Right of Way 400 watt transformer

I have one, I think Marty had at least two.  John

Mine is still going strong  - Not one issue with

Wish I had bought one at their open house many years ago.

Two of my friends are each running a pair of them.

For those of you who have been using them for years, is there anything you'd like to have seen done differently ? 

Per a Lionel video, is it true that these only have 10 amps per side and if so is it enough?   

Any recommendations on how to use them effectively and are there any compatibility issues with any manufacturers locomotives?

I have a unit I purchased new at the time of their offering, but due to circumstances have yet to put into service.  I'm getting close to the time when I can now put up a layout and I'd like to know of what to look out for?

Thanks!

I sold one here that belonged to our modular club. I considered buying it myself but while it would be great for conventional, in particular Post War, its not the best choice for Command Control. I think rated current is 8 amps per side but max voltage is around 24. I wish I had kept it though as its well built and looks great.

Pete

I have three of them. They are honestly the best transformer on the market. They have 200 watts per channel, can control literally anything and are safe to use with modern electronics. You can't get better than that. I am actually thinking of selling one.

Great product.

A friend of mine has one and I was able to open it up and take a look inside. The design is pretty straightforward -- two auto-transformers feeding pure AC into two 120-to-24VAC step-down transformers with bridge-based whistle/bell controls inline with the outputs. Quality panel meters, fast-acting circuit breakers and a nice solid cast aluminum case complete the package. In pricing the components back in 1996, I determined I couldn't build it for what it cost to buy one at retail. Wish I had one.

I remember the OGR review when they were new: "Enough power to weld with."

I have one that was owned by Neil Young.  Excellent transformer.  I'm glad to finally have one and especially one owned and used by Mr. Young.

Was tempted, but alas could not afford one when they were offered, while raising three children in Catholic elementary and high schools! Years later the MTH Z-4000 fit my needs, and I have two, that like the testimonials above, have never had an issue. 

When they came on the market years ago I bought 2 of them. When DCS came out I listened to some wrong folks & sold them. Biggest mistake I have ever made in this hobby and I regret to this day that I sold them.

Any photos of this monster? THANKS! :-)

Here is one of the three I have

I have one I use for my Shelf layout, it is an Excellent transformer and I would not hesitate buying another if one came up at a decent price.

@AGHRMatt posted:

Great product.

A friend of mine has one and I was able to open it up and take a look inside. The design is pretty straightforward -- two auto-transformers feeding pure AC into two 120-to-24VAC step-down transformers with bridge-based whistle/bell controls inline with the outputs. Quality panel meters, fast-acting circuit breakers and a nice solid cast aluminum case complete the package. In pricing the components back in 1996, I determined I couldn't build it for what it cost to buy one at retail. Wish I had one.

The main reason I sold the one I had is I had already made two of my own. As you noted, they are a very simple design. Commercial transformer and a variac with breakers. Mine are actually 500 watt 120 to 16 volt driven by a 1000 watt 120 to 0-140 volts variac. 140 into the fixed transformer puts out about 19 volts.

Using surplus parts these can be made for small money <100 bucks.

Pete

I had a feeling that's what was inside the case.  Pete, the variac you used... how many amps is it rated for?  I think my conventional running days are mostly over.  But it might be fun to build one of these for my 783 and other voltage hogs.

I have one along with two Z4k's. I will use mine to power accessories but Im not letting it go!

@Ted S posted:

I had a feeling that's what was inside the case.  Pete, the variac you used... how many amps is it rated for?  I think my conventional running days are mostly over.  But it might be fun to build one of these for my 783 and other voltage hogs.

The Variac is rated for ten amps. That's why its at the input to the transformer and not the output. The transformer is rated for over 25 amps and the box has two outputs, each with a ten amp breaker. When used with command engines fast electronic breakers are added.

Pete

Always concerned about using yesterday's transformers with today's electronics.

Although the antidonal evidence provided above implies otherwise.

Like I said previously, even though ROW was not UL approved, I regret selling my 2. 

@AlanRail posted:

Always concerned about using yesterday's transformers with today's electronics.

Although the antidonal evidence provided above implies otherwise.

 

AFAIK, no transformer is equiped with a TVS(s). There is nothing to protect the engines, only the transformer. 

Pete

Well if anyone is interested I got a spare one and I am sorta interested in selling it. 

sflumbaum@gmail.com

@Norton posted:

I sold one here that belonged to our modular club. I considered buying it myself but while it would be great for conventional, in particular Post War, its not the best choice for Command Control. I think rated current is 8 amps per side but max voltage is around 24. I wish I had kept it though as its well built and looks great.

