We use a ZW 275 and a KW on this, so 405 watts. Some people even find it fun. 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. The 1044 is just a 1033 in a . 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. Lionel made a lot of other transformers over the years. Controlled Magnetics has the manufacturing experience, knowledge, and facilities to repair a wide variety of electrical power transformers. If you want a station for your trains to stop at, there are both station platforms [#24159] as well as full sized stations [#14257]. A bigger transformer is better and always looks nicer too! Ryan developsmodeltrainlayouts for public andprivate display. If youre buying a transformer, youll be able to easily find one that a professional refurbished and upgraded with the links I provide below. As time goes on you can add higher wattage bricks one by one. It can run four tracks at one time, so you layout can grow. 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. Digital command control systems (DCC) uses digital information to control the electrical power to the train. is always one of the first questions asked when someone starts to build a model railroad. I thought an ENGINEER was the guy driving the train? The fraction of your transformer's power lost in the track will therefore be well under 10 percent, since it is proportional to the voltage drop. Enter your e-mail address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by e-mail. As your needs grow, you can employ a larger transformer of fixed voltage. Lionel is also introducing a new 180 watt transformer to accompany the 80 watt CW 80. The 110-wattLionel RW is a cheap option, and the 125-watt LW, while a bit more expensive, gives a bit more power. I think the RW is a bit better value, but that could just be timing. That said, if youre uncomfortable fixing a transformer, I wont look down on you for buying one someone else fixed up. It is much easier to be ready ahead of time then to have to do some changes afterwards. 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. You should take care, however, to replace worn cords and wires. Used 1033's for sidings and the switching yard its self. --I wish I had some more cars to put behind the engine. HO trains are very durable and are made with high quality parts and pieces to ensure the longevity of the Lionel train brand! Then power every other one with one of your smaller transformers. The chances are that little power supply isn't going to keep the train running over a full mile, however. What do I need to do that with? The choice of a control system is somewhat, but not necessarily, dependent on which manufacturers engines you prefer or have the most of. You can use bus and feeder wires to more evenly distribute the power over your track. While it is tempting to go with the biggest wire possible to guarantee excess capacity, there are drawbacks to putting in more than you need. If your going to run anything more that what came with the set then you should probably upgrade to something a little bigger. 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. 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. If you were to get a ZW 275 you need external short protection. 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. Mike, The size of the transformer is dictated by what you want to run, the more you run the more power you will need. If you found this post informative or helpful, please share it! This will solve the slowdown problem. It is best to use at least two different colors for your track wiring (one for each rail). Check out my O scale layout progress at MTF, does track consume power? Price Received. It is also a good idea to run your accessories off of a separate power supply and wire grid from the trains themselves. But Lionel now produces four Track Expansion Sets, which expand this basic loop into something more exciting. It can be a great secondary power supply for lighted buildings, signals, and other accessories. I paid $75 + shipping for mine a year ago. Ive talked more about the KW here. Understanding the difference is important in getting the right power supply for your needs. 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. Stop it with your hand to full stall, and it goes up to four amps--sixty watts--trying to pull. With two switches, you can create an alternative route for your trains. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Model train power falls into one of three categories. The preferred choice for wiring control panels is telephone or telecommunications wire. Effort. These bus wires are often more important than the size of the power supply itself in getting good results. Add a PW dual motor F3 (4 amps) with 5 lighted cars (another 10 bulbs - 1 amp) and you are cooking (9 amps). 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. The whistle requires more power than the outfits that don't have it. However, there are times when the solid wire has advantages, particularly when soldering in small locations. A lot of people are using the MTH Z1000's who have smaller layouts while others have moved up to the MTH Z4000. I'm sure I'll need more help along the way, so I'll be checking back in with more silly questions! But if you already have a 1034 and dont need a whistle button, go ahead and use it. 4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars (15) Ages: 14 years and up. Everyone wanted the two-handled, football-shaped, 275-watt powerhouse that was the ZW. what size lionel transformer do i need. The smaller the number, the larger the wire. 