Technic Powered Up hubs 88012 new going cheap on UK eBay

[idlemarvel]

Currently new offered for £21.99 + £2.89 postage for UK buyers, see here

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233609481151

Even less if you buy more than one.  RRP is £69.99.

I have no connection with this seller.  There are other sellers with similar prices.

I bought one just to make sure and it is the genuine article, sealed bag, put batteries in, connected it to powered up app, it upgraded itself and then ready to go.  I tested it with lights and train motor no problems.  I think they are a bit big for a loco unless you build 8 or 10 wide, but for a ground mounted hub for light signals and point motors this is great value as it has 4 ports (and built in sensors).

[Lok24]

Hi,

that's not really cheap, Bricklink has a dozen about 13 GBP, in EU you find a lot of them in the range of 15-20 €

 

Edited February 19, 2022 by Lok24

[idlemarvel]

1 hour ago, Lok24 said:

Hi,

that's not really cheap, Bricklink has a dozen about 13 GBP, in EU you find a lot of them in the range of 15-20 €

 

Thanks @Lok24 This was really aimed at UK buyers.  I could only find one seller on Bricklink, in CZ, selling for nearly 20 GBP. None of other sellers were in UK, and their prices were 27 GBP upwards, and you have the potential headache of shipping and import taxes.  I'm sure there are more choices in the EU, unfortunately we (UK) left.

[Lok24]

@idlemarvel

I just recognized that your post ist about the LEGO Set 88012, this is more expensive, you're right.

But why buy the "Set"? Via Bricklink you can easily buy  the content of this "set", which is exactly one piece, the hub.

The number is bb0961c01

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=bb0961c01&idColor=86#T=S&C=86&O={"color":86,"loc":"UK","iconly":0}

Edited February 20, 2022 by Lok24

[idlemarvel]

6 hours ago, Lok24 said:

@idlemarvel

I just recognized that your post ist about the LEGO Set 88012, this is more expensive, you're right.

But why buy the "Set"? Via Bricklink you can easily buy  the content of this "set", which is exactly one piece, the hub.

The number is bb0961c01

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=bb0961c01&idColor=86#T=S&C=86&O={"color":86,"loc":"UK","iconly":0}

Well that is weird, thanks @Lok24 I was just going by the Lego shop item number.

https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/technic-hub-88012

As a newcomer to all this, how do you get to know that 88012 is a set not a part?  Or will you have to shoot me if you tell me?

Is there an equivalent part number for the standard hub 88009?

Thanks

[Lok24]

Hi,

if you serach for 88012 you always see the word "Set" in the links etc.
So: concerning to BL it is not a "part"

"Yes" for 88009, but it's not that cheap ;-)

- Search for 88009
- the result is
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=88009-1&name=Hub&category=[Power Functions][Powered Up]#T=S&O={"iconly":0}

- click on
"Item Consists Of
1 Part"

and you will see:
https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=88009-1

and there is the BL number as a link
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=bb0892c01&idColor=1#T=C&C=1
 

It's the same as for any other "normal" Set

 

 

Edited February 20, 2022 by Lok24

[idlemarvel]

12 minutes ago, Lok24 said:

Hi,

if you serach for 88012 you always see the word "Set" in the links etc.
So: concerning to BL it is not a "part"

"Yes" for 88009, but it's not that cheap ;-)

- Search for 88009
- the result is
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=88009-1&name=Hub&category=[Power Functions][Powered Up]#T=S&O={"iconly":0}

- click on
"Item Consists Of
1 Part"

and you will see:
https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=88009-1

and there is the BL number as a link
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=bb0892c01&idColor=1#T=C&C=1
 

It's the same as for any other "normal" Set

 

 

Thanks for the explanation @Lok24 and you didn't have to shoot me!  :-)

Using that number bb0892c01 there is a new one from a UK seller for 23.50 GBP which is half the Lego RRP of 44.99 GBP which is pretty good saving!  If I'd known about this a few weeks ago I could have saved myself about 100 GBP.  Lesson learned.

[Lok24]

But 23,5 for 2 ports compared to 13 for the technic hub with 4 ports !
by the way: looking for motors or remote control or sensors its all the same......

 

 

 

Edited February 20, 2022 by Lok24

[idlemarvel]

8 minutes ago, Lok24 said:

But 23,5 for 2 ports compared to 13 for the technic hub with 4 ports !
by the way: looking for motors or remote control or sensors its all the same......

 

 

 

Thanks, and good point.  I think trying to fit a technic hub in a 6-wide train would be a challenge, but it would be very useful for directional lighting and two motors etc. 

[Ts__]

2 hours ago, idlemarvel said:

Thanks, and good point.  I think trying to fit a technic hub in a 6-wide train would be a challenge, but it would be very useful for directional lighting and two motors etc. 

Good luck, in 6w that sounds like a challenge! Hub is 5w wide, so left/right space only for plates/tiles. So will be slightly wider than 6w.

4 ports on the hub are of course great, I also have a locomotive under construction with Technic hub and 2 motors + light front/rear. But I build in 8w, so more space.

Also note the height of the hub.

Thomas

[Selander]

I've also built a locomotive with 88012. It's a Swedish class RC locomotive in 8-wide, about 34 studs long, with 2* train motors and LED lights. All is controlled by a custom program in the Lego PuP app. There it is easy to reverse direction of one of the train motors.

88012 has indeed a bulky format, so that becomes a bit of a challenge. Here I positioned 88012 approx 2 studs below the "base" (heightwise) and tried to disguise the lower section as undercarriage details with a bit of striping. 

4 channels and AA batteries with more "juice", are really big advantages, compared to the smaller 2 ch hub.

 

 

 

Edited February 20, 2022 by Selander
Added info and text

[idlemarvel]

Nicely done @Selander

[Tube Map Central]

Even taking account of the fact that eBay sellers often (but not always) offer 'free' delivery, and Bricklink sellers often (but not always) add a load of hidden costs at the checkout, I find it very rare to find reasonable prices on eBay. There is a PhD on the economics of buying and selling Lego parts waiting to be done.

[ivanlan9]

@Selander, your RC is charming!  Love it!

[zephyr1934]

On 2/20/2022 at 3:26 PM, Selander said:

4 channels and AA batteries with more "juice", are really big advantages, compared to the smaller 2 ch hub.

Exactly that, the AA batteries make a huge difference in performance. If you have the space the choice is obvious to go with cheaper and more powerful option.

[Bodgerx]

On 2/20/2022 at 8:26 PM, Selander said:

I've also built a locomotive with 88012. It's a Swedish class RC locomotive in 8-wide, about 34 studs long, with 2* train motors and LED lights. All is controlled by a custom program in the Lego PuP app. There it is easy to reverse direction of one of the train motors.

88012 has indeed a bulky format, so that becomes a bit of a challenge. Here I positioned 88012 approx 2 studs below the "base" (heightwise) and tried to disguise the lower section as undercarriage details with a bit of striping. 

4 channels and AA batteries with more "juice", are really big advantages, compared to the smaller 2 ch hub.

 

 

 

Hi do you have any further details on the build - parts list etc? Thanks

[Selander]

6 hours ago, Bodgerx said:

Hi do you have any further details on the build - parts list etc? Thanks

No I never provide any instructions, but I could let you buy a locomotive. Otherwise, study pictures and use your creativity.