American Flyer transformers???

[MontanaBoy]

I am beginning to setup a O gauge layout for my first time. I thought I would go with American Flyer transformer, either the 19B or the 30B dual transformer. My first locomotive is the Joshua Lionel Cowen Series 2-6-6-6  Allegheny. I would like to know if the American Flyer transformers are reliable and if they are worth the effort on acquiring?

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I will preface my opinion with I am prejudiced.  I love American Flyer.  I have a 17B and a 30B running my layout.  Three lines and and lot of operating accesories and never a problem.  You can use them for hours and they do not heat up.  Built in circuit breakers work well and quickly.  They are built like tanks.  The only thing I've had to do was clean carbon from coils and replace rollers (75 cents each).  The gauges are so-so.  Look neat but not really accurate.  I would highly reccomend changing the "power on" light to a LED.  The conventional bulb can get very hot and melt the bulb cover.  I think they should meet your power needs.  IMHO the 100 watt 8B is great transformer for the money.  Great power, short circuit breaker, and inexpensive.

Jim

[ben10ben]

I love American Flyer transformers, and would glad use them to run all my trains, except for one minor problem.

Most top out at 15 or 16 volts, which really isn't enough to run Lionel trains very well. In order to reliably run Lionels and get the most performance out of them, you really need 18 or 20 volts. 

Sure an AF transformer will do okay with a small train(I've done it plenty of times). Add a dozen heavy cars or so, though, and you'll find yourself in need of more voltage to get a decent amount of speed. With an American Flyer transformer, there is no more voltage available. 

If you're going to use old transformers to run Lionel trains, you'd be far better off with one of the better Lionel transformers such as the LW, KW, or ZW. 

 

[lionelsoni]

I like the looks of the 30B and used one for a while, but finally put it aside and replaced it with a Z.  I could never get used to the two controls' turning in opposite directions and the business of lifting the handles to cycle the e-unit.

[phillyreading]

Before buying an A.F. transformer make sure that it works with a locomotive on the track.  Like anything used make sure of what you are buying.

Lionel transformers will also work with A.F. trains but with a bit more power.

S Helper or MRC(model rectifier company) may even have some new transformers for S gauge.

Lee F.

[sir james I]

A/F transformers as far as I know do NOT have whistle or bell controls, and that would need to be considered as most everything new would need them.

[phillyreading]

I don't know for sure if American Flyer needs the whistle or bell controls but from what I know about A.F. I doubt it.  I have a few steam locomtives and they have a built in mechanical steam chuff sound from A.F. in the engine area.

Maybe S Helper or other current S gauge companies products use a whistle or horn, not sure.

Lee F.

[sir james I]

Old A/F trains would not need bell/whistle, new ones would. But the thread stated it was going to be an O ga. layout.

[phillyreading]

Old A.F. trains would not need the bell or whistle feature.  Newer A.F.(1970's or newer) made by Lionel may need the whistle or bell feature.

Lee F.

[ben10ben]

The 314AW whistle worked on the same principle as the Lionel whistle-Gilbert made a separate button box(nearly as rare as the engine itself) for it to supply a jolt of DC to the track.

All of this is irrelevent, though, since the original poster wanted to use the transformers to run O-gauge trains. 

Incidentally, adding a whistle button presents another obstacle to the point I mentioned about AF transformers lacking voltage. Most commercial whistle buttons use a diode array to cut the track voltage a little bit under normal operation so that they can provide a voltage boost for when the whistle button is pressed(to compensate for the draw of the whistle motor). 

The already voltage-starved AF transformers, which typically put out a maximum of 15 volts, may only put out 14 volts or even less when an auxillary whistle button is between them and the track. 14 is hardly enough to make many larger engines even move, much less run well.

[estesdude]

Hi Jim,

Do you know what kind of LED bulb you used for the "power on lights" for the transformers shown in your photo?  Do you know where to purchase them? 

I'm trying to help my dad replace his burned out lights and switching to LED makes sense due to the reduced heat. 

Thanks!