I did a boneheaded thing with my n scale locos

So my son just turned five and loves my collection of N scale locos.
He has a Lionel Polar Express Train Set.
He was excited so since I don't have any N scale power supplies, I hooked up my test track to the lionel pack.
The trains didn't move, but they did light up and the motors did turn.
If I hit the whistle button on the pack the engines crept along.
No smoke or smelling coming from the N scale locos.
I realized afterwards that Lionel is AC and N scale is DC.

Did I nuke my locos?
My new powersupply won't be here until next week, ugh!

Shouldn't have bothered it, given the results you mentioned. Until the new power pack arrives, use a battery to check things out.

Thanks for the response.
Never thought of a battery.

I think what the Train expreinced would be tantimount to you fliping the reverser a few thousand times a second.

Kamen Rider wrote:I think what the Train expreinced would be tantimount to you fliping the reverser a few thousand times a second.

So probably no damage?

As long as the voltage of the lionel pack wasn't significantly higher than the N-scale motors are designed to handle, you should be fine. N-scale typically runs at a maximum of 12 volts, check to see what voltage your Lionel transformer puts out (look up the model number online and find the specs or look in the manual if you have it, it might even say it on the unit itself).

RedLantern wrote:As long as the voltage of the lionel pack wasn't significantly higher than the N-scale motors are designed to handle, you should be fine. N-scale typically runs at a maximum of 12 volts, check to see what voltage your Lionel transformer puts out (look up the model number online and find the specs or look in the manual if you have it, it might even say it on the unit itself).

Yeah I am a bit screwed...its the Lionel 80w which is 18 volts.

http://www.lionel.com/Products/Findex.cfm

send the unit back to the company that made it tell them it was defective and they should replace it for free. Don't tell them what you did to it or they won't replace it.

scharnhorst wrote:send the unit back to the company that made it tell them it was defective and they should replace it for free. Don't tell them what you did to it or they won't replace it.

they are 9 yrs old and one I got off of ebay....I think I should be ok....it was seconds not minutes

oh ok did not know that. still I would think that the mfg of them locos might still have some sort of a repair progam for them if there was any damage.

If you just connect the track wires to a 9v battery, you wont have speed control, but the trains WILL run!

scharnhorst wrote:send the unit back to the company that made it tell them it was defective and they should replace it for free. Don't tell them what you did to it or they won't replace it.

Now that's not very ethical