Low Voltage Controls for Little Hands

[Anonymous]

I am setting up some basic Lionel layouts for my young grandchildren (yes, they are younger than eight years old, but that's what my trains are all about, GRANDKIDS), and I would like to fix the speed control (Lionel CW-80) so they cannot run off the track. I do not want to put a screw in it or modify the transformer. I plan to use a 120 volt Fan Speed Control (Dimmer Switch) to reduce the incoming volts. This way I can fix the speed so that wide open will still be a safe operating speed for the Train. Has anyone tried this? Will it work without harming the transformer or train?

[ben10ben]

I don't know if I would try this with an electronic transformer like the CW-80. Besides that, most newer dimmers put out a chopped sine wave, and the CW-80 itself is going to be putting out a chopped sine wave.

The only way I would attempt to reduce the incoming voltage would be to use a Variac along with a traditional variable transformer like a ZW or 1033.

[Roger Bielen]

Pepo, I started my Granddaughters running a rug set of my trains when they were 3 using a BW80, the predissesor of the CW.  I put a piece of tape on the fixed portion of the control and another on the movable and instructed that they don't go beyond the two meeting, lining up.  Never had a problem, if anything they were overly cautious and had to be encouraged to speed up.  Nowadays the youngest is five and I'll sometimes hear the rug set I have for them in the TV room running and its usually the young one.  The older two, 9 & 7, run my large layout using TMCC with me on a second CAB unit.

Don't under estimate today's kids .

[lionelsoni]

I agree with Ben.  The CW-80 is the last transformer I would try something like that with.  I would not go so far as to recommend the Variac or Powerstat either, since you probably will need a very substantial voltage reduction, to well below what the CW-80 was designed for.  The only thing I would feel comfortable using with that "transformer" is a rheostat, like the Lionel 81, 88, or 95, in series between the CW-80 and the track.  In any case, an ancient rheostat can be gotten far cheaper than a Variac, around $5 or $10.

[jefelectric]

Bob,

Do you have any idea what the resistance should be?  The reason I ask is that I have an old, but good reostat laying on my bench at the moment that is 15 ohm & it seems to me that this might be about right.  Not sure of the wattage but I think at least 50.  If you think it would work it is free to pepo for the asking.

[lionelsoni]

That's a bit high.  The Lionel rheostats are about 5 ohms.  He would be using only a small part of the 15 ohms; so it would handle only a fraction of its power rating, which is based on the full resistance.  I would look on Ebay.  I just searched there and found a dozen or so; there are probably more misspelled or misidentified.

[jefelectric]

Thanks Bob.

[Joe Hohmann]

Here's what I did for my CW80. I got those little sticky-back rubber "feet" they sell to put on the bottom of objects to prevent marring of tabletops. Place one on the side of the transformer to stop the lever at the max train speed you want. Joe

[dwiemer]

Not sure what your have in your inventory, but what about putting a few heavy cars right behind the tender that will slow the train down.  it would have to take some trial and error, but you could load up some gondolas or even some box cars with fishing weights and just make sure they stay as part of the train.  I have to face the same problems and have been thinking on this too.

Dennis

[brianel027]

Pepo, Joe's idea of the self sticking rubber feet is a good one. Also, if you have the transformer mounted, you could rig and "L" shapped bracket of some kind that could be easily screwed into place to block the transfomer handle from going higher that a specific point... I've done this with the cheapie starter K-Line transformer.

Other than that I'd recommend purchasing a good used Lionel 1033 (had for between $25-50). The 1033 has two voltage post settings to the track... the B-U setting of 0-11volts is perfect for your needs depending on the type of loco you are running. With the Lionel basic 4-4-2 steamer, this is a perfect voltage range for young kids to have.

[palallin]

Other than that I'd recommend purchasing a good used Lionel 1033 (had for between $25-50). The 1033 has two voltage post settings to the track... the B-U setting of 0-11volts is perfect for your needs depending on the type of loco you are running. With the Lionel basic 4-4-2 steamer, this is a perfect voltage range for young kids to have.

 

Let me echo Brian's suggestion.  I am loathe to horse around with the power feeds to or from a transformer (especially, as some have pointed out, with ones as tempramental as the CW-80).  Despite my willingness to use original controls, I have trouble recommending the rheostat around young kids, as the heat generated can be significant.  If the idea is to have a kid-proof set up, the 1033 is the way to go.  Pity that, with all this fancy, expensive technology Lionel has access to--and forces on us--these days, the best 027 transformer is 60 years old.

[Old King Coal]

Would a different concept work here ?

How about the kid's operating the line by means of a "push button" wired in-line, and pre-setting the transformer to your desired speed.  E-units can be locked in forward if only one direction is desired.

This works great on my interactive display.  Just a suggestion.

Best regards in trains ... Dave

[Anonymous]

Since you do not know the circuit of the transformer I would not cut back on the primary input. You could cut back on the secondary ( In series with the center rail wire) by installing a simple string of 6 amp,50volt diodes. Each pair,one in each direction will reduce AC voltage by about .7 volts. 6 pair would drop AC voltage by about 4 volts. This would convert a 5 to 18 volt transformer to about 1 to 14 volts. If this does not limit the speed enough you can simply add more diodes. The diodes can easily be mounted on a jumbo 12 terminal Eurostyle barrier strip from Radio Shack without soldering. Simply bend them U shaped,insert in the terminals and tighten the screws. Jumper the 2 ends with 16 gauge wire.The total cost of making the device is about $10 or less. The strip will accomidate up to 11 pair of diodes. In operation the diodes get warm but not hot.

Dale Hz