Lionchief set power pack

If you make the right track connections(power drops/feeds) you should get a few miles of track.  The larger the wire you use, the more miles of track you can power.

Notice, no mention of the power pack.  This is intentional, as the power pack / transformer is not the limiting factor in layout size.

All true!

The combined current draw will be the limiting factor. It is an 18v 2A supply with the Thomas set. We'll have to see what the rating will be for the other RTR sets.

Also, it's a cylindrical connector with the socket on the terminal track. This will create a need for some creativity for the drops.

can you add in another power pack and terminal fasttrack?

I would think so just as long as you remember that only DC trains can be run on there. Any Lionchief item would be okay but really nothing else as far as motive power goes.

But you can connect a Lionel transformer to the layout and still run Lionchief equipment. I'm running my PE LC on a CW-80 powered layout without issues.  Just set the transformer voltage and go.

There will come a point where the single input of power will be insufficient to provide enough power to reach the far end of a very large layout. If you use the extra long straights instead of 10" pieces, you're likely to be able to go farther, as the track joints are where you'll experience the most power loss.

The end solution will be to use a traditional transformer with multiple track feeds around the layout to provide a more constant level of voltage. Without any form of cruise control, it'll be apparent from the train's speed when the power on the tracks becomes insufficient.

If you make the right track connections(power drops/feeds) you should get a few miles of track even with the 2 amp power supply.  The larger the wire you use, the more miles of track you can power.

Any "AC" train will run fine on the DC.  No speed control w/o LionChief, though.

I have a lionchief r-t-r set and and mth railking r-t-r set with a dcs remote and a ps3 locomotive.

I want to run the mth ps3 locomotive on lionel fastrack powered by 18v dc that came with the lion chief set.  This seems like the easiest power source.  You just plug it into the track, no extra pieces or wires.

The mth/ dcs set routes power from a transformer at the wall to this box (which seems to pick up the signal from the remote) then to the track via a red and back wire to a lock on.  The transformer puts out constant 18volts ac.  

So how does the mth ps3 locomotive work?  Is the little box that reacts to the remote changing the voltage on the track? Or is it like the lion chief and the remote is controlling the engine directly?

Can I run the MTH PS3 engine on the constant 18v dc fasttrack of the lion chief set? How?  

When I tried putting the MTH PS3 engine on the fasttrack powered with 18v dc [and without the mth transformer and box connected (I understand you can't have both ac and dc power sources connected to the track at the same time)] the engine made sounds but it wouldn't move.  I also tried plugging in the MTH transformer to the wall, connected to the box that gets the remote signal, but not connected to the track, (the track powered by the lion chief set 18v dc), the MTH PS3 engine would still not move.

In reading it seems like there is some other mode that has to be accessed on the MTH PS3 engine to get it to work on the 18v dc power, but I don't know how to make that change.

Why?

You still need the complexity of the TIU whether in active or passive mode, and the 2 amps of the LionChief wall-wart is hardly enough for the overhead alone, before you even get to motors and sound, on a PS3 equipped loco, whether in command or conventional mode.

Make it easy & simple on yourself - just run the LionChief set on your DCS layout or run the DCS signal & power through the TIU to your FasTrack.

Frisco123 - Welcome, I see you joined yesterday

I run my PE lionchief set on the same layout with DCS. I power the layout with 18Vac. Both run great. I THINK your best bet is to power the track with the MTH control system. It will put 18Vac on the track and you will be ready to go with either system, just like my full DCS system.  Lionel makes a track section you can hook wires to.

Think about it this way. The Lionchief gives you forward, reverse and a sound or 2. It will run on either power source. The MTH loco needs AC, but if you supply that AC, you will be able to use more of the MTH engines features. Hopefully, you have the time and money to get addicted and you are running more trains and buying a DCS system to control them all!!

The DC use, per PS3 user manuals, seems to be conventional DC, which means you would need DC power that you could adjust. This would mean a DC transformer, not just your DC power pack.

One thing to note on the Lionchief stuff. If you leave it on the track, for a while the electronics shut down. Even though the headlight is lit, you will need to cycle the track and handheld power, to regain control. Lionel considers this a safety feature. I don't... but I love that they are expanding RC control. If you are controlling these, from the couch, like I do, you may want to consider a remote control outlet. 

One more thing - you can start a new topic any time Your question was so different from the original, I would hate to see it get missed, and you don't get help.

Marty R is correct and I have ended up with 4 of these Lionchief sets simply because they are easy to use for those that are not familiar with the hobby or are intimidated by the full size remotes. I run my wife's Silver Bells set, the Polar Express Set, the Area 51 set, and the Pennsylvania Flyer set on my main layout that has Legacy and DCS with no issues. I have also run them on my portable layouts with regular transformers from a KW to a ZW-L with no issues.

On a side note the 0-8-0 from the Pennsylvania Flyer set pulls at least a 13 car consist with no issues, mainly Polar Express passenger cars and some lightweight freight cars.