ive been running my lionchief plus on 40 watt transformers. Today, I tried to run them on the same track and they both just stopped. I have 2 mainlined & 2 40 watt. Will a cw-80 run 1 mainline with 2 Trains?
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With smoke units and stuff I would say a 180w brick would be sufficient for 3 trains on a track. Dollar for dollar, the 180 bricks are the cheapest power you can get, and if you just run LC/command, you don’t need anything but the brick.
Cab you be a little more specific on what I need to be looking for? Brand, model, etc. thanks, jeff
Are you running any incandescent lighted passenger cars? They add watts.
chinatrain99 posted:Cab you be a little more specific on what I need to be looking for? Brand, model, etc. thanks, jeff
I may be running a passenger train. I found this...6-22983. Not sure how you connect this to your wires... much beyond connecting wires to the 2 posts is above my current level
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You will need the Lionel Direct Lockon to work with that plug. The lockon also has a instant power off safety feature if a short occurs on the track.
What’s the lock-ons number? Thanks JEFF.
I found it. Is it the little building??
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You don't need the TMCC Direct Lockon to use a PH180, you can either buy the cable from Lionel to break out the Molex plug, or just make a cable. The circuit breaker on the PowerHouse 180 is more than sufficient, it's one of the best transformer circuit breakers right now. That's about $80 you'll save as well!
Not to step on John’s reply, but the TMCC LockOn can be had for about $50 at the hobby shop. I personally like the lockon because if a train de-rails, the lockon’s breaker trips and then will automatically reset once the short has been removed. This is great if your transformers are mounted under the table where is it is pain to reach and reset the breaker. My point here is, if Lionel made the lockon specifically for the use with the 180 Watt Brick, they must have not had much faith in the bricks breaker to begin with. I much rather spend the addition $50 on the lockon than change PCBs inside my locos.
Well, I was saving it for my temporary layouts but I had a CW80. I swapped the cw40 out and it worked with 2. My layout is too small for 3 Trains. The Marx 50 watt had no problems.
HiawathaRunner posted:Not to step on John’s reply, but the TMCC LockOn can be had for about $50 at the hobby shop. I personally like the lockon because if a train de-rails, the lockon’s breaker trips and then will automatically reset once the short has been removed. This is great if your transformers are mounted under the table where is it is pain to reach and reset the breaker. My point here is, if Lionel made the lockon specifically for the use with the 180 Watt Brick, they must have not had much faith in the bricks breaker to begin with. I much rather spend the addition $50 on the lockon than change PCBs inside my locos.
The internal breaker in the 180 brick is one of the fastest blowing breakers out there. The direct lock-on has a reset mechanism in it so you dont have to reset for the brick. The bricks are useable with the GW180 or the ZW-C, neither of which have breakers external to the brick. You need not worry about the breaker inside the brick being inadequate.
You can buy the molex housing and pins for a couple of bucks and just connect the brick directly to the track or a TIU.
Gentlemen,
You are aware that the Lionel Instructions tell you not to put more than 18V on the tracks when running LC & LC+ Engines or damage will occur. So the limit is 18V from what ever Transformer you choose to use.
PCRR/Dave
Boilermaker1 posted:The bricks are useable with the GW180 or the ZW-C, neither of which have breakers external to the brick...
Actually, the GW 180 has the same circuit protection feature as the CW-80...
"the fold-back current limit protects your transformer and layout from damage caused by severe overloads and short circuits in the case of derailments or objects falling on the track. At the same time, it prevents the inconvenience of nuisance tripping caused by momentary overloads. It continuously monitors the output current both outputs(track & ACC). When there is an overload on either output, it will reduce the voltage on both outputs in a fraction of a second to hold the current at 10A. If the short circuit is not corrected in three seconds the transformer will interrupt power to both outputs. During the three seconds, the red light on the Controller will flash. Once the output is shut down, the red light will come on solid. Move the throttle to the Off position to reset the transformer and resume normal operation."
HiawathaRunner posted:Not to step on John’s reply, but the TMCC LockOn can be had for about $50 at the hobby shop.I personally like the lockon because if a train de-rails, the lockon’s breaker trips and then will automatically reset once the short has been removed.
And that's the exact reason that I don't like the TMCC Lockon. Another reason is it's incompatible with MTH DCS, it kills the DCS signal. However, there's room for more than one opinion here, that's what public forums are all about. 
I am with GRJ ...Cut the molex connector off the end of the cord or get a female pig tail and solder it to the track and call it a day.The wire with the tracer should go to the center rail I am 99.9% on that but that .10 % is an a## kicker LOL Nick
The good news is, the center rail doesn't really matter with a single transformer, only when you have to phase multiple transformers. 
