So very thankful for all of the help!! Will post the ongoing story. Probably has been a long time since you have tried to diagnose something like this to a dummy operating from only research and absolutely no experience or knowledge. Had never touched a model train in my life. I take the kids to see set-ups and get joy from watching their curiosity.
Hoping that I have no fires or explosions!! (Just kidding.)
Any news, Jeannie?
Bob Nelson
Laughing. Yes, yesterday I packed the train away until I have the money for a transformer. Thank for asking.
Jeannie,
It is sad to hear you packed your trains away for lack of an operating transformer. I would gladly service your transformer at no charge, including shipping if you wish. Hover your mouse over TrainLarry and click 'Start a Conversation' to e-mail me your response, and I will e-mail my info back. Everyone here wants to help, and see you, your grandchildren (and husband too!) get involved with this great hobby.
Larry
My offer for another 1033 in box that works still stands and as I said you can keep it or return when other is fixed or used for scrap you keep this one. and had another person contacted me almost imediately to pay the shipping as we want your grandchildren and your husband to run trains again no strings attached
Bill
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
You are all amazing. Here is what has happened. After putting everything away, I saw an ad in the newspaper of a sale where there would be Lionel trains. When I arrived the man had no transformers for sale, but he listened to my story and referred me to 2 men that he thought might be able to help. One of them has been a model train enthusiast for many years, but now has a full-time job plus does some sort of sound equipment repair as a part-time job. He has several ahead of me but took my name and number and said he will call me when he finishes the work ahead of me. He thought it might be fairly simple if I do not mess it up before he gets to me. Now I do have one question if someone has time before I get to the library to look it up. Are there diodes in the 1033 transformer and might I "fry" them? Any guidance will be appreciated.
one way or another you are supose to have that set running to many things are falling place so don't forget us if you need any help we are here for folks like you and we love to help. for your question thats some of the others can answer better as I'm not very electrical my self
"Are there diodes in the 1033 transformer and might I "fry" them? Any guidance will be appreciated".
No, its all wires and a coil, with a circuit breaker.. Unless you saw it go up in smoke you have nothing to worry about. Very old school.
Roger
Deep belly laugh. The non-electrical man having a garage sale mentioned diodes and scared me. Thank you for the reply. No smoke yet except a tiny little bit when I had the locomotive moving. I thought perhaps it was something left from the "smoke" that the locomotive is supposed to produce. Would it be possible after being packed away for 50 years?
Jeannie Deep belly laugh. The non-electrical man having a garage sale mentioned diodes and scared me. Thank you for the reply. No smoke yet except a tiny little bit when I had the locomotive moving. I thought perhaps it was something left from the "smoke" that the locomotive is supposed to produce. Would it be possible after being packed away for 50 years?
yes if it had an old pill in it or if maybe a little smoke fluid ( oil) still on the burner. Oh if its a pill type you can use the fluid just do a few drops at a time or you will have it everywhere
Actually, there is a diode in any Lionel transformer, like the 1033, that has a whistle control. This is an obsolete copper-oxide rectifier that sometimes fails. It can be replaced by a reproduction part or, frequently, by a modern silicon rectifier, which works very nearly as well as the original.
The word "diode" has an interesting history. Vacuum tubes were described by how many elements they contained: "pentode" for 5, "tetrode" for 4, "triode" for 3, and..."diode" for 2. Vacuum-tube diodes were used as rectifiers. There were also solid-state rectifiers, like selenium, copper-oxide, then later germanium and silicon. Vacuum tubes were given the reference-designation class letter "V" on schematic diagrams, no matter how many elements. The solid-state devices were "CR", for "crystal rectifier". Eventually, as semiconductors replaced vacuum tubes, the name "diode" began to be used for the semiconductor devices that replaced them. The letter "D" was introduced as an optional replacement for "CR". If any difference remains between "diode" and "rectifier", it is that the former is used more for small-signals and the latter for power applications.
What ever. Most of of us here fully realize there is a selenium rectifier in those things. Its nothing to be concerned about. Why confuse her even more?
I actually have not felt confused. Everyone seems to be able to answer questions so that I understand. Very refreshing and calming. I know it sounds "goofy". Just thank you, again.
Roger, if you have one with a factory error like a selenium rectifier instead of copper oxide, hang onto it; it should be very valuable...;-)
Sure thing Bob.
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