Hello,
I'm planning on building a layout 10 ft. x 25 ft. and wondered, what kind of power source I should use. The layout will be entirely lionel, nothing made by other companies. Most of the accessories will be powered by track power(signals, street lights, ect.) The layout will have 2 mainlines and a yard. Any recommendations for a lionel powersource?
P. S. The layout will be controlled by TMCC.
"Lionel trains are the standard of the world" - Jousha Lionel Cowen
What I meant is a transformer to power the track as well as power the accessories using track power.
hello,
I think that a Lionel Z 250 watt transformer would be great for accessories. You have 4 variable power sources able to put out 25 volts each (I wouldnt recommend using anything more than 20 volts on postwar and newer equipment). To keep the transformer from overheating I wouldnt use anymore than 170 watts total. You can get one for around $100 in great shape on ebay. Since there is no whistle control they are less desirable than the ZW. I can't find a better price per watt around.
Also, I would run all accessories including street lamps on a separate transformer to make sure that your trains dont slow down or transformers overheat. On a layout as big as yours this is a must for smooth operation. Good luck with your layout and be sure to post pictures and you progress...
magicman710 wrote: What I meant is a transformer to power the track as well as power the accessories using track power.
o, in that case a ZW would work well, thats what we use and havent had any problems with the set up.
The size of your layout would lead me to believe that separate power for accessories would be a better route. Two things you could do, you could get a used ZW or KW that has been reconditioned for a little over $100. The other thing you could do is get a power supply for low voltage landscape lighting. The landscape lighting power supplies are usually cheaper, but do not have different settings for power output. This would leave you with the rest of the layouts requirements to other transformers/power bricks. You actually do not need a transformer if you are using TMCC. You can get the 130, or 180 power bricks and use these. Some of the other guys can tell you exactly how to hook these up, but it is a cheaper route than transformers for the whole layout.
Good Luck,
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
If you're going to run TMCC, your track power probably will be set at 16-18V, which is too high for most Lionel accessories. Accessories should be supplied by power separate from track power so that they can be operated at their optimum voltages. Recommended voltages usually are 12-14V, but can run as low as 8V (traditional semaphore). My Lionel windmill doesn't turn very fast at 16V, but that's as high as I want to go (!).
I use postwar transformers (ZW, Z, V, KW) to power my accessories. When it becomes necessary, I'll power 12V lights with a low-voltage outdoor lighting transformer.
Or you could use this;
With Bridge rectifiers;
To give you various fixed voltages for all you acc. needs.
You should consider the advice about powering the accessories separately. A couple of points about power.
The joints need be tight; feeders need be added every 4-6 ft to power the tracks; consider powerdistricts for your yards - keeps engines waiting to run inactive and saves on bulbs; Accessories are all different, the PW versions all need/use different settings from 12 to 16volts. lights need much less and with higher volts will burn out. TMCC runs at 18 volts and will kill your accessories, especially the PWs if you have any.
So, power acc separately; if you can, power the lights/signals separately as well. TMCC has a device called an Accessory Voltage controller. Allows you to use the TMCC enviornment, regardless of power source -- 180watt bricks 135 Powermaster or ZW new or PW -- and it lets you tune the volatage you need for different accessories. cost about 45$ if you are an Ebayer maybe less.
Running buses for the Accessories, lights and track power is worth the work and don't forget fuses and some sort of TVS to handle spikes.....lots of info in the forum, browse a bit more
hope this helps
ralph
But what is so wrong powering signals, station, and other small lighted accesssories with track power? Should'nt 1 or 2 180 bricks be enough to run 2 trains on 2 mainlines 70ft long with added feeders? Of course I'll use buses to power my major accessories( coal loaders, ice depots, barrel loaders, ect.) but why not just use track power for the small stuff?
Grayson
Just as mentioned above, if you are using TMCC, the track voltage is 18volts (some have reduced this to 16), but when most bulbs and accessories are intended to operate at 12-14 volts, you will over power them and burn them out. Besides, when you add up the required voltage for your trains and accessories, you will find that it adds up quickly. Between lights on the passenger cars, the motor in the engine, the sounds, etc., like I said, adds up quickly. Also, you may consider powering your switches separately as you can make them snap to diverging or straight path and not be concerned about track power. Just seems to be a better way to do it.
dennis
Just thinking out load here - and everybody can tell me how wrong I am -
Computer power supplies are cheap, especially used ones, and have a LOT (usually upwards of 10 amps) of well-regulated 12V DC. Is there any reason why almost all accessories - both post war and modern - couldn't be run off one of these? Post war motors are all universal AC/DC, and modern can motors have rectifiers in front of them. About the the only accessories I could see having a problem with DC would be the vibration accessories. The Nano and Half O scales seem to use these power supplies quite successfully for structure lighting and similar.
Corrections to the above?
enquiring minds want to know.
Fred W
Bob Nelson
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