Subject:
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Re: 12V to 9V - why the switch
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Tue, 17 May 2005 17:45:03 GMT
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Viewed:
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1546 times
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In lugnet.trains, Jason J. Railton wrote:
> In lugnet.trains, Bryan Kinkel wrote:
> > Can someone explain why LEGO made the switch from 12V to 9V ?
> >
> > 1991 Netherlands
> > http://library.brickshelf.com/scans/catalogs/1991/c91nl/c91nl-30.html
> >
> > 1991 German
> > http://library.brickshelf.com/scans/catalogs/1991/c91de/c91de-30.html
<SNIP>
The text at the first bullet says that the possibilities have increased
due to the change to the Electric System of Lego.
Without automatic switches and signals the possibilities have more decreased
imho.
> > Was there any reaction in the LEGO community when this switch happened?
> Was there a Lego community in 1991?
>
> I can see a lot of advantages in the change:
>
> 1. Better pick-up of power through the wheels on the inner edge of the track.
> Sprung contacts like on 12V trains are prone to wear and spark damage.
>
> 2. One-piece track sections are cheaper to produce, and easier to stock and sell
> than multi-piece track with optional extra power rails.
Juniorization......
> 3. Unifying all Lego power systems (4.5V, 9V, 12V) to run at one voltage.
>
> 4. Better free-rolling wheels (this could have happened at any time, but the
> metal caps to the rails do help).
>
> I think it was all of these together that culminated in a completely fresh start
> for trains.
>
> I think the loss of cheap push-along and battery starter sets may have damaged
> take-up of Lego trains in the long term though.
I've heard that the main reason seemed to be governmental rules that
restricted toys not to be powered with more than 9 volts.
It has something to do with savety and so.
I don't know how much save 9 volt is in relation to 12 volt.
Back in the fifties and sixties there were even 20 volt powered toys.
Do other toy trains like Fleishmann Magic Train and Playmobil also use a maximum
of 9 volt? Or do these still use the standard of 12 volt as used in model
railroads?
Niels Karsdorp
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: 12V to 9V - why the switch
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| Speaking of switches, does anyone have any ideas or thoughts on why the lego switches/points are the shape they are? I know they changed shape from 4.5v to 9v but why did they pick the shape they did? Given the constraints of what TLC does and given (...) (20 years ago, 17-May-05, to lugnet.trains)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: 12V to 9V - why the switch
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| (...) Was there a Lego community in 1991? I can see a lot of advantages in the change: 1. Better pick-up of power through the wheels on the inner edge of the track. Sprung contacts like on 12V trains are prone to wear and spark damage. 2. One-piece (...) (20 years ago, 17-May-05, to lugnet.trains)
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