Problems Lionel or MTH operating on a 50Hz supply?

I am in England. I have been running both old and new Lionel and MTH on 50Hz for nearly 10 years with no problem. I guess it depends on how long you might run your trains - if your looking at 4+ hours straight then there might be an issue

Thanks Mike.  That helps.

I am in Netherlands and running Lionel (pre-war/postwar and newer), MTH, Williams and Weaver for more than 30 years on 50Hz using Lionel ZW, KW and lately MTH Z4000, all connected via a 220 to 110 voltage (but no Hz) transformer. No problems at all, but I had once a problem using a Lionel modern electronic transformer which I assumed had something to do with 50/60Hz.

Regards

Fred

I haven't had a problem running Flyer S over here either for both original open frame and later can motors.

I also use original transformers for 110V with a step down transformer and I also have some Flyer transformers actually built for 220-240V working. The only thing I will say about the transformers is that they can get a bit warm from extended use, but then I have operated many of them for about eight hours continuous use without issue.

The only problem there has been for running some later Lionel products is to do with sound systems. I can't remember now but it was a common issue for O and S locomotives that the sounds would not function correctly on 50 Hz, but Lionel did address this issue probably about eight years ago at a guess, I'm sure someone will be able to give the actual year if this is important to you

Thanks Fred,

110v is the distribution feed into the schools.  I have a couple of MTH 1000 transformers I am not using anymore.  I will bring those as well.  Jamaica is converting to IEEE standards from IEC so things are very close to US standards just the 50Hz affect on the motors was my concern.  Some of the small appliances I brought with me burned up pretty fast on 50Hz.  SO I didn't want to bring all that down only to have it burn out in a few months.

The MTH Z1000's say 60 Hz operation only on the MTH website.

I was thinking I had seen 50-60 Hz operation range on something from MTH, but I can't find it now. I did see the note about 60 Hz only on the Z1000's at the link.

Meadmaker posted:

...

There are a lot of these little kids that are fascinated by trains as I have let them watch videos on my laptop while working on a school or other project.  I was wanting to take a couple RTR sets to Jamaica for the little kids in a couple of schools to play with.

...

 

I wonder if that's because they've never actually seen a train!   According to Wikipedia, there are no operating public railroads in Jamaica...only some private short lines for freight.

If you're talking a RTR set then those will have DC motors inside.  The first thing the electronics in the engines do is convert the track AC (50 Hz, 60 Hz, whatever) to DC before applying it to the motor.  Hence, as I see it, the AC track voltage frequency is not an issue.

Not to stir up the pot, but both Lionel and MTH have sets that can operate on DC track voltage using wireless remotes.  So for a simple loop for kids where it's unlikely to be expanded into a "layout", I wonder if DC is worth a look.  You can get 90 Watt DC-output laptop chargers for $10 that operate over the full 110/220V 50/60Hz input.  I don't know if this is one of those "use it till it breaks" situations but in terms of replacement costs and shipping to Jamaica, I'm imagining lightweight remote control electronics and compact DC-output bricks (vs. heavy/bulky AC-output transformers and controllers).

What voltage do these lap top chargers put out and how will you control the voltage?

The "universal" chargers have a voltage selector slide switch - range typically from 12V to 24V.  Again, these are fixed voltage DC output so would be suitable for newer MTH and Lionel RTR sets which use wireless command-control via remote to a fixed voltage track.

Don't take any Lionel Trainsounds equipped engines.  Trainsounds malfunctions on 50Hz. 

Be very careful if you take a CW-80 or related transformer. The early ones before 2008 malfunction on 50Hz.

Check the base of the transformer has a little sticker the reads "QC50-OK" this is the updated 50Hz compatible version.

There are some frequency issues with certain TMCC items from around 2000-2004 era. Basicly certain board versions.

Legacy stuff should be ok apart from the first scale Big Boy that needs a mod to the smoke unit for 50Hz use. 

I say "should" as after experiencing some problems with a couple of my TMCC  engines I run my layout on 60Hz from a pure sine wave inverter. Probably overkill but it eliminates a possible problem.

Never had or heard of frequency problems with any MTH stuff. For example Z4000 works fine on 50Hz. DCS has a option in the settings to select the power frequency you are using.

The new DC Lionchief is a very smart move by Lionel as it totally eliminates any possibility of frequency issues. Apart from maybe the wall wart. Not tried running one on 50Hz yet myself. I think some of the units that shipped with Thomas sets were 100-240V 50/60Hz so they would run fine even here in the U.K. without a step down transformer. They just required a plug adaptor.

hope that helps

Nick

I saw a couple of low power 40VA 50/60 Hz K-Line Train Transformers on eBay.

Thanks all.

Lots of good information. I will certainly make not of all of it before I make up a couple sets to bring down to the kids.

You can't buy train sets down there.  They are not even sold.  You are correct that only the sugar cane industry and bauxite mines use rail anymore and those are small, antiquated diesel switchers.

Throughout the early 1800s into the 1960s, however, Jamaica surprisingly had a very sophisticated and island wide rail system for both freight and passenger service.  This was of British design and operation but had numerous American locomotives in service.  Being more for abandonment in place, rather than removal and remediation, the island is still a lacework of tracks and old freight platforms and tiny stations, you stumble across them in some of the most unlikely places far from today's population centers and in midst of what they term the "bush".

There are old photos of the sugar cane trains in some of the hotels and at both Wray and Nephew and Appleton Estate plantation distillery.  One young man working there attempted to create a module of the Appleton Estate plantation sugar cane train (HO) in the lobby of the visitor center.  Pretty good scenery modeling, but the use of the SP GS-2 in daylight special as his locomotive was..."creative", yes, that's a good word.  (he picked it up on a trip to the US at a train swap meet, because he like the color scheme best)   ; )

Enthusiasm does count for much in any endeavor.

Nick - good point about Trainsounds I had forgotten about that. Dont have any TS engines for that very reason!!

MIKE

Is it a pure sine wave supply?  That's another issue with running MTH stuff.  After watching This Old House do a net zero home with solar panels running a inverter powering the house.  I was wondering if trains would run with that less than perfect AC supplying the house.