New to Lion Chief - Ceiling layout

Unfortunately you can't power any sizable layout from one location, at least not without help.  The electrical characteristics of track require that separate electrical feed wires be connected every 10 feet or so.

With a ceiling layout this may be fun because your feed wires for many 10' sections will have to run along next to the track until they get to the point of connection.  They just can't leap across the room like they could under a large table.

You might want to use two Powerhouses, one feeding from each end to make routing your feeders more manageable.  Divide the layout in half and place a plastic pin in place of the steel one in the center rail at the point where the two halves join (2 places).

Just make sure that the two PH's are 'in phase'. For both of them you'll be connecting hot to the center rail, and common to an outside rail (or both outside rails).  The TMCC lockons will handle this for you.  If you don't, you'll get sparks as your train crosses over the sections joined with the plastic pins.

Lionchief+ should work fine with the universal wireless controller or the phone app, especially if you operate the remote/phone from the center of the room.  Although the phones sometimes have difficulty if you try to operate from a location that's too great a distance away from the train.

Good luck.

Mike

One powerhouse is more than enough power. I have a 3 track oval, 10’ x 16’ layout power by one 180 powerhouse. The powerhouse feeds a bus wire that goes around the layout and connects twice per oval. I don’t have any voltage drops. I run two or three locos with lighted passenger cars (all LED) without issue. If you have a single engine with a couple lighted buildings or some accessories, you’ll be fine. Just keep everything below the 10amps the 180 PH can provide and you’ll be golden.

You don’t need the lock-on, the circuit protection on the PH is more than sufficient. To connect to Fastrack you just need an adapter that can be found on eBay.

LionChief is super easy. The engines can be run with the universal remote or the iPhone app and the voice broadcasting feature (projecting your voice through the loco) is popular with my nephew.

Thank you both for you replies. This is super helpful.  I am thinking one PH in a corner and then bus lines running out in each direction from that corner alongside the track. Based on Keith’s reply, I may get lucky and only need one out in each direction about 15 feet. If I get a voltage drop at the far side I’ll just extend one of them out another 15 feet.

I may go with the TMCC just for the added protection.

So it’s been awhile since I started this thread, and I wanted to let folks see where I have gotten. Construction is mostly complete, and track layout is about 1/2 complete. I am going with the PH180 with three drops somewhat evenly spaced around the layout.

The new version of the Lion Chief Polar Express is purchased and just waiting for me to get the layout completed. I am going with the following accessories:

- Polar Express Station in the S curve space

- Polar Express Gateman in one of the corners

- Lionel Signal Bridge in the long straightaway  

- 2 1950’s Marx Bridges with Evan Designs LED strings glued to the outside structure on the shelf above the large window.

- one custom built (eBay) functional bridge as seen in the video

I’d love to hear any comments or ideas. Good or bad. I am learning as I go.

Nice work. My father was a good guy, but you are even better .

Have you considered track noise reduction? Is the track on bare wood?

I went with the Woodland Scenics Track Bed Roll. Based on the reviews it seemed like a good bet.

Very nice!

But I would strongly suggest eliminating the tight S bend. It needs a straight section between the opposing curves, the longer the better. This is important for long cars like passenger cars.

Please post a video when it's up and running.

Dave

Since this is a ceiling layout that your “young” son will be operating, I strongly recommend you limit the operating speed of the engine using the Lionel app on a cell phone. Then you can hand him the LionChief controller with no worries. Been there done that!!!

Thank you for this suggestion!  I did not even know it was possible and was worried about how to limit the speed. That’s an awesome tip and I will absolutely do it.