Can one use a UCS Tubular track with Lion Chief Plus?

AC power is what you need for the UCS and just about all 3 rail O Gauge items. Some of the LionChief family come with the less capable small cost reduced DC power supplies which go against the over century of tradition and compatibility. Fortunately all LionChief equipment can run on AC power so the question boils down to your transformer.

@bmoran4 posted:

AC power is what you need for the UCS and just about all 3 rail O Gauge items. Some of the LionChief family come with the less capable small cost reduced DC power supplies which go against the over century of tradition and compatibility. Fortunately all LionChief equipment can run on AC power so the question boils down to your transformer.

He has the typical Lionel 18V DC power pack to power the tracks, but what I wanted to know is if there is a way to run the UCS tracks with a fixed voltage AC power supply in conjunction with it.  I was thinking of a doorbell transformer to be specific.  He has a Fastrack uncoupling track for his outer loop, but his inside loops have three sidings and I wanted to add in a postwar UCS in two of them.  The track power on both sidings can be switched on and off (Center rail switches).

Thanks,

John

Bottom line is you would probably be best served by decommissioning the less capable small cost reduced DC power supply and using an AC power supply in its place.  A CW-80 would get you there for a single loop of track and an accessory or two. A PS180 with or without the GW180 would give room for growth.

Also, don't overlook a serviced Postwar Transformer like an RW, LW, KW or others.

Doorbell transformers are such low current, they are unlikely to be capable of performing the task of operating all the features of the UCS.

An auxiliary power supply can be used by the UCS by powering the controller through the wire that would have instead gone to the 3rd terminal (Left to right) provided that you have common on the outside rail.

OK Thanks for the suggestion.  Any longevity issues running LC+ on AC vs DC?

John

The LionChief family does just fine with AC - it is designed for such.

@bmoran4 posted:

The LionChief family does just fine with AC - it is designed for such.

I would assume one just turns up the conventional transformer track power to max and then use the remote?  Is that correct?

John

16-18VAC; Be warned that some transformers go higher and don't forget that some transformers have a 5VAC boost on the horn/whistle control.