Start by putting a volt meter across the terminals of the transformer.
If you have power there, move methodically forward. Check for power at the track end of the wire. Hook the wire to the piece of terminal track and then check the voltage on the track. Add track one piece at a time checking the voltage again.
When you reach a point where there is no voltage you have found the problem.
If you have power on the track but the engine does not work then the problem is obvious.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
the first thing i would do if you have a multimeter is to check and see if the transformer is sending power out. if it is then i would use a couple of wires and check to see that the loco is running. cleaning the track will always help as well as making sure that all the rail joiners are connected properly.
you could use a poor man's tester instead of a meter. go to the auto parts store and buy a small single filament 12 volt light bulb and socket with pig tails on it. something like they use for license plate lights. it will show you if you are getting power but not how much.
grizlump
From what I've been able to find, the 1033 transformer is for Lionel trains and is rated at 16 volts. While I never had Lionels, I have a feeling that they were AC-powered, so, if you're trying to run anything but a Lionel locomotive, you may experience some difficulties.
A little more information would be helpful, please.
Wayne
I would take both the transformer and the engine to your local LHS. Most will help out and tell you what your problem is.
Good Luck and Merry Christmas.
Springfield PA
doctorwayne From what I've been able to find, the 1033 transformer is for Lionel trains and is rated at 16 volts. While I never had Lionels, I have a feeling that they were AC-powered, so, if you're trying to run anything but a Lionel locomotive, you may experience some difficulties. A little more information would be helpful, please. Wayne
I think Wayne has hit the nail on the head with this one. You didn't say what scale you were running but assuming you are running HO or N, if you try to run with a transformer, you'll have problems. HO and N scale locos are designed to run off DC power. I remember when I started out in the hobby in the late 1970s. One of the first books I got was an HO primer by Linn Westcott and he explained the difference between a transformer (AC) and a power pack (DC). He stated emphatically, do not use a transformer with HO. He did mention a device which could be used between the transformer and the track which would convert the AC power to DC and essentially give you a power pack. I don't remember exactly what that device was called, but I assume you could still get such a thing at an electronics store.
jecorbett He did mention a device which could be used between the transformer and the track which would convert the AC power to DC and essentially give you a power pack. I don't remember exactly what that device was called, but I assume you could still get such a thing at an electronics store.
jecorbett doctorwayne From what I've been able to find, the 1033 transformer is for Lionel trains and is rated at 16 volts. While I never had Lionels, I have a feeling that they were AC-powered, so, if you're trying to run anything but a Lionel locomotive, you may experience some difficulties. A little more information would be helpful, please. Wayne I think Wayne has hit the nail on the head with this one. You didn't say what scale you were running but assuming you are running HO or N, if you try to run with a transformer, you'll have problems. HO and N scale locos are designed to run off DC power. I remember when I started out in the hobby in the late 1970s. One of the first books I got was an HO primer by Linn Westcott and he explained the difference between a transformer (AC) and a power pack (DC). He stated emphatically, do not use a transformer with HO. He did mention a device which could be used between the transformer and the track which would convert the AC power to DC and essentially give you a power pack. I don't remember exactly what that device was called, but I assume you could still get such a thing at an electronics store.
They're known by several names, rectifier, bridge rectifier, diode. The main problem having the rectifier after the speed control is they usually need a small amount of voltage to start conduction, and many Lionel transformers jump to about 7 volts as soon as contact is made.
If he is talking a motor that requires DC, the best move is to buy a DC power pack.
Wayne:
I'm so embarrassed. He said it was old used track. I knew that was a Lionel transformer, so I just assumed that it was Lionel track and a Lionel engine. I, more than most, should know better than to assume.
Mea culpa.
The threads headline suggests trying a shotgun or something similar.....Whatever can hit easier
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Phoebe VetWayne: I'm so embarrassed. He said it was old used track. I knew that was a Lionel transformer, so I just assumed that it was Lionel track and a Lionel engine. I, more than most, should know better than to assume. Mea culpa. Dave
No need to be embarrassed, Dave. I missed the mention of the 1033 on my first read-through, but, once I spotted it, realised that I didn't know anything about it. I googled "MRC 1033" and up popped the reference to Lionel. I took a chance that the trains and track were either HO or N, but they could just as easily have been Lionel. I've never been too worried about embarrassing myself, having become rather expert in that endeavour.
doctorwayneI've never been too worried about embarrassing myself, having become rather expert in that endeavour.
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Of course since BigD seems to have flown the coop, we may never know.
Graffen The threads headline suggests trying a shotgun or something similar.....Whatever can hit easier
My first thought was he was probably using flextrack which is not nearly as rigid as arrows.