Richard,
We need a little more info please. By Lima, do you mean Rivarossi or Con-Cor or Austrian Rapido? We are talking N scale here I assume.
Neville has a lot of resources and I have a few, but we need a more deifinitve description.
Once you give us the info, I;m sure we can help.
The CodFadda B-) :x
Unfortunately, I believe Richard is looking for parts for an engine that was formerly manufactured by the Italian manufacturer Lima, which was acquired by Rivarossi, and eventually sold to Hornby International, on December 16, 2004.
http://www.hornby.com/hornbyinternational/
Lima parts have always scarce, even when the firm was still located in Italy.
Presently, I am unaware of any viable source for Lima replacement parts.
Neville Wilson
Southwest FL
Richard,
While we wait for your answer, I looked here for Lima parts and drew a blank.
Your best bet might be to "kit-bash" one good loco from the parts you have.
Pete
Foreign models have motor specifications that are quite similar to North American models (i.e., they are typically 12 - 16 volt DC, often drawing less than an amp of power).
It is not the current that is different, it is the voltage.
Current is a measure (in amperage) of electrical flow, while voltage is a measure (in volts) of the force required to produce a circuit's electric current (the technical definition of voltage is rather convoluted).
Rather than the customary 110 - 120 volts AC* that is provided to North American households, foreign countries often supply their customers with 220 - 240 volts AC.
*Note: In North America, besides commercial applications, supplementary 220 - 240 volt AC connections are often provided for air conditioners, central heating, electric clothes dryers, and electric stoves.
DC motors incorporated in model trains need not be switched for use in different countries, as modelers typically connect transformers (i.e., power packs) to their layouts. Power packs contain a transformer and a rectifier. The transformer reduces the supply line AC voltage, while the rectifier converts AC into DC.
If a manufacturer utilized an AC motor to power a model (some vintage HO, S, and O-Scale models), only an appropriate transformer would be required.
Model railroaders need only acquire a power supply with an electrical input range (in volts and amps) that meets or exceeds the available power supplied at their location.
Neville Wilson
Southwest FL
Neville,
Not being the electrical whiz, will transformers purchased in the US to convert 110AC to 12V DC work in Europe or are there transformers "geared" differently to step down the 220 to 12V?
