180 Watt PowerHouse Being Re-Designed

I had a problem with the white molex connectors that come with the 180 bricks.  Several of them browned up from heat generated from the resistance in the connection.

I clipped off all the molexes and replaced them with anderson power poles.  No trouble since.

I also reduced the length because the cord it self was somewhat thinner gauge than I would like,  so I minimized the length and therefore resistance.

Unless I mis-read Rich's update to his first post, I think he is saying that initial assertion ended up being an error, and is not true (the part of only being able to buy with GW-180).

While the cost may go up somewhat with the re-design and the next time they are put in a catalog, it's probably not likely to double.

-Dave

I favor soldering spade lugs on the PoHo 180s secondary cord. It enables easy and effective connection to the TIU binding posts, on TPC T-boards or to railpower distribution T-strips.

It also makes sense to shortened the cord as much as feasible as suggested by BillP above. I wire-gauged the PoHo's stranded copper conductors as only #18..

I'm still trying to understand what they are "re-designing".

One good reason, unless for extra protection you're intention is to connect to a TMCC locon, there's no need for a molex connector with the ZW-1 out of production.

I can't think of any other reason to change anything. The brick is a near perfect inexpensive power source. I've had two powering my layout for at least 10 years with no problem.

Joe

If you don't like the re-design, there are still thousands of old ones on the secondary market.  

Let's see what is put out before drawing conclusions.  

My only heartache with a re-design; when will it be here?  

My money is still on a simple issue like parts obsolescence/availability I suggested earlier, but if John doesn't let us in on the real deal we will never know. 

I can live with that (unless they actually do double in price ! )

-Dave

You can bet your bottom they'll be more than the current model 

I am glad I have 4 connected to a TIU (one for each Channel).  With downsizing my layout I will not need to purchase any more even giving a Z4000 to both of my sons and a Purepower for the layout in CT. Contrary to my current power requirements 4 180 bricks, 3 Z4000s, one PurePower and two post war ZWs, I anticipate that 1 Z4000 and 4 bricks will provide sufficient power for the redesigned layout.

If they changed the internals, we mere customers wouldn't even know nor need to know. Now if they change the case for no reason...

Gentlemen,

   I guess we will see in the near future if the GW must be purchased with the PH 180 or not.  Rich may very well be correct.  To me it would seem a little extreme, however it just might be the way Lionel is going to package the PH 180 now, it comes down to profit margin as usual.

PCRR/Dave

I've got 7 of them (4 for the ZW-C).  Some are the first out ($65 each back then) and have had no problems with them (save a couple have on/off lights that no longer work but the switch still works).  I've got some interfacing into the MTH TIU and all trip very quickly, saving toasting any of the TMCC and MTH loco circuit boards

That simply can't be the case.  That would take the PH180 from $99.99 MSRP to $279.99 MSRP!  Tripling the price would put it totally out of reach for most folks.  Now it's a very cost effective power source, at that price it would be a hopelessly overpriced power source!

I'm sure the competition would love it, they'd sell a lot more transformers.  Think of MTH and MRC for instance.  Suddenly, they'd be less expensive dollars per watt, and with more functionality!

That move would make no sense.

JonZ just landed his UFO on the grassy knoll with his pet Loch Ness Monster and his good friend Big Foot carrying the PH180LOL with a big knob on it and a price tag of $500.

Conspiracy I tell you!

The plug still worked with Power Masters and TPCs, not just ZW-C.  So would be weird to redesign with a plug that is not backward compatible.  G

The perfect O-gauge power supply with excellent overcurrent breaker protection. Hopefully the redesign will be limited to something like just painting the 180 PoHos orange and blue.

Maybe they are taking advantage of the newer transformers that are available similar to the ZW-L core.  We could guess all we want but in the end I suspect that operationally will be pretty much the same.

If the PH 180 is not available because of redesign how can they still make the GW 180 or the ZW transformers available. They also use the PH 180? 

Dewey,

18 ga sounds about right.  It was several years ago so I could not remember off the top of my (aging) head.

PS that is is one tidy power distribution!

I'd bet they ran into a shortage of a component, Happens all the time in electronics.

Now, when that happens you buy all you can get of the old part and halt separate sales to use them in whatever sets they are in until new production is available.

Then you re-release under a slightly different number / name so folks can tell them apart.

That's how it looks to me - it's even named a 180 Watt product.... Makes a Z-4000 at $400 street a pretty good deal.....