transformers

[Anonymous]

Hello, we have a old Lionel Set, which we were going to set up in garden, however we found that there was so much expense and work trying to figure a way to put it outside, it was cheaper to buy a Bachman starter set and put in the Brass rails in the long run. So we bought it, with about $300.00 worth of track.
My question is we have an old tranformer (Lionel?) that when we sent the Lionel engine in to be checked and over all serviced, we included the transformer as it was missing some buttons etc. Can we use this tranformer with our new set?? We where told that with that tranformer would give us more than enough power. But that advice was given when we were going to set the Lionel outside. [?]

[Anonymous]

Hello, we have a old Lionel Set, which we were going to set up in garden, however we found that there was so much expense and work trying to figure a way to put it outside, it was cheaper to buy a Bachman starter set and put in the Brass rails in the long run. So we bought it, with about $300.00 worth of track.
My question is we have an old tranformer (Lionel?) that when we sent the Lionel engine in to be checked and over all serviced, we included the transformer as it was missing some buttons etc. Can we use this tranformer with our new set?? We where told that with that tranformer would give us more than enough power. But that advice was given when we were going to set the Lionel outside. [?]

[vsmith]

Dont do it. To the best of my knowledge, Lionels use a much higher power voltage. You will burn out your bachmann, if not blow it up, and you will risk almost certain electrical shock hazards. Lionel transformer is designed to work with old 1950's era electrical motors. G guage motors use a much lower voltage, like garden lights, this is why you can run them outdoors even in rain or snow. A lionel would risk a thru ground shock if you are not carefull. If you ever notice people who run lionel type 3 rail outdoors it is almost always elevated or at least running on a base material like wood or concrete. They also never run if there is even the slightest chance of moisture. Its a bad idea, swap the lionel with someone or sell it and spend $15 and get a simple LGB type transformer on ebay, You will be much happier and safer.

[vsmith]

Dont do it. To the best of my knowledge, Lionels use a much higher power voltage. You will burn out your bachmann, if not blow it up, and you will risk almost certain electrical shock hazards. Lionel transformer is designed to work with old 1950's era electrical motors. G guage motors use a much lower voltage, like garden lights, this is why you can run them outdoors even in rain or snow. A lionel would risk a thru ground shock if you are not carefull. If you ever notice people who run lionel type 3 rail outdoors it is almost always elevated or at least running on a base material like wood or concrete. They also never run if there is even the slightest chance of moisture. Its a bad idea, swap the lionel with someone or sell it and spend $15 and get a simple LGB type transformer on ebay, You will be much happier and safer.

[cacole]

I'm no Lionel expert, but I'm pretty sure that a Lionel transformer is going to output alternating current (AC) at 16 volts or more full throttle,. Your Bachmann locomotive is designed to use direct current (DC) at 12-16 volts full throttle. Feeding AC to a DC motor will turn it into a smoke generator real fast. Don't take any chances -- buy a good DC power supply made specifically for G-scale usage.

[cacole]

I'm no Lionel expert, but I'm pretty sure that a Lionel transformer is going to output alternating current (AC) at 16 volts or more full throttle,. Your Bachmann locomotive is designed to use direct current (DC) at 12-16 volts full throttle. Feeding AC to a DC motor will turn it into a smoke generator real fast. Don't take any chances -- buy a good DC power supply made specifically for G-scale usage.