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! Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. The 1044 is just a 1033 in a different case. Now, I diconnected that old dinosaur and connected two separate smaller ones which weren't powerful enough to run my Amtrack MTH trains. Ive talked about why here. 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. Many manufacturers assemble cases with special screws to prevent access to the inside and accidental shock. In this case Id go with a postwar TW 175 watt transformer. What size Lionel transformer do I need? This comes primarily from the locomotive(s) but also from lights and other accessories. The Lionel motor is a collection of four electromagnetic plates with a rotating sweeper arm called a brush. [:)]. For safety reasons, the batteries were soon replaced by a 110 volt transformer. Atlas and Bachmann have the same transformers with 80 watt outputs as well that get good reviews and would be appropriate for a smaller layout. It was a symbiotic relationship, the engineer designed it and the tech built it, then they both troubleshot it. The greatest transformer Lionel made in the postwar era was the 270 watt Lionel ZW. --I need a station for the train to stop at. If you have a starter set and have had thoughts like this, youre not alone. 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. Do not use this device if water is present. The same is true for other electronic projects around your layout and inside buildings, train cars, and even locomotives. But it is important to take a close look at the cars to make sure that they are a good match for your set. 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. Lionel trains value varies depending on design, materials, and era. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. 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. Lionel has a new 180 watt transformer due out soon that will be a nice upgrade. 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. My question is this in order that this doesn't happen again what type of transformer would you recommend? Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month, WELCOME TO THE FORUM Mike!! These can all have uses for your layout. 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. Frankly, its hard to go wrong with either of these transformers, especially at todays prices. You may never use all the amps, but it's usually cheaper to grow into a power supply than to continually upgrade. Dave, you're so eloquent and inspiring - my undergraduate degree was in American Studies, now I'm in charge of among other things all our college's technology - also self-taught.. Hello All: Re: Dave Farquhar, Dave you left out sense of humor Regards Steve. 24v, 120v, 208v, 240v, 480v, and 600v). It is 5" long. (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. I'm guessing the MTH Z1000 is around $100 and the other suggestions are much more expensive. All power supplies will be rated for volts, amps, and watts. (10 lights X . Fortunately, there is an easy way to tell these cars apart, and the key is the numbers Lionel assigns to them. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. Most feeders will be only a few inches long so the smaller diameter wire will not be a problem. The modern equivalent is the Lionel CW-80, but frankly I like the old ones better. Never Enough Room, Time or Money for all the Trains! Are you running command or conventional? This is where the Lionel transformer comparisons should begin. Its expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. 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. Sell Your Trains Yourself At Train Shows. Price Received. White and black are common selections. (Use buss/feeder lines to distribute power.) 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. 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. We feature Lionel, American Flyer, MTH, Atlas O, Williams Trains, K-Line, Weaver Models, and more. Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following, $12.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable). Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. Amperes = VA/Secondary Volts or 40VA/28V = 1.43 amperes. "O" Gauge is what Lionel is today, along with "O27". What about removing flanges from diesel wheels? Its a good transformer. Buyers truly want all-original trains that have never been tampered with. The other type of cars are the Scale cars, which are exact or near-exact replicas of actual freight cars. Safety first. If youre looking for Lionel transformer comparisons, youve come to the right place. Any of the below transformers from M.T.H. This works for command control layouts too, since those parked trains are still drawing some current. Some systems will use bluetooth technology enabling you to control the trains with your tablet or cell phone. A small set that came with track, transformer, etc. Lionel developed and perfected its model designs and layouts during the Pre-War Era (1901-1942). Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers' Henry V. I am a person with a very active inner child. Take the hint. I justhave a very basic 027 set (guessin' mid 80's?). For more realistic operation, you need some kind of speed control (throttle) between the 10340 Automatic Reversing Unit and your transformer. Effort. 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. A rule of thumb from the elders, (I had to go to the mountain top for this one), Add 2 more watts for Spankybird's fun-filled layout!
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