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Lionel 1033 transformer repair and troubleshooting

Dave Farquhar Toy trains December 31, 2015March 27, 2023amps, lionel, troubleshooting

As I’ve written before, Lionel 1033 transformers are well regarded because they’re reasonably high wattage (90 watts), very readily available, relatively inexpensive and pretty dependable. They really only have one design flaw: the circuit breaker. Here’s how I approach Lionel 1033 transformer repair.

The circuit breaker in my 1033 went bad a couple of years ago. I finally got around to replacing it.

Dave Farquhar

David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He has written professionally about computers since 1991, so he was writing about retro computers when they were still new. He has been working in IT professionally since 1994 and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He holds Security+ and CISSP certifications. Today he blogs five times a week, mostly about retro computers and retro gaming covering the time period from 1975 to 2000.

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How to replace an AC power cord

Dave Farquhar DIY December 17, 2015September 2, 2017amperage, amps, power cord, tin

A damaged power cord doesn’t have to mean the end of life for a tool or appliance. Power cords are usually replaceable with simple tools and minimal expense. Here’s how to replace an AC power cord.

If you can open up the device, do this. Open it up, snip the bad cord off, tie a knot in the replacement cord and splice it onto the remainder of the old cord.

If you can’t open the device, do this instead. Snip the cord off above the defect, splice the replacement cord onto what’s left and insulate it well with heat-shrink tubing.

Here’s how.

Dave Farquhar

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Using a computer power cord on a garbage disposal

Dave Farquhar DIY, Landlording November 10, 2015November 1, 2017amperage, amps, home improvement, hp, InSinkErator, power cord, red wire

When I replace garbage disposals, I prefer to use a power cord rather than hardwire them straight into the wall. The thing is, I don’t like paying $12 for the official power cord, which is chintzy looking and, frankly, looks under spec’ed. Instead, I prefer to use a computer power cord on a garbage disposal.

The label on a 1/3 HP Insinkerator Badger says it’s rated for 5.8 amps at 125 volts. I found a computer power cord in my stash that was rated for 10 amps at 125 volts. It’s overkill, but when it comes to electricity, overkill is good. Best of all, it let me repurpose something I’d already paid for and was probably never going to use.

Dave Farquhar

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My garbage disposal adventure

Dave Farquhar Landlording October 2, 2015November 19, 2018amps, Emerson Electric, hardware store, InSinkErator, leaks, PFTE, Plumbing, PVC, Waste King

Changing a worn-out garbage disposal can be a 10-minute job–assuming you anticipate everything, use the same brand as the old one, you know what you’re doing, and the person who installed the old one was at least as competent as you.

It didn’t quite work out for me like that the last time.

Dave Farquhar

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Install an outlet for an above range microwave

Dave Farquhar DIY September 5, 2013July 25, 2017amps, PVC

We have a house with an above range microwave, but no nearby outlet to plug it into. The previous owners simply ran an extension cord. While I’m not 100% positive this is illegal to do in my locality, the safety is questionable and it certainly goes against the manufacturer’s recommendations. My home inspector wanted me to install an outlet. Here’s how to install an outlet for an above range microwave.

Better yet, I did it over the drywall without tearing into any walls, and spending less than $20.

Dave Farquhar

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Another month, another go-to LED bulb

Dave Farquhar Saving money May 28, 2013August 18, 2013amps, CFL, cfls, costco, home depot, incandescent bulbs, led bulbs, lumen, lumens, lumens per watt

LED lighting seems to change constantly. I read about Cree’s LED bulbs a good 12-18 months ago and they sounded too good to be true. In a way, they were, because you couldn’t buy them anywhere. The wait is finally over–they’re finally available, though only at Home Depot. I tried out their 800-lumen (60W equivalent), 2700K, 9.5W bulb, which currently costs about $13. It’s a good bulb that lives up to the hype.

Dave Farquhar

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Using a Lionel (or other brand) O or O27 transformer with HO or N scale trains

Dave Farquhar model railroading November 29, 2012August 10, 2016american flyer, amps, HO, lionel, marx, n scale, o gauge, o27, radio shack

Here’s a good question: Can you use Lionel O or O27 transformers (or, for that matter, American Flyer S transformers) with HO or N scale trains?

The answer is, not directly. It will make a terrible noise if you hook it up. But you can make it work properly if you add a bridge rectifier. Look for one that’s 10 amps or more; don’t expect to have to pay more than a couple of dollars for one. Read more

Dave Farquhar

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Dave vs. Mmm-Bop

Dave Farquhar Music, Personal, St. Louis, War Stories June 21, 2012June 21, 2012amps, Backstreet Boys, Crestwood Plaza, Lou Reed, summertime

NPR recently released its Songs of the Summer, which invokes memories of summers past by conjuring up (or dredging up, in some cases) songs you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing. Songs like “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley (2006), or “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira (also 2006). Or the bane of 1991, the unforgettable “Summertime” by the equally unforgettable DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.

In 1997, one of the songs of the summer was “MMMBop” by boy-band Hanson. And mercifully, I avoided hearing it. I remember the summer of 1997. While everyone else was listening to that, I was listening to aging bands like The Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen, and that habit saved me. I managed to make it until 2004 without hearing that boy-band staple. It’s an achievement I’m proud of. Read more

Dave Farquhar

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Measuring the voltage and amperage of your train transformer’s output

Dave Farquhar Toy trains April 17, 2012December 13, 2021american flyer, amperage, amps, electric trains, lionel, marx, o gauge, postwar lionel, Prewar Lionel, Standard Gauge, toy train

Sometimes you want to know how many volts your train transformer is feeding your trains, in order to avoid damaging the motors. And it’s also helpful to know how many amps you’re pulling from your electric train transformer, so you don’t damage the transformer.

Dave Farquhar

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What you need to know to safely replace or substitute AC adapters

Dave Farquhar Hardware November 18, 2010April 11, 2017amperage, amps, Batteries Plus, radio shack, wall wart

AC adapters inevitably break or get lost. That means you have to replace them to get your devices working again. But a lot of people don’t know how to do that safely. Here’s what you need to know when you need to substitute AC adapters.

This is important. Getting it wrong can damage your equipment, the adapter, or both. The damage can be immediate, or it can appear over time.

The specifications for your AC adapter (also not affectionately known as wall warts or power bricks) should be printed on the old one, and hopefully on the device too. If you lost the adapter and the specs aren’t on the device, try a web search on “ac adapter specifications” and the name of the product.

It used to be you could take the device to Radio Shack, and $25 and five minutes later you had a good replacement. Today you might try Batteries Plus for a similar experience. But if you’re willing to do the legwork yourself, often you can find a close-enough match for closer to $10.

So, with all that said, here are the handful of things you need to know when you’re shopping for an AC adapter. The specifications don’t have to match exactly, but you have to know when you can cheat and when you can’t. Read more

Dave Farquhar

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