Pete

Yes they are 24Vac.  The 8 amp current limit was a UL requirement.

Lou N

@Lou N posted:

Yes they are 24Vac.  The 8 amp current limit was a UL requirement.

Lou N

Lou didn't you work for ROW?

@Sid's Trains posted:

I have three of them. They are honestly the best transformer on the market. They have 200 watts per channel, can control literally anything and are safe to use with modern electronics. You can't get better than that. I am actually thinking of selling one.

Thank you Sid.  

And I do have one.

Lou N

@VistaDomeScott posted:

I have one that was owned by Neil Young.  Excellent transformer.  I'm glad to finally have one and especially one owned and used by Mr. Young.

Hey Scott,

Neil had a number of the transformers.  That's how I met Neil.  He was making a whistle/bell control for his handicapped son Ben.  He called and asked what the circuit was.

Lou N

@Captain John posted:

Like I said previously, even though ROW was not UL approved, I regret selling my 2. 

The UL Standard for toy transformers limited the total output to 190W.  The UL Standard for Sporting Goods Transformers allowed higher wattages.  UL was expensive so we went with ETL who tests to UL Standards.  We met all the requirements but the submission ended when they said they wanted ten transformers for destructive testing. RoW's insurance underwriter was OK with moving forward with sales after he interviewed me and I demonstrated the test and safety procedures for assembly.

Lou N

@Sid's Trains posted:

Lou didn't you work for ROW?

Yes, I was the electrical engineer. I did the transformer, signals, and digital sound systems.

Lou N

@Lou N you might be able to answer another question for me...

ROW's "ScalePlate" Berkshires, etc., all had Pittman motors.  Were these 24-volt motors?  or custom 19-volt windings?  I'm pretty sure the Williams RS-555 motors were rated "up to 30 volts", which is why many folks feel that Williams brass runs too slow, especially if they stick a command control decoder between the motor and the track.

I guess what I'm curious about is:  Why did ROW develop a brand-new transformer that went up to 24 volts, while the revered Lionel ZW only went to 20 volts, and 24-volt transformers hadn't been made since the 1940s.  Don't get me wrong, I think it's a good thing.  LGB locos use a 24V standard, and I think Lionel left some performance on the table when they decided to limit their electronics to 19V maximum.

@Ted S posted:

@Lou N you might be able to answer another question for me...

ROW's "ScalePlate" Berkshires, etc., all had Pittman motors.  Were these 24-volt motors?  or custom 19-volt windings?  I'm pretty sure the Williams RS-555 motors were rated "up to 30 volts", which is why many folks feel that Williams brass runs too slow, especially if they stick a command control decoder between the motor and the track.

I guess what I'm curious about is:  Why did ROW develop a brand-new transformer that went up to 24 volts, while the revered Lionel ZW only went to 20 volts, and 24-volt transformers hadn't been made since the 1940s.  Don't get me wrong, I think it's a good thing.  LGB locos use a 24V standard, and I think Lionel left some performance on the table when they decided to limit their electronics to 19V maximum.

The Pittman motors were 7 pole, ball bearing end bells with samarium cobalt magnets and were 12Vdc.  I remember them costing nearly $60 each.

The transformer was a stock item from Signal Transformer.  A 20V output would have been a custom run and more $$$.  Besides, 30 years ago many old timers were running standard gauge layouts requiring 24Vac.

Lou N

Lou, thanks for the info on Neil's multiple ROW transformers. The one I bought had one side where someone added a piece of wood taped so as to indicate a maximum output.  I was tempted to leave that on there but decided to remove that.   In the group of items I won there were all sorts of items I assume were testing the waters for development of Lionel control systems.

@VistaDomeScott posted:

Lou, thanks for the info on Neil's multiple ROW transformers. The one I bought had one side where someone added a piece of wood taped so as to indicate a maximum output.  I was tempted to leave that on there but decided to remove that.   In the group of items I won there were all sorts of items I assume were testing the waters for development of Lionel control systems.

 

 

A quick story for you Scott.  Neil was in town for the CSNY2K concert.  Four of my co-workers had tickets and when they gathered in the hall I said:  I saw Neil last night.  I was asked: how was the concert?  I told them..what concert?  I was down at the Ritz talking trains.

Lou N