Most forumites probably know that Lionel made various special transformers for the electricity supplies in different parts of the world that have frequencies and/or voltages different than our 120V 60 hz.
Just as a curiosity …
On eBay now is a ZW 220 – a ZW designed for 50-60 Hz 220V input. I was aware of the existence of this model only because Greenberg’s guide to Lionel paper (published twenty or so years ago and now out-of-print) includes a list of instruction sheets collectors have found over the years, and a sheet for the ZW220 is listed. I came across a Z220 at a train show ten or twelve years ago, but I’ve never seen a ZW220 until now. This one, BTW, is in Lima, Peru. (Shipping will be substantial.)
It looks exactly like a regular ZW, but with the wording “220 VOLTS – 50-60 CYCLES – 275 WATTS – FOR ALTERNATING CURRENT ONLY” where the “115 VOLTS, etc.,” goes on the U.S. model. And it has an ordinary U.S.-style plug, which surprises me a bit – I would have thought that a different configuration (round prongs or whatever) would have been used in another part of the world with different power characteristics.
This has to be a VERY limited production item - handmade 1 at a time perhaps? I wonder how many were built from 1950 to 1966.
This is a Q for Bob Nelson… the windings ratio obviously has to be changed by a factor of two… 1)how are the laminations(# & thickness) changed for a 220v ZW, & 2)how much trouble is it to make a production run change for such adjustments?
From the limited dates in the service manuals, it looks like maybe only one run of each type(RWM, ,RX, ZW220, etc.) were made to supply several years of exports.
Rob, just changing the primary voltage should not require anything but using more turns of smaller wire. The real problem comes with the change in frequency. The VW is rated for 50 to 60 hertz, while the regular ZW is pointed rated for 60 hertz only. Lowering the frequency increases the saturation of the core, increasing the magnetization current and creating more heat. Lionel probably felt that they could build the VW transformer a little larger so that it could take 50 hertz. But, for the ZW, they pushed the design right to the limit. Therefore, a 50-hertz ZW would (should!) have a larger transformer inside than a 60-hertz ZW.
This same consideration of being designed right to the edge means that the larger pre- and postwar transformers, like the Z and ZW, will run a lot cooler at the voltages that they were built for, which were lower than modern utilization voltages.
I have an old Marklin 20 volt transformer that is for 220 50/60 Hz it has the round pin type plugs that are used in many European countries. The one you have with the flat prongs indentical to the US is used in quite a few countries…most of them use 220! I was wodering what I would need to do to use this Marklin transformer here…my onlt thought was to use a step up transformer. It would be nice to use for my gauge 1 loco.
If you have a 220 volt 50/60 cycle transformer you could use it in the U.S. on a 240 volt circuit, make sure it can handle 60 hertz, but you would need to add overcurrent protection for the transformer as most 240 volt circuits start at 20 amps and if there were an electrical short you might burn up stuff without proper circuit protection. The only household circuit that normally has 240 volts is an electric dryer, usually 20 or 30 amps, but be careful.
One thing to note about U.S voltages; while most people say that they have a 110 volt appliance or circuit it actually has between 118 volts to 126 volts, depending on time of day-electric demand. Also the U.S.A. uses 240 volts and not 220 volts anymore for residential work; a 240 volt circuit can have between 238 & 248 volts and that is normal for the U.S. power companies. There are other voltages that are used in commercial and industrial work but would be cost prohibitive to the residential customer.
A 50-hertz transformer can almost certainly handle 60 hertz. One rated at 220 volts, 50 hertz should work up to 264 volts at 60 hertz; so it will really be loafing (and cool) at 240.
Circuits for window-mounted air conditioners are common, using NEMA 6-15R receptacles, which have their blades in a straight line. These are required to be protected at 15 amperes, unlike multiple-outlet 120-volt circuits which, in the US, may have 15-ampere 1-15R or 5-15R receptacles on a 20-ampere circuit.
Other common 240-volt uses are electric ranges, water heaters, furnaces, and central air conditioners.
Thanks for the info Lee & Bob! Now I just have to find a 240v outlet! The old Marklin trains are rated at 20 volts…that’s why most of my other transformers don’t have quite enough “kick”. All of the older locos usually have a brass plate on the cab that says 20 volt.
