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pigfoot I have set up my home power and the Ford Model Railroad club modules with Molex plugs just like the Lionel Bricks.  I made up cables with the Molex connectors on one end and banana plugs on the other end to plug into the TIU.  Out of the TIU I use Banana plugs to a hookup to the track.  In my case I use banana plugs on the TIU end Molex on the other end. Then a Molex one one end and track connector on the other end.  This way I can hook up a brick or 2 or a Z4000 to the TIU. From the TIU I connect to the track.  I can also hook directly from the power to the track for conventional or run the TIU in passive mode.  Any why we run can be made with plug and play.  Bruce

If I were you, I would either buy the Lionel TPC cable set  or make an adaptor cable yourself. (As described by Bruce above.)

 

If you cut the plug off of the transformer, then you probably void the warrantee, may reduce any future re-sale value, and also make life more difficult should you ever wish to use this transformer to power Lionel TPC/Powermaster units etc. in the future.

 

Additionally, the cable set provides you with the easy option to simply plug in an extra transformer should you ever need more than 10A. 

Personally I don't like cutting off the plugs either. I got some of these adapters a while back and they work great. PH-TIU, you may have to scroll down the page to Transformers & Remote Controls (TMCC), it will be listed toward the bottom of that section. Looks like the price has gone up some, when I got them I believe they were a few dollars less.

 

I tried to get the Lionel cables but couldn't find them, everyone was out and I didn't want to wait. Those would be fine if you can find them. If you want to make them yourself, GunRunnerJohn posted the parts he used to make his own and I think I have saved the info he posted. If you would like, I will try to find it and repost, unless he sees this and beats me to the reposting of the info. 

For anyone interested in making their own, here is the info I saved on making the PH-180 connectors. I tried to credit the posters that the info came from, but my notes are not the greatest. Apologies in advance if I got any of the credits wrong.

 

Previously Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

Here are the connectors and pins that mate with the PH180 connector.

http://www.alliedelec.com/sear...il.aspx?SKU=70190783

http://www.alliedelec.com/sear...il.aspx?SKU=70190616

 

 

Previously Posted by trainrails:

www.mouser.com

800-346-6873

3-circut molex receptacles

Mouser P/N's:

538-03-09-1032 - white plastic female? plug for the brick

538-02-09-1104 - connectors for it

538-03-09-2032 - receiving or male? end from the brick

538-02-09-2103 - pins for this end

538-63811-1000 UNIVERSAL CRIMP TOOL

 

Previously Posted by Dale Manquen:

The Hot is the center pin, and the Common is the bottom. The top pin is only used on the new ZW transformers for jumpering a brick from one channel to the next in line.

 

Another past thread on PH-180 Info - Some and possibly all of the above info was taken from this thread.

 

Two words:  Anderson Powerpoles!

 

I just got two 180's (based on John's high speed breaker observations) for my DCS home and modular layouts.  I put Anderson Powerpoles on the 18V wire to make it consistent with all my MTH and other transformers.  Makes everything quickly interchangeable.

 

You do need to do a phase check before deciding which connector is black, but once you're done, no phasing issues regardless of the transformer used as a supply.  I use blue instead of red. I use red for DC+, so blue indicates AC hot for me.

 

 

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I've done the same to all my MTH Z-1000 bricks, too.

 

Just my 2 cents!

Ed

 

note to self: better focus next time!

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