Power needs - Conventional and LC+

1) Yes, you will be able to run most trains, certainly that size layout.  One 80-watter for each loop should do you. 

2) I have five LC+ engines.  I run them at 16V - I know you can run them at 18 but 16 is quite sufficient.  At idle any of the five at the same and dras about 2-3 watts.  Accelerating with a 22 scale reefers it may draw up to 1.2 amps (20 watts) while acclerating and then settles down to about 1 amp pulling those 22 cars at any speed up to "too fast for me."

3) You should be okay with two LC+ cars and roling stock with one 80watt power supply as long as they are not lighted passenger cars.  Passenger cars with incadescent lights can draw up to 7 watts each: I have a nine-car trains that pulls 60 watts just for lights! 

4) 80 watt power supply probably has a current limit of 4-5 amps, a 180 one ten amps.  That's really enough for almost all trains and engines.  

I think Lee captured the key points perfectly.  I use the Lionel CW-80 to power the outer loop on my layout as well as two others to power accessories, lights, switches, etc.  They are fairly inexpensive (often available on the bay as part of a set break-up). You can operate them together (just make sure they are phased).

To Lee's point about the passenger cars, I was running two of the 2400 cars with a Conventional classic GG1 and the engine did slow down a bit when I hit the horn button.

One last thing, the CW-80 has circuit breakers that will help protect your engines, the old Post War transformers are not built that way, and you would need to add additonal protection. Its been discussed extensively on the Forum.

Here is a nice demo from Lionel on phasing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iASQfnE6pCk

Good luck with the layout and post some pictures!

All the best, Dave

Thank you for your informative responses.

The CW-80 has no circuit breaker, most postwar transformers do.

Neither the CW "foldback" feature or a circuit breaker will not protect the trains, they are designed to protect the transformer and wiring only from current overload. They do not provide Transient Voltage Suppression, which is needed to clamp voltage(not current) spikes that are cumulatively harmful to electronic components.

In reply to question 2 about an H.O. power pack having enough power for an O gauge engine, I doubt it would be strong enough. Try using an O gauge transformer instead.

Lee Fritz

Ireland, I would not get too caught up in power supply details.  The CW-80s I have (and the look alike CW-40s which come with some RTR sets) have are good basic units.  It is nice to get a unit with a breaker and warning light, but . . .   

Regardless, I've never had any problems with spikes or surges hurting modern locos - I suppose it does happen but it hasn't happened on my layout in about 20,000 locomotive-operating hours in the past decade, nor on the layouts I have had for my grandkids, etc.  

Get an O-gauge power supply.  Don't use an HO or N gauge. Many will not have the power you need.   I'd recommend AC power just because while some O-gauge locos will run on it, some won't run well, and a few not at all.  

CW-80s are okay, CW-40s for one train only.  The only complaint I have is that all of them eventually wear out the bearings on their cooling fan, so the fan blade shaft starts to rattle in a loose bearing as they get old, greating a goddawful moaning groaning that lasts for a few minutes when you first power them up, subsiding after the bear heats up and expands from friction, silencing the groan.