Lionel TW transformer

Have overhauled several including installing a wire type diode for whistle control, take some good pictures of the wiring connections before separting the top from the bottom, clean everyhing up, solder in the diode and you will have a good performer.

@trestleking posted:

but of course there's no testing it.

Why is that "of course"?  I get that you can't hook it up to a layout and run trains.  However they should be willing to plug the thing in and let you hook it up to a meter. 

The TW is a rather odd duck in that it has two separate transformer cores.  That being the case, it's actually only a pretty wimpy 75-80 watts for track power output, so it's not one of my favorites.

@Bill N posted:

Why is that "of course"?  I get that you can't hook it up to a layout and run trains.  However they should be willing to plug the thing in and let you hook it up to a meter.

You are right,  if I seriously consider it, I will go back with a meter.  We were just browsing an antique store an hour from home.  Thks.

@trestleking posted:

You are right,  if I seriously consider it, I will go back with a meter. 

👍👍👍

Mark in Oregon

I have two of them and have had good luck. As John points out above, though, don't be fooled by the 175W advertising. It's effectively two 1033 transformers in one housing, one side to run the trains on variable voltage and the other to connect to accessories via the other set of fixed output terminals. Mine have been highly reliable.

I have a couple as well.  They’re good for running on a relatively modest loop with a couple of accessories.  They’re even better when dedicated solely to powering accessories.

I bet you can get a good Lionel LW at 125 watts for less money.  It is usually the most economical transformer one can and widely available.  It will easily run one train and I use mine to often run two trains per loop.  It is a very powerful single train transformer.  Check out the raves on it on OGR search and other sources.

Charlie

@Jerry N. posted:

I have a couple as well.  They’re good for running on a relatively modest loop with a couple of accessories.  They’re even better when dedicated solely to powering accessories.

@JerryN. thks for your input, I was considering a TW for:  1.  Nostalgia, my brothers & I had one on our attic "layout" many moons ago &    2.  Accessory power - which this sounds well-suited for.

I used to use one. But the LW is better. I was attracted to it because the first Lionel Trains I saw run when I was 4, my friend's dad's trains, were run with a TW.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

...a pretty wimpy 75-80 watts for track power output, ..

It would be a push to get 65 watts.

Let price be guide: too high and you will be better off with a LW or even a KW, depending on your power needs.

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

I bet you can get a good Lionel LW at 125 watts for less money.  It is usually the most economical transformer one can and widely available.  It will easily run one train and I use mine to often run two trains per loop.  It is a very powerful single train transformer.  Check out the raves on it on OGR search and other sources.

Charlie

Plus the LW has that super cool lighted dial that gets brighter as you increase the track power.  

I’ve overhauled a couple hundred transformers in my time and agree the LW is the best of the midsize class

I thought I had a TW, but I checked today and what I have is a Lionel SW transformer that powers 1 accessory and about 10 street lamps on the far left side of my layout. It has  worked very well with that limited usage.

What do you folks think of the SW?

Is the SW similar to the TW, or is it similar to the LW?

Do you think the SW has sufficient voltage to run 2 trains simultaneously?

Arnold

I just Googled the SW. It has 130 watts of power, looks similar to the TW, but I think the SW can deliver a full 130 watts to control one train.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

I thought I had a TW, but I checked today and what I have is a Lionel SW transformer that powers 1 accessory and about 10 street lamps on the far left side of my layout. It has  worked very well with that limited usage.

What do you folks think of the SW?

Is the SW similar to the TW, or is it similar to the LW?

Do you think the SW has sufficient voltage to run 2 trains simultaneously?

Arnold

Arnold, I have been instructed by others here on the forum that PW transformer ratings are based on their input power consumption and that their output is about 75% (efficiency).  So one might expect a 130Watt transformer to deliver up to about 98 Watts at its output.  That's about 5 Amps max.  So the SW may have enough current to run 2 locomotives, but, if you add passenger cars with incandescent bulbs and/or smoke units, maybe not enough for all that.

@SteveH posted:

Arnold, I have been instructed by others here on the forum that PW transformer ratings are based on their input power consumption and that their output is about 75% (efficiency).  So one might expect a 130Watt transformer to deliver about 98 Watts at its output.  That's about 5 Amps.  So the SW may have enough current to run 2 locomotives, but, if you add passenger cars with incandescent bulbs and/or smoke units, maybe not enough for all that.

Thanks Steve. I will continue to use my SW  for the accessory and the lights. I am fortunate to have power galore with two Z4000s for my 2 main lines, and two ZWs for my 022 switches and numerous Postwar accessories. Arnold