The backside of a control panel can turn into a "rat's nest" of wiring very quickly. Now, I am going to make a suggesstion that you use a larger diameter curve for your corners. If you want a station for your trains to stop at, there are both station platforms [#24159] as well as full sized stations [#14257]. They give a true 180 watts and have excellent electronic breakers. The typ miniature incandecents we use average about 100 ma of current each. If you have a starter set and have had thoughts like this, youre not alone. 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. Digital command control systems (DCC) uses digital information to control the electrical power to the train. Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership. I recently acquired a beautiful Lionel NH Alco 420. A 10 amp breaker and 16 gauge wire would be appropriate for an old ZW. Used a 1033 for accessories and lights. These can all have uses for your layout. Scale cars almost always have the number 7 as the second digit in their number [17623, 27241, etc]. The Lionel motor is a collection of four electromagnetic plates with a rotating sweeper arm called a brush. There are also numerous static accessories that do not operate but add visual interest to your layout, such as the #24219 girder bridge. 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. 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. 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. Frankly, its hard to go wrong with either of these transformers, especially at todays prices. These transformers are much cheaper than they were even just a few years ago, but that just makes them a bigger bargain today. Ryan Kunkle is a nationally recognized professional model train expert and writer with over 25 years of experience. A model railroad train set designed for use in the United States will have a 115V AC 60Hz power requirement. Sell Your Trains Yourself At Train Shows. Here are some simple definitions for these electrical terms: Most power supplies will be labeled as to the scales they are meant to handle. TRANSFORMERS ransformers were issued by Lionel thoughout the Post War period. Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month, WELCOME TO THE FORUM Mike!! Price Received. Everyone wanted the two-handled, football-shaped, 275-watt powerhouse that was the ZW. RemembertheVeterans. It is 5" long. Outdoor railroads are, of course, an exception! I talk more in depth about the 1033 here. The car on the left is scale, and the one on the right is the classic, underscale size. 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. (8 lights X 20 watts = 160 watts). 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). Many load and unload freight from specially designed cars as well. M3103. 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. All of the transformers that have more than 90 Watts are in great demand today as more collectors are operating retro-layouts. 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. If the system's train transformer is run in Europe with a step-down transformer alone (converting only voltage from 230V to 115V AC at a 50 Hz), it may not operate as intended. Transformers are sized by determining the total load required (in amps). 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. Lionel introduced a few LionChief Plus 2.0 starter sets in 2022. 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. If you want a transformer with power to spare go get a ZW! no it isn't. Alternating current (AC) is the preferred power for most O Gauge three-rail trains as well as some two-rail systems in smaller scales. First, a few general notes about choosing wire. This will solve the slowdown problem. Professionals Need: Kindle Direct Publishing Indie Digital & Print Publishing Made Easy Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime: Prime Video Direct Tech Support for the OGR Forum (NOT FOR TRAINS), PRR fellas!lets build an S2!! 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. Should it be a Lionel or should it be an MTH with command control? These small power supplies are designed to supply a few amps of power. I am currently running about 40 bulbs, which at 0.1 A each total 4 amps! In this case Id go with a postwar TW 175 watt transformer. When running a mixed bag train show with new and old trains of mixed types such as Loinel and MTH which is better? Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. At auction, Lionel train sets, pieces, and accessories can sell for a few hundred dollars or for a few thousand dollars, depending on the rarity and condition of the piece. The transformer included with your starter set should be adequate to handle a modest expansion of your train set discussed above. My question is.how big of a transformer will I need to power this thing? Here are some guidelines for the most common wiring jobs you'll find. What size Lionel transformer do I need? Lionel Rolling Stock Identification Guide. 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. This is why my wife loves me so. The good news is, Lionel made a lot of good transformers over the years. Plug one of your transformers into each Fixed in. 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. Like command control, these trains still require a constant voltage to the rails. In some cases. Dang, this math makes my head hurt. They do not include a track or power supply, so you will need to buy both separately. 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. Again, an independent power supply and distribution bus is a good idea for your switches. The CW-80 Transformer was meant to operate on 120-volt, 60-Hertz power. 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. 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. Keep the power supplies in an area where they get plenty of air circulation to prevent overheating. Wire gauges are coded by their size. 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 tool only evaluates common voltages for North America (ie. One rail is positive, the other negative. Today Lionel includes the same basic track oval in all starter sets8 36-inch diameter curve sections, 3 10 straight track sections, and 1 10 straight terminal section, which create this layout: Until recently, to add to this layout, you would need to buy separate straight, curved, and other track sections and wing it in creating a larger setup. You must be signed in to continue. The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. 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. Lionels HO Gauge items are back! Sell Your Trains Yourself On eBay. Effort. To determine the required transformer VA, multiply the secondary voltage by the required amperes: For example, VA=Volts x Amperes or 28V x 1.2 amperes = 33.6 VA. To determine the maximum transformer current, divide the transformer VA by transformer secondary voltage. If youre looking for Lionel transformer comparisons, youve come to the right place. Different wiring projects call for different standards. $7.89 delivery Feb 2 - 6. But were talking the trains that are in the absolute best condition and might not have ever run on the track. DCC decoders are one good example where the wire colors are critical. 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. To participate you must either login or register for an account. And both of them give more wattage per handle than a KW or ZW. Lionel made a lot of other transformers over the years. Past,presentand future. Improve ready-to-run freight cars with a little paint. They run on O Gauge track, but they are not exact O Scale cars. Not really a how-to-build-a-layout book, but it is a good general introduction to the hobby full of interesting stuff. Extending the Reach of Your Power Is there anyway of saying how much track it will power? The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts. I can remember a time when a Lionel ZW would set you back $275. View More! what size lionel transformer do i need. The iconic and legendary 270-wattLionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era. 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. It is much easier to be ready ahead of time then to have to do some changes afterwards. Just not quite as much. Ryan developsmodeltrainlayouts for public andprivate display. Great for learning all you will ever want to know about Lionels track system. Most two-rail track systems use direct current (DC). Remember, the only silly question is the one that you did not ask. These bus wires are often more important than the size of the power supply itself in getting good results. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. This is where the Lionel transformer comparisons should begin. Controlled Magnetics has the manufacturing experience, knowledge, and facilities to repair a wide variety of electrical power transformers. 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? The customer will still need a step down transformer to get the 220V to 110V. 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. 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.