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Lionel TW transformer

Andrew LawrenceAndrew LawrenceOGR Forum Member
i have posted my ceiling look on here before, for power i decided to go with an older TW transfomer.... i "figured" that 175 watts would be plenty for one loop around the room, has a whistle control, and can power some small assessorys i plan on adding in the corner, )just a beacon or spotlight not much) what i'm having problems with is that towards the back wall of the room, the trains tend to slow down i hooked a volt meter to it, seems that its dropping in power? when i use the whistle button it seems theres a dramatic power increase, my williams true blast horn on my GG1 is really fickle with it as well... only half the time i can get the horn to work and it never works on the far side of the wall....





as i just have a ceiling loop i dont need any facy transformer, i just like the vintage feel of the TW.... i've been thinking of upgrading some for the older conventional trains with the sound commander 2 chip? would that work with the tw transformer? i just want the GG1's to have some sound.... i've had this crazy idea to add it into a REA boxcar? kind of like the the old railsounds boxcars? that way i wouldnt have to modify any of the original lionels but still get the sound? good idea?
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TMackTMackOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
How many feeders are you using. On that loop you should consider connecting your feeders at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock

Probably need 16 to 14 gauge wire.

I have the same transformer, the whistle works off a round rectifier disc. I am not sure, but maybe with the age of the transformer it might not be in good enough condition to work properly.

-Ted
Andrew LawrenceAndrew LawrenceOGR Forum Member
i have one feeder wire running into the track above the transfomer, i've heard of using multible feeder wires, but the issue is that its a loop around the ceiling, if i were to run wire up through the wall, it be just as long as the track would be? would it defete the purpous of an extra feeder?

what transformer would your recommend using?
LD Larry D.OGR Forum Member
Andrew: You've gotten some good advice above: run some extra feeders from the original lockon around the layout. Since it's a wall layout, just run the extra feeders along the back side of the track and no one will know the difference as they will be out of sight. You are right, you do have enough wattage, it's just not getting to all the layout via ther track connection pins.
Lary D.
Andrew LawrenceAndrew LawrenceOGR Forum Member
quote:
Originally posted by Larry D.:
Andrew: You've gotten some good advice above: run some extra feeders from the original lockon around the layout. Since it's a wall layout, just run the extra feeders along the back side of the track and no one will know the difference as they will be out of sight. You are right, you do have enough wattage, it's just not getting to all the layout via ther track connection pins.
Lary D.


so i'm guessing since its on the far side form the transformer its a voltage drop issue? wont i have the same issue with voltage drop by running wire?
oldroboldrobOGR Forum Member
quote:
I installed the diode and it did not work I probably screwed up the installation, I though I had good instructions and followed them, but it did not work.


It can be tricky to do without the Greenbergs Manual. Or maybe the transformer diagrams from Olsens. I had one not work and had to redo it. Just had it wired wrong.I have done many successful installs.
Rob
LD Larry D.OGR Forum Member
Andrew: You're correct; it is a voltage drop issue. The wire feeders don't suffer from a joint every ten inches like the track sections do thereby eliminating most of the voltage drop you get through individual track joints. Try to run some 16 ga wires as the jumpers; voltage drop will be minimal; you could use 18 ga in a pinch.
Larry D.
TMackTMackOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
quote:
Originally posted by oldrob:
quote:
I installed the diode and it did not work I probably screwed up the installation, I though I had good instructions and followed them, but it did not work.


It can be tricky to do without the Greenbergs Manual. Or maybe the transformer diagrams from Olsens. I had one not work and had to redo it. Just had it wired wrong.I have done many successful installs.
Rob


Rob,

How bad did I screw up? Smile


tw diode 2 by tedmackel, on Flickr
P phillmanOGR Forum Member
Yes, run feeder wire(s).

I have 4 power feeds in a roughly 12x12 room and power drop is not an issue at all.

Like what was said, lay the wires between the wall and the track and no one can see them. I installed a few hooks in the shelf board to keep the wires from straying onto the track.

Once the forum changes are implemented, I can post pictures of my setup that I just got running this month.
oldroboldrobOGR Forum Member
I have never seen the inside of the TW. Thats one I have not done. Maybe Chuck Sartor or Davis Lyons can tell you quicker. WIthout seeing for myself where the wires were before mods and having it here to see in person I can't be sure. I read the Greenberg manual, try reversing that diode. That may do it.
Rob
Last edited by oldrob
Dave WarburtonDave WarburtonOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
As I reported in a separate thread, my TW will not activate WIlliams TrueBlast sounds at all. It works fine with Lionel, both postwar and modern and MTH, too, but not Williams. I think the TW provides more than 60 watts power to the track because I have everything running off of the track and it seems to provide plenty of oomph on my (admitedly small) 4x8 ft. layout.

Maybe I should switch it out for an RW or LW (which I also have) for more power?
CS Chuck SartorOGR Forum Member
One thing I noticed in the pix is that the resistance wire that wraps around the original rectifier disc is not shown. Is that still connected? It needs to be there, with a replacement diode or original. Also try moving the whistle handle only half way.
Just as a general note, the TW was the worst transformer Lionel ever made. They are very problem prone and tend to overheat the aux.accessory transformer. Also there are 2 versions of the transformer, the latter being the better of the 2.
Many times you will find either or both handles warped from the heat that transfers from the die-cast control shafts.
TheClutchGuyTheClutchGuyOGR Forum Member
I picked up a TW transformer last year and it was a major score. I use it on my elevated trolley and to power some lights and accessories. It also activates the Williams Tru Sounds that my MRC Dualpower does not. I found out from some helpful members of this forum that I have the alternative version with the extra "B" terminal.
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