I just got the UK edition of a Harry Potter “Hogwarts Express” train set. The obvious problem is the transformer for the controller is 220 VAC and with a UK type plug.
So how do I get this to work? Just buy a travel voltage converter and use the supplied transformer? I thought it would be neater if I just bought a US transformer since they are cheap and common, but neither the transfomer nor the controller say what the polarity is supposed to be (the power it wants is 16 volts AC at 13VA). Anybody know what polarity Hornby controllers are, or could I find out if I took the transformer apart (it’s apparently meant to come apart, no doubt to replace fuses).
Do I need to double the VA rating to use a 110 volt transformer?
You might get a more knowledgable answer on the modelrailroader.com message boards. I think you should be able to just hook up a US transformer to your track, and the only thing affected by the polarity would be the direction the train moves. Most model train transformers have a switch so that you can reverse the polarity to have the train change direction – assuming that the train itself runs on direct current (DC) and not digital command control (DCC).
If it’s 16 V AC out, there’s no polarity you need to worry about. It’s AC, not DC.
Electric trains typically run on DC, hence the need for a transformer. There is a throttle to control the voltage and (typically) a switch to reverse the DC polarity, causing the train to switch direction. I’m assuming this is how the Hornby trains work as well.
The controller is supplied by the plug pack transformer at 16V AC. It seems any transformer that provides that could be used. It looks like Hornby USA sells a suitable transformer.
I meant to add that it should be rated for 13VA but the edit time out expired.
Kiwi’s right, it’s two seperate pieces, the transformer is a “wall wart” that outputs 16VAC, which plugs into a controller that converts it to 0-16+/-VDC. I have some American train controllers where the transformer and the voltage converter is in one box, but they list 0-18V DC, so I don’t think it’s a good idea just to use one of them. It is a standard DC train, not DCC. I guess I didn’t think of it that polarity of a non-centertapped AC transformer doesn’t matter as I’m used to thinking of things in terms of AC mains or low voltage DC, where you want to wire it a certain way or things blow up.
The US Hornby transformer seems a bit expensive for what it is, but I’ll probably end up just getting it since it already has the right connector and ratings, and I like it that it’s a “line lump” instead of a wall wart.
Even if you did need to be concerned about polarity, a simple multimeter would tell you what you needed to know. Or even an LED with a series resistor…
I do in fact have a multimeter. The problem was I have no way of plugging in the UK transformer to measure what it put out with respect to hot/neutral positive/negative whatever, and neither the transformer nor controller said anything about polarity.