Subject:
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Re: 12v Trains
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Fri, 31 Aug 2001 14:20:19 GMT
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Viewed:
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457 times
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This is a topic near to my heart -- I too decided to run 12v on my layout at
home. There are some challenges, but it is a lot of fun. On to your questions:
In lugnet.trains, Mark Williams writes:
> Since I decided to go the hard route and not go with 9v trains, how am I
> going to power them? (My primary reason for choosing 12v over 9v is the
> availability of remote points and accessories.) I believe Lego made a 12v
> transformer for 110 electricity but finding one will be a problem.
I've never seen a 110 transformer for 12v. But the 220 transformers can be
found fairly easily (on ebay, brickbay, wherever) and you can get a 110-220
step-up converter for use here in the US. These types of converters can be
found at radio shack and other electronics stores. Just make sure you get
the kind that steps-up to 220, for using European electronics here -- lots
of stores sell the step-down variety (220 to 110) for using US electronics
in Europe, but that's not the kind you need.
>
> Is it possible to use the 9v controller but substitute a 12v transformer? Or
> can I use a regular train transformer and forego the Lego controller? How do
> I power the electric points?
The 12v transformer and controller are the same unit, so you won't need any
9v controllers. (see: http://guide.lugnet.com/set/7864)
The points and other accessories plug into the controller, and then into
each other, daisy chain style. You can see an example of that in the 7777
idea book:
http://www.brickshelf.com/scans/7000/7777/7777-52.html
http://www.brickshelf.com/scans/7000/7777/7777-53.html
>
> On another note, I noticed that Lego Shop at Home for Denmark and Germany
> carries 12v conductor rails. I thought these were discontinued.
They aren't making any new ones, that's for sure. But occasionally an old
supply will turn up. These parts were made for what, ten years or more? So
there's a lot of them floating around Europe to be had.
> Only one style is listed and it doesn't state whether it is for straight or > curvedtrack. Will these rails fit on 9v track?
I haven't checked the Shop at Home for Denmark and Germany, but I'm assuming
they would be one of these numbers:
7854 -- for straight track
7855 -- for curved track
And Lugnet has a listing of all the 12v track sets:
http://guide.lugnet.com/set/?qc=lego/system/trains/12v/accessorytrack
Note that there is a special track section required that connects to the
transformer. Some (all?) 12v sets came with these sections... but if you
just get a large lot of track somewhere, you may not be able to hook it up
to your transformer.
Also, the straights will fit into 9v track, but the curves will not. So you
really have to go with the old 12v outside rails for your whole layout...
Your best bet may be to hunt on Ebay for a while and buy a large lot from
someone in Europe... there are people selling bulk lots of 12v track a
couple times a month there, it seems.
Part of the challenge on fun of 12v is finding what you need. You have to
enjoy the hunt -- it's not as easy as calling shop at home and getting 9v
items (although a couple of the Lego outlet stores -- in Georgia and
Virginia -- have both turned up limited supplies of right-handed 12v points.
not sure if they have any left, but I know there are some resellers of them
on brickbay).
So enjoy the hunt, and enjoy the 12v. It really does make operating the
trains a lot of fun.
-Greg
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: 12v Trains
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| (...) Radio Shack has a nice stepup transformer which is basically a wall wart. The only unfortunate thing about it is that it only has one euro plug, but I think it does have enough capacity to run two controllers. It was a bit pricy ($32 or so). (...) (23 years ago, 31-Aug-01, to lugnet.trains)
| | | Re: 12v Trains
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| (...) I took your advice and bought a 12v transformer. I won an auction on ebay for the transformer, over 60 pieces of straight and curved track, right and left remote points, a crossover, 2 grade crossings, a 12v motor, and a few other (...) (23 years ago, 2-Sep-01, to lugnet.trains)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | 12v Trains
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| Since I decided to go the hard route and not go with 9v trains, how am I going to power them? (My primary reason for choosing 12v over 9v is the availability of remote points and accessories.) I believe Lego made a 12v transformer for 110 (...) (23 years ago, 31-Aug-01, to lugnet.trains)
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