PH-180 Direct connection to Fastrack

Actually that cable goes from a standard transformer to a PowerMaster. You need to go from a PowerHouse to the track.

the 180WPH is definitely a good choice and no problem connecting it straight to the track if your not doing conventional operation. You would need this cable 6-14194 or make your own with

molex pins

https://www.digikey.com/produc...2103/WM1100-ND/26384

and Molex housing

https://www.digikey.com/produc...2032/WM1325-ND/61297

remember if it’s a new PH you’ll need to put all 3 pins in the connector to depress the safety switch inside the connector

You might also be interested in the mating connector if you want to build a cable for a different transformer to connect to that Molex connector.

The connector shell: https://www.digikey.com/en/pro...lex/0003091032/61321

The matching pin: https://www.digikey.com/en/pro...lex/0002091104/26386

Zachariah is correct.

I've made up a bunch of these over the years with those same MOLEX parts.

I haven't made a new one yet, so thanks for the tip on the 3rd pin now need for the new PH180.

Thank you all! As always great info.

@zhubl thank you for the part number. That makes sense and looks right. The model I listed was what Lionel provided to me and didn't look quite right.

Joe

My recommendation from personal experience is a MTH 50-1014 12-Port Terminal Block connector and a PH-180 to banana plug adapter cable readily available from various sources.  I have had to switch out the power cable on a few of my Lionel Fastrack Terminal pieces so they have spade connectors.

Molex and spade connectors.  A soldering iron, dremel tool, and a little patience.  Cheap, easy and clean.

That's nice work, but it only provides one power connection point to the track.

If the layout is large enough to require more than one power drop and, especially taking into consideration the potential connectivity issues with Fastrack, then the suggestion by A. Wells may be a better option.

Agree, but as it’s only up for the holidays, the ‘take down’ includes cleaning all track with 91% isopropyl and inspecting all pins before storing away in plastic tubs.  So far no issues, but a larger permanent set up would likely warrant a main bus with drops.

@zhubl

i was looking more at those cables. The 6-14194.

They come with a pack of 3. One of them is the one that attaches from the ph180 and then directly to the track with the spade connectors?  Hard to tell from pics online. Looks like two pig tail connectors and the other one would be the correct one or do they separate for one connection?  I guess Lionel doesn't really market them for direct connection as the manual only indicated TMCC connection to two power supplies or transformers.  I didn't see any pics with the connection to track from the ph180.

Z

The 6-14194 does not have any spade connectors. The only "converter" Lionel catalogs is the Lionel 6-34120:

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...TMCCDirectLockon.pdf

The 6-14194 DOES have spade connectors. This cable is a double cable that can be used for one powerhouse or running 2 in parallel.

You can just leave the unused connector...unused.

I have this connector and actually cut one of them off at the base of the spades so I had a separate connector for the 180w brick that powers my accessories.

You can use a tmcc lockon,but it really isn't necessary because the 180w bricks have some if the fastest breakers in the hobby.

I've never had any damage from a short circuit cause by a derailment even when I was using 2 180w bricks in parallel. The breakers pop instantly.

I split them up when I realized 2 bricks for track power was way overkill for my 10x16 layout running 3 trains. 1 brick for the trains and 1 for my accessories and things work great.

@RickO posted:

The 6-14194 DOES have spade connectors.

No, it does not:

Those are fork terminals, not the .110 spade connectors to connect to FasTrack.

@bmoran4 posted:

No, it does not:

Those are fork terminals, not the .110 spade connectors to connect to FasTrack.

Your right. My mistake was seeing fork and thinking spade.

Fwiw, I soldered my connections directly to the fastrack tabs if that works for the o.p.

@Zildjianmeister68 posted:

@zhubl

i was looking more at those cables. The 6-14194.

They come with a pack of 3. One of them is the one that attaches from the ph180 and then directly to the track with the spade connectors?  Hard to tell from pics online. Looks like two pig tail connectors and the other one would be the correct one or do they separate for one connection?  I guess Lionel doesn't really market them for direct connection as the manual only indicated TMCC connection to two power supplies or transformers.  I didn't see any pics with the connection to track from the ph180.

Z

As it as been stated above they do not have the female spade connectors on them but as far as I know what’s the closest pre-made cable you’ll find. You can of course crimp your own connectors on the end or make your own connector as both me and GRJ mentioned.

Thank you all.

i found the part number for the spade connectors in another thread so should be easy enough to crimp on.

Z