OK, so we have the Lionchief Plus locos which need 18 volts, I believe. Now we have O22 switch tracks that have the fixed voltage plug in use. Is 18 volts too much for O22s ?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I think folks like about 14VAC on the fixed voltage for O22's, though you may be better off with an adjustable transformer so you can set it to the "perfect" level for your switches. This will be whatever the lowest voltage that delivers reliable, solid, action from the switches.
On the LionChief Plus, with the engines I've tested now, An NW2 and a Hudson, they will run on anything above 7.1VAC. Operation is a bit shaky below 8VAC. You need 12VAC for the couplers to fire reliably. Basically if you are pulling a (very) heavy load you will need more voltage for the motor to reach higher speeds, but with enough load in my test for the drive truck of the NW2 to climb the rail and derail it only took 13 volts.
I'm still sorting through and making sense of all the data I collected in my most recent testing, but it seems like, for everything but the smoke to work at optimal levels you only need 12VAC on the track. For the smoke to run at full volume you need 16VAC on the track, though satisfactory smoke levels were had at above 14 volts.
If you're only pulling a couple of cars around, 10-12 volts will do just fine if you're not running smoke.
JGL
Thanks John. That is a good explanation. I'm planning more of a switching layout for the core of my empire with high speed loops on the outside. The Lionchief Plus switcher I just purchased will be doing most of the work and I have O22s that I will be using to create various sidings to accommodate operating accessories. So you've said what I was hoping to hear.
Dan Padova posted:OK, so we have the Lionchief Plus locos which need 18 volts, I believe. Now we have O22 switch tracks that have the fixed voltage plug in use. Is 18 volts too much for O22s ?
Isn't the whole point of the fixed voltage plug to operate the switch on a voltage that is independent of track voltage? Tie the common/return of the track power and the switch power supplies together and use 18 volts for the trains and whatever voltage operates the switches reliably.
Pete
Now, though, it LC/+ power pack placing AC or DC into the track? And if it is putting 18, either AC or DC, it should be enoughto pwer the switch on track power. If the power pack is AC, and you want to use the plug, the transformers must be phased. If DC, ???????
Dan P,
This also depends how many switches you are powering, I always used an old ZW to power all my 022, 711/072 switches, adjust the voltage as required for how many switches are drawing power. Also I replaced all the regular bulbs, both track side and in the controllers with LED's. Most times I needed between 14V - 16V depending on the size of the layout, some times more, depending on how many switches were used.
PCRR
Texas Pete posted:Dan Padova posted:OK, so we have the Lionchief Plus locos which need 18 volts, I believe. Now we have O22 switch tracks that have the fixed voltage plug in use. Is 18 volts too much for O22s ?
Isn't the whole point of the fixed voltage plug to operate the switch on a voltage that is independent of track voltage? Tie the common/return of the track power and the switch power supplies together and use 18 volts for the trains and whatever voltage operates the switches reliably.
Pete
The way I understand fixed voltage plugs, from my past days with Lionel trains goes like this; Let's say you are using a Post war ZW transformer. The track gets powered by A-U terminals. You run a wire from the fixed voltage plug on the switch track to terminal B. You set the throttle for terminal B to whatever voltage operates the switch track well. That's it ! It's not rocket science. Now that I am getting back into Lionel, etc. after a twenty-five year absence, I find that I am intimidated by the newer equipment.
Electrical work, black to black, white to white and payday is Friday. Why re-invent the wheel ?
Dan Padova posted:The way I understand fixed voltage plugs, from my past days with Lionel trains goes like this; Let's say you are using a Post war ZW transformer. The track gets powered by A-U terminals. You run a wire from the fixed voltage plug on the switch track to terminal B. You set the throttle for terminal B to whatever voltage operates the switch track well. That's it ! It's not rocket science. Now that I am getting back into Lionel, etc. after a twenty-five year absence, I find that I am intimidated by the newer equipment.
Exactly. Track voltage and switch voltage are independent of each other. With the ZW the U (common) terminals are tied together internally and A, B, C, and D are individually adjustable. With separate transformers you phase them and tie the commons together. I use three CW-80 and an LW to control two trains and various accessories (including O-22s), operating at voltages most suitable to them, and the commons are all connected.
Pete
