like fixing things, fixing an old transformer is rewarding. 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. The multi-conductor wire is also available. The two types of cars will connect together just fine, but when side-by-side in a train, they may look a bit odd. And of course, individual Fastrack sections are also available. We use a ZW 275 and a KW on this, so 405 watts. Does Lionel still make standard gauge trains? 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. 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. what size lionel transformer do i need. I have a 3amp, 40watt transformer. As the motor takes in more electricity, the arm turns faster and faster. The 110-wattLionel RW is a cheap option, and the 125-watt LW, while a bit more expensive, gives a bit more power. --I wish I had some more cars to put behind the engine. I've read that it is good practice to add feeders every 10 sections of track or sothat seems like a lot but I suppose that beats having "dead" spots in the track. And if the power supply does fail, it is best not to repair it on your own. That's about enough to run a single locomotive and perhaps power a few lighted accessories or passenger cars. What type is your old transformer? What lionel transformer do i need - Go Quick Qna Traditionally, Lionel trains run on AC but there are exceptions. Use the CW-80 Transformer only for its intended purpose. 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. The iconic and legendary 270-watt Lionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. But were talking the trains that are in the absolute best condition and might not have ever run on the track. Serious or fatal injuries may result. 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). DCC decoders are one good example where the wire colors are critical. You don't want to try to solder even Number 16 gauge wire right to your rails, however. It can be a great secondary power supply for lighted buildings, signals, and other accessories. 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. Price Received. It's expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. 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. But if you already have a 1034 and dont need a whistle button, go ahead and use it. Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following, $12.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable). 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. I thought you wanted information related to your layout not operations at a trains show. (NEW/LIKE NEW), running TMCC And DCS engines with DCS handheld, terrible crash in Greece, multiple fatalities, Its.Public Delivery Track ..NEWSpecial run corner, Improving Appearance of 0-gauge Tubular Track. IF the Engineer is the guy that drives the locomotive then theTechnician must be the fireman is this correct? Lionel introduced a few LionChief Plus 2.0 starter sets in 2022. I'm guessing the MTH Z1000 is around $100 and the other suggestions are much more expensive. There was a video by Mike Reagan from Lionel about better smoke output from a chopped wave transformer, but the pure sine wave didn't cause any operational issues. In this case Id go with a postwar TW 175 watt transformer. Used 1033's for sidings and the switching yard its self. Fortunately, there is an easy way to tell these cars apart, and the key is the numbers Lionel assigns to them. Take the hint. At fifteen volts which is about as much as I can put to it without jumping the track, it pulls an average of 2.5 amps, or 37.5 watts--less than one tenth of the transformer capacity of 400. 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. The farther from the transformer the more resistance in the rails and your engine will slow down. Below weve listed these transformers in numerical order in the Numerical Index. Length of track or type of track doesn't (or shouldn't) matter. 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. 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. That said, if youre uncomfortable fixing a transformer, I wont look down on you for buying one someone else fixed up. They are fun to have. The wire can also be purchased as solid or stranded. The circuit breaker should trip with a click and the transformer should go dead. Older transformers I had this issue with are RW, 1033, KW, ZW.newer transformers were all made by MTH. Note that when working with specific products, manufacturers will often recommend a wire size and type. These sets use a remote control which talks directly to a receiver in the locomotive. Thanks in advance for any information, Mike. Solid wire is preferable as it is much easier to solder to the rails. Retrofitting a subway line into existing benchwork - and are subway sets still being made? Make sure you are getting the right type of power supply for your layout. Again, an independent power supply and distribution bus is a good idea for your switches. You may never use all the amps, but it's usually cheaper to grow into a power supply than to continually upgrade. If the transformer fails, you most likely have a short or overload somewhere in the control circuit. 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. The backside of a control panel can turn into a "rat's nest" of wiring very quickly. There is the 12030 Figure-8 set, which along with the track included in your set makes your layout into this: Figure-8s are great because they create a crossing, giving the appearance of a railroad junction, they break up the oval, and the parts to create them are relatively cheap. 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. Its a good transformer. Amazon.com: Lionel O Gauge Transformer 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. I recently acquired a beautiful Lionel NH Alco 420. I use to use one KW for 70 feet of main line, sidings and switching yard entry track. Just get a Lionel #12053 Accessory wire set and enough extra wire to connect from the wire set back to your transformer [speaker wire works well]. JavaScript is disabled. Why Do Lionel Trains Have 3 Rails? | Worldwide Rails The larger transformers could operate up to four trains independently. These can all have uses for your layout. As far as new transformers go, someone else may be able to help more than I can. What size Lionel transformer do I need? - Tracks-movie.com