Lionel Inverter

Thomas Edison and Nicholi Tesla fought it out over that question in the 1890's and 1900's. Tesla finally won with his concept of using three phase alternating current. The main advantage of Tesla's concept was that it allowed the use of transformers in electric power transmission. The voltage could be stepped up very high and the current would be correspondingly low. Voltage drop in the lines is a function of current. The lower the current, the lower the voltage drop, so less kwh was lost from the source to load. The voltage was stepped down at the end user to a safe level to be used in a home or business. Consequently, AC was much more economical because large power stations could be built and the economies of scale realized. This could not be done with DC. Small power stations had to be built closer to the end user. During that time period, some DC was installed in the very first homes to receive electric power. It continued in those few places into the seventies, I believe. I have never seen a Lionel inverter either. I read, in the 1966 Lionel service manual, that they stopped producing them after World War 2.

I am fairly certain that my buddy had one or two in his collection.

NYC and many other areas were originally DC (Edison service).  In fact, some parts of NYC were still supplied DC until 2007, with the remaining few customers given whole building rectifiers or other conversion assistance. Articles here and here.

These inverters were actually a vast improvement over the #107 and #170, which just wasted 105V (or so) as heat via a huge resistor bank.

Joe,

I worked on the DC elimination program.  Retired 38 yrs of service. It is a great Company to work for.

I had a lot of fun working their and made lots of great friends too. It's like a Family.  

The least Con Edison DC  Grid Service was De-energize at 142 East 42 street & Lexington Avenue.

All services Customer's would receive a free Rectifier No cost from the Company.

Based on the Customer's KW DC Load requirements and hardwired into their AC Electrical Service after Customer's Con-Edison,  revenue Meter.   

It was a Two Years 7 Million Dollar program.    

Good Luck , John

That's all very interesting! I knew there was an AC/DC war early on and AC won, but I had no idea anyone was still using DC clear into the 21st century. I thought that was all gone by the early 1900's or so when everything went to AC. I also thought Westinghouse (don't remember his first name) was the one behind AC, but I also remember Tesla being in there somewhere too, maybe I am just mixed up here? I think it would be really interesting to see some of these old DC systems if they are still original.

Not that I have see a lot of old Lionel items, but I haven't seen the inverters either. I would enjoy seeing a picture if anyone finds one or has one of these items. I do like seeing the old stuff, especially the electrical items used. I have seen some large old (one was 2 speed) electric motors and their controls from around 1930 and they were still running just fine the last time I saw them in 2011. Built like a tank and much, much larger than their modern day equivalents! I retired shortly after the last time I saw them so I don't know if they are still in service? I could look at old mechanical/electrical equipment/systems for hours. Unfortunately it is becoming quite rare these days, at least around here anyway.

I also think about the workers that installed these old systems way back when and the old time equipment used to put all these things in place. I try to imagine what it must have been like for them back then. Lots of hard labor and man power. Also, some of the craftsmanship is just amazing in these old systems. Just a totally different era and way of doing things.

Sorry about drifting off a little here, but I really like seeing this old stuff. The older I get the more I appreciate it. 

I too had no idea that DC was being used for residential service after the mid 1900's(like 1955). I know that AC is more economical is industrial use-age. 

Most of the new trains made today have DC can motors which require either a circuit board(with built-in bridge rectifier) or separate bridge rectifier be used between the track pick-up and the DC can motor.

Lee Fritz

I never would have guessed that people were still running on DC power into the mid 1900s. I guess those old dc generators were antiques. Lionel must not have sold too many of those inverters which is why I have never seen one.  I would love if someone could post a a picture of one. 

Here's a parts list for what they were made from:  http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/cd/1942%5Ca082.pdf.  There were also the 107 and 170 DC reducers.  Basically these units are just a black metal screen that covers the reducer or inverter mounted to a base.  Not much to look at but they show up from time to time on Ebay.