I bought a Lionel 180W Power Supply in June 2020. I just took it out of the box to try it and it wouldn't power the track. I thought it was a short somewhere on the track, but then I switched to a different power supply and track came on. I have the receipt to the new Lionel power supply, but I don't know where to send it for a replacement. Is there a phone number to call first? Can anyone help me?
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@Prairie Land Junction posted:I bought a Lionel 180W Power Supply in June 2020. I just took it out of the box to try it and it wouldn't power the track. I thought it was a short somewhere on the track, but then I switched to a different power supply and track came on. I have the receipt to the new Lionel power supply, but I don't know where to send it for a replacement. Is there a phone number to call first? Can anyone help me?
Have to send it to Lionel. There should be instructions with your brick. It should have a Phone Number to call.
Is this the 180w brick? The newest version of these has a safety pin in the plug that must be depressed in order to operate.
@RickO posted:Is this the 180w brick? The newest version of these has a safety pin in the plug that must be depressed in order to operate.
I did not know that, thanks.
I don’t see any safety pin in the plug. It must be the old one.
Look again, maybe post a picture here. What's the product number of the brick you have?
I found it. I pushed the pin in, then start it up again, nothing happens. Is the pin suppose to spring back up when I push it in?
It should pop back out, it's a switch.
While testing for the voltage, push the pin in and hold it. You should have power at that point. It's designed, that when the molex plug is unplugged, no power is at the terminals. That would be my guess.
I pushed the pin down a few seconds, then released it, plugged it back in my terminal track. The light flickers, then goes off.
You have to keep that pin pushed in for it to work.
I unplugged the power supply, then I pushed the pin in for a few seconds. Right?
@Prairie Land Junction posted:I unplugged the power supply, then I pushed the pin in for a few seconds. Right?
With its plugged in and on, the pin MUST be depressed to supply voltage. If that pin isn't pushed and stays pushed you will get nothing. It's a momentary switch.
How is the brick connected to your track?
@Prairie Land Junction posted:I pushed the pin down a few seconds, then released it, plugged it back in my terminal track. The light flickers, then goes off.
What type of terminal track? As mentioned above that must know always be pushed in for power. The older bricks dont have it.
LionChief terminal track. When I pushed the pin in, I heard it clicked. I held it there for a few seconds, then it it stopped. No power to the track. Every time I hit the pin it comes on, then in a few seconds you hear it go off when I let go of the pin.
@Prairie Land Junction posted:LionChief terminal track. When I pushed the pin in, I heard it clicked. I held it there for a few seconds, then it it stopped. No power to the track. Every time I hit the pin it comes on, then in a few seconds you hear it go off when I let go of the pin.
Don't let go of the pin. That pin must be pushed in and stay in for power to be on. If you let it go it will shut down the power.
Can you take a picture of the wiring to the terminal track.
Marty, i wonder what terminal track or lock on he's using? I don't understand why Lionel did this to start with.
As soon as I let go of the pin it’s not on. There’s something wrong with it. I’m going to have to send it in to Lionel and have them look at it.
@Prairie Land Junction posted:As soon as I let go of the pin it’s not on. There’s something wrong with it. I’m going to have to send it in to Lionel and have them look at it.
It's working correctly. The pin must stay pushed for it to stay on. Again, the pin MUST stay pushed in for power to be applied. How are you connecting it to the terminal track. Until we see that we can't help you any further because we'll have to figure out a way for that pin to be pushed continuously.
I think what the above are saying is that the pin must stay depressed in order to work. Momentary switch was mentioned. When you let go of the pin then you are disconnecting the power. Sounds like a goofy design but Lionel must have their reasons.
The reason for this pin is for the new UL listing and like it’s been mentioned the pin MUST be fully depressed at ALL times for the brick to work. I don’t know how your hooking up the brick but if your using your own molex connector simply put a pin in the 3rd slot that doesn’t hook to anything. That will depress the pin and turn power on
The "goofy" design was required by UL for all new AC transformers imported into the US to not have live power on unless a load is connected. Just following the law.
@MartyE posted:It's working correctly. The pin must stay pushed for it to stay on. Again, the pin MUST stay pushed in for power to be applied. How are you connecting it to the terminal track. Until we see that we can't help you any further because we'll have to figure out a way for that pin to be pushed continuously.
I can see how the OP is frustrated.
Does this mean that you have to keep the pin pushed in with one hand at all times during your operating session while trying to control trains with the other or insert some sort of device to keep the pin pushed in at all times ? Doesn't make sense to me.
@Richie C. posted:I can see how the OP is frustrated.
Does this mean that you have to keep the pin pushed in with one hand at all times during your operating session while trying to control trains with the other or insert some sort of device to keep the pin pushed in at all times ? Doesn't make sense to me.
Yes it means that the pin must stay in to have the unit put voltage out. No one expects them to hold it in place but until we can see how it is connected, we can recommend a way to have it stay in. There is a solution but until we see how it's being connected we can't suggest one. Is he using the molex to bare wire adapter or something other to connect to the track? What is the connector on the power house plugging into?
Maybe page 4 and 5 of the manual might help explain better than I. Page 5 especially reads...
The PowerHouse has a safety switch built into the output plug. The connector
on the TMCC TPC Adapter cable must have contact pins installed in all three
positions to activate this switch and enable the PowerHouse output. A spare
contact pin has been included to be installed in the empty position of the TMCC
TPC Adapter connector.
There is no pin. I have to call Lionel to get it.
An updated version of this will fix his issues. The brick plugs directly into this. Wires then from the Lock-on to the LionChief track. If you go this route, make sure it is compatible with the new brick. There needs to be 3 pins in the lock-on.
Thanks I’ll look into it.
@Dave Olson posted:The "goofy" design was required by UL for all new AC transformers imported into the US to not have live power on unless a load is connected. Just following the law.
Hey ole buddy, I said it sounds like a goofy design but Lionel must have their reasons. Just taking up for you.
Sounds to me like he doesn't understand what a picture means. Prairie Land Junction you need to take a couple pictures (as requested several times) of how you have it hooked up. It is that simple. THEN everyone can help you and tell you HOW to keep the pin depressed so you have voltage. I know you are frustrated but take some deep breaths and POST A PICTURE!
@romiller49 posted:Hey ole buddy, I said it sounds like a goofy design but Lionel must have their reasons. Just taking up for you.
Simple, as Dave Olson stated, it was for UL approval of the new PH180. UL requires that the output must be connected in order for power to be supplied, the safety switch cuts off the power until the plug is connected.
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