HY GUYS [:)]
awhile back i asked a qustion about blowing whistle on one of the older 250watt zw tranformer with only two buttons . I an change my track too three loops . I looked at a old gilbert repair book showing a horn addon button 1.5 volts [:)]got to thinking about it .I checked the votage of the track with the train running and got a 2 volt jump of dc volt on track pushing button . then i tried a 9 volt battery to a track lockon and it work real good blowing the horn better than volt fron the trans button . I plan to hook up more buttons around the track for the grand kids to push . when i run the train for them
[:D] out for now Model a
Model A,
The method you described should work but I think that a 9volt battery is a little high in volts, try using a D cell battery or two taped together. Also you can buy whistle buttons that Lionel made or makes for under $12.00.
Lee F.
Lionel actually made a whistle activator that used a single D cell, so that should be plenty. All it really needs is enough for the relay to recognise it and close, then just enough to keep the relay closed. According to my repair manual, the 1033 and related transformers ahd an initial(pick-up) voltage of 1.4 volts, and most transformers had a sustained voltage of .8 volts or so.