Common household items that puts out 15 to 20 volts AC, 4-5 amps?

[Monkeyleg]

For most of this year I've been trying to get an old (1956) model train to work so I can get rid of it on Ebay. I need a power source that puts out 15 to 20 volts AC at 4-5 amps. I don't want to spend money on a transformer, as I'll just have to sell that on Ebay as well.

I can't think of any household device that would have that sort of output. Can you?

[mtnbkr]

laptop.

Missed the AC requirement.

Chris

[KD5NRH]

Borrow from a local train enthusiast?  Might be a better way to sell, too.

[Angel Eyes]

Any local model train shops?  They may have a suitable test track.

[Firethorn]

laptop.

Chris

laptops are DC, not AC.

I'm thinking some really old answering machines were powered by AC.  Door Bell and HVAC systems tend to use 16VAC.  Of course, that's generally at less than 1A, not 4-5A. 

[mtnbkr]

laptops are DC, not AC.

Sorry, missed the AC requirement.

Chris

[charby]

laptops are DC, not AC.

I'm thinking some really old answering machines were powered by AC.  Door Bell and HVAC systems tend to use 16VAC.  Of course, that's generally at less than 1A, not 4-5A. 

If it is an American Flyer train some were meant to run on AC.

[charby]

For most of this year I've been trying to get an old (1956) model train to work so I can get rid of it on Ebay. I need a power source that puts out 15 to 20 volts AC at 4-5 amps. I don't want to spend money on a transformer, as I'll just have to sell that on Ebay as well.

I can't think of any household device that would have that sort of output. Can you?

What is this train? I have an American Flyer Transformer.

[KD5NRH]

laptops are DC, not AC.

Swap the wires really fast.

[230RN]

....

[Nick1911]

That's hard.  4-5 amps is quite a bit, and most crap we tend to use takes DC input.

How about this - take the cover off a 10A car battery charger, and pull power off the input side of the rectifier?  Voltage might end up being a little on the low side, but it'd be safe and convenient.

Otherwise - (and I don't recommend this) You might be able to set up a simple voltage divider using a number light bulbs, BUT light bulbs don't have a constant resistance (they have a strongly positive temperature to resistance coefficient).  That makes calculations difficult, you'd have to experiment with different combinations.  Also, it would be unregulated - which means that the output voltage would fluctuate with current draw; and it would not provide any electrical isolation.

The other disadvantage is you'd be sinking a LOT of heat, if you needed 15V@5A, coming from 125V, you would need to sink 550 watts.

I wouldn't recommend dicking with it, but doable.

[Monkeyleg]

It is for an American Flyer. I'm just looking to test the motor and the reverse switch ("e-unit"). A member of a train forum recommended I go AC.

[Scout26]

Just sell it and say it works.  Everyone else on E-bay does that.

[charby]

It is for an American Flyer. I'm just looking to test the motor and the reverse switch ("e-unit"). A member of a train forum recommended I go AC.

Is it just a locomotive? Which one and how much do you really want for it?

[Monkeyleg]

It's the locomotive and tender. I got it for my birthday in 1956. I haven't run it in probably 20 years, until a few months ago.

I needed to get some new wheels for the rear truck, and a new front truck. Now I have those, as well as new fingers for the e-unit.

My problem may be that I'm not jumping it right. I was going negative terminal of the laptop power supply to the left commutator brush, and a jumper off that to the right field winding. I had a jumper from the positive terminal of the power supply to the right commutator brush, and a jumper from there to the left field winding. A guy on a train forum said it should be jumpered as shown below, which I could swear is not what I had last time.

As for price, I was hoping to get $100 with it running.

[RocketMan]

How about buying an American Flyer or other AC train transformer on eBay?  There's a bunch for less than $20.

[Monkeyleg]

How about buying an American Flyer or other AC train transformer on eBay?  There's a bunch for less than $20.

I thought about that. I already bought about $30 to $40 in parts for something I hope will fetch $100. That wasn't real smart. I doubt I'd recoup the full cost of the transformer.

This whole thing is goofy. I've put several hours into this. I should have just sold it for parts and be done with it.

I'm such a wheeler-dealer.

[Scout26]

Uh, Dick.  If it's a 1956 in fairly decent shape you can get far more then $100.  It's been a few years, but back when Robert was about 7 we went to the local fairgrounds to the "Train Show".  Prices then were crazy stupid. Thousands of dollars for engines.  Current ones.  Hundreds of dollars for cars.   Not sure if prices have held up, but yours should be worth more then $100.   

P.S.  Send it to Charby and let him test it for you.  He might give you a good price for it.

[charby]

Uh, Dick.  If it's a 1956 in fairly decent shape you can get far more then $100.  It's been a few years, but back when Robert was about 7 we went to the local fairgrounds to the "Train Show".  Prices then were crazy stupid. Thousands of dollars for engines.  Current ones.  Hundreds of dollars for cars.   Not sure if prices have held up, but yours should be worth more then $100.   

P.S.  Send it to Charby and let him test it for you.  He might give you a good price for it.

I only paid $20 for my last AF running locomotive from the same era on ebay. It is a 302 4-4-2 Atlantic from the late 40's IIRC.

[Monkeyleg]

The 293's like mine I've seen sell on Ebay for $80 to $130 or so, depending upon condition. That's with everything working.

I guess I just don't like to sell something that doesn't work.

[zxcvbob]

Will it run off a car battery?

Other than that, the only common household object I can think of that runs off 16V at several amps is a Dalek.  (you don't have one of them handy, an original and not a toy, do you?)

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[charby]

The 293's like mine I've seen sell on Ebay for $80 to $130 or so, depending upon condition. That's with everything working.

I guess I just don't like to sell something that doesn't work.

yeah that is the next size up from the 302 and they do bring a lot more money, but condition is everything.

[Monkeyleg]

yeah that is the next size up from the 302 and they do bring a lot more money, but condition is everything.

Yeah, and mine is in pretty good condition considering it was given to a 6 year-old 58 years ago. It has some scratches and some worn spots on the finish, but it's pretty decent.

When I lived with two buddies in a flat, we had for a coffee table one of those wooden spools the electric company uses for cable. I set the train up around it, and we'd lie on the floor, pour shots of tequila, put them in one of the cars and send them to each other. It was a fun way to get blasted.