Marx 100 Watt 1669

Hello My friends My favorite Marx transformer is #1669- 100 Watt with reset button. I always buy them when I see them at Train shows I pay between $10- 20 dollars for them I think that is a great deal on a transformer for my Marx trains and are a very tough transformers and sure last a long time too. I have never burned one out yet in my 60 years of train running. Thanks longbow57ca.

Test the breaker, and inspect the button that resets it.

If pushed hard for a long time, the metal case can get pretty hot. Normally not blister burn you hot, but hot enough to scare an unwary kid real good. Sensitive skin might be another story too . Placement so it doesnt bump a shirtless belly is my only suggestion off hand. It should be a great unit.

Pay close attention to phasing if used with a second or third transformer etc, E.g., check the phase on the 15v accessories circuit and throttle circuit separately.  If I recall right , that, or an AF unit I have, has a screwy common circuit and can't be phased in all situations. (Ie only one circuit, acc or throttle can be phased on some model transformers, others can use both acc and throttle from 2 units)

If you don't know you should phase two or more transformers when used together, it's time to learn, and it's not hard. I did it by phone instructions as a young kid. Today, you can jump on Youtube and search "Lionel phasing" for a great ,easy, entertaining, video by Lionel (best one imo) on how and why phasing is done. Or search the forum for threads. Many threads have various home brew methods and the video embedded in them too.

What can it pull off?   I can use mine full throttle on a couple pw engines, and double head 2 Generals and a good load all at a decent clip but no hi speed track jumps. Marx and some faster Lionels will jump.

I was given a 1669 by my dad. The reset button was just flopping around. I took it apart and found that the magnetic tab on the breaker had broken off. 

I think I'm going to order 5A self resetting breaker and see if I can get this thing to work with that instead of the original breaker. It'd be a real shame to not be able to use it. 

  I've never looked the peak voltage on a meter. It is rated at 100w, but is actually weaker than a 90w 1033 by Lionel.. 

Still, it's a good transformer.

Interesting to compare these; I also have a AF 18b at 175w that is much weaker in amperage than a 180w KW . It appears to be more than a 5w difference, but again, I've never looked at the max voltage. It could have a higher voltage output capability...?

Here is a photo of the Marx for reference. Same style as the "average Marx", but a larger case. The breaker is a small red button near the posts.

Here's the hand-me-down 1669. 

I removed the old magnetic breaker whose magnetic tab was missing.

I installed a modern 5A self-resetting thermal breaker in series with the track output and a TVS diode in parallel with the track output. In retrospect, perhaps I should have installed a separate breaker for the 15V fixed accessory output. Maybe I'll do that when I get around to freshening up the power cord.

In either case, this old iron has a new life. I've been running my postwar 239 with it for an hour or so. When I get a bit more free time I'd really like to blast the old paint off and re-spray it. 

 FWIW - The accessory output produces a constant 16.2 V. The variable track output produces 6.3V - 16.2V. These figures are most likely inflated from the rated 15V due to higher modern day line voltage. In terms of power, this little Marx seems to be on par with my Lionel 1053 60W postwar transformer. I highly doubt the 100W mark stated on the Marx transformer is accurate.