Power Supply for Lionel FasTrack Power Block Lock-on

Lionel uses a 5.5/2.5 barrel connector for the Legacy base and power supply. I don't have the Fastrack track with barrel connector to see if it's the same. One might assume and give that size a try.

There is no reason you can't go down from 4 amps...there might be a reason to not go above 4 amps depending on the rating of the barrel jack used on the track. I would guess though the reason for 4 amps is just the reasonable size for a starter set plus some accessories.

Correct on the bulbs in the stations. How are you going to vary the voltage for conventional with a fixed 18 vac supply?

@BZ posted:

Lionel says... via a separate sale 4A 18UDC power supply.... tried to plug in an old 18.5v 6a laptop power supply but the jack was too big.  I tried another power supply but the jack was too small.

I purchased two new Illuminated Lionel Stations, 684318, and hooked them up to the Power Block track using track power.  But I am running post war trains (Conventional?) and the lights in the station are very dim.  I assume they were designed for 18v dc and work best with that.

Also, does anyone know why Lionel recommends 4a?  If I am just hooking up accessories with LED lighting can I do with less than 4a as long as its 18v dc?

Appreciate any help / suggestions.

Thanks

Laptop power supplies have DC output.  Conventional Locos require a variable 8-18 volt AC power supply.  Which AC transformer you choose would depend on your budget.  Instead of using the barrel connector you can power the tracks using the spade connectors under most FasTrack pieces.

This might also help:

https://ogrforum.com/...nding-an-o-gauge-set

Thanks for the response.  I'll see if I can find a unit with those dimensions for the barrel jack.

"How are you going to vary the voltage for conventional with a fixed 18 vac supply?"  If I am understanding correctly the 18v dc power supply will only feed the accessories plugged into the Power Block track after I throw the switch from track power to fixed power.  I'll continue using my ZW transformer for track power.

If you have a a ZW, you can use one of it's other outputs to provide the accessory power directly, bypassing the track power circuit.

Laptop power supplies have DC output.  Conventional Locos require a variable 8-18 volt AC power supply.  Which AC transformer you choose would depend on your budget.  Instead of using the barrel connector you can power the tracks using the spade connectors under most FasTrack pieces.

Sorry I was not more clear in my post.  I am using a ZW transformer for track power.  I thought that if I connect an 18v dc power source to the Power Block and change the switch on the Power Block from track power to fixed power, then the 18v dc would only go to the accessories.  Am I misunderstanding how the Power Block works?

If you have a a ZW, you can one of it's other outputs to provide the accessory power directly, bypassing the track power circuit.

What I did not realize when I purchased them is the electrical connectors on the illuminated stations are Plug-Expand-Play connectors, not a regular 2 wire connection.  I assume I could cut off the Plug-Expand-Play connectors and wire them to a ZW output but I would prefer not to do that.  In the instruction booklet for the Power Block it shows you can get an 8" 3-pin female pigtail (6-82038) that I can plug the stations connectors into and have a regular 2 wire output, but I cannot find this item on the Lionel website not the websites of the two Lionel dealers I have purchased from on-line.  Have not tried calling local Lionel dealers yet about this.

Please provide a model number, picture or more information about what you are referring to as "Power Block".

Picture did not copy

Top of Form

SKU: 681314

MSRP: $39.99

Quantity

Bottom of Form

Pre-Order

Est. Ship Date:

9/20/2021

Pinit Tweet

Same as the standard Plug-Expand-Play FasTrack Power lock-on but with input THREE ports instead of one.

Plug in up to 3 Plug-Expand-Play cables. Choose track power or fixed power (from a barrel jack connector).

Place your order today!

Features:

• 10" straight FasTrack with attached Lock-on
• Choose track power or fixed power (from a barrel jack connector).
• Rocker switch to select power source
• Use separate sale 4A 18UDC power supply
• LED for power indication

Product Specifications:

• Gauge: O Gauge  
• Est. Ship Date: 9/20/2021

@BZ posted:

Any specific suggestions for purchasing a power supply for Lionel FasTrack Power Block Lock-on?

Lionel says you can use the option of fixed power (from a barrel jack connector) via a separate sale 4A 18UDC power supply.  Need to make sure anything I buy has the correct barrel jack connector.  I tried to plug in an old 18.5v 6a laptop power supply but the jack was too big.  I tried another power supply but the jack was too small.

I purchased two new Illuminated Lionel Stations, 684318, and hooked them up to the Power Block track using track power.  But I am running post war trains (Conventional?) and the lights in the station are very dim.  I assume they were designed for 18v dc and work best with that.

Also, does anyone know why Lionel recommends 4a?  If I am just hooking up accessories with LED lighting can I do with less than 4a as long as its 18v dc?

Appreciate any help / suggestions.

Thanks

I guess you can use the 54W adapter that comes with lionchief starter sets from Lionel Parts (below),  Since your not using track power, I would skip the power block lockon and wire the accessories completely separate.

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...;submitButton=Search

I found the Power Block Owner's manual on Lionel's site:

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

I looks like this power block is basically a 10" track section with a switch to select a power source for the connected Plug and Play accessories; either DC track power (if using the standard LC power pack) or external DC power.  The switch output is split 3 ways in parallel to the 3 Plug and Play Outputs.  It would seem that the Plug and Play accessories are designed for DC.  Would need to see more info. to be sure.  The Illuminated Stations manual is not readily available on the Lionel support site.  I you have the manual for it, it should tell you the recommended AC voltage if you decide to power it that way.

@BZ posted:

If you have a a ZW, you can one of it's other outputs to provide the accessory power directly, bypassing the track power circuit.

What I did not realize when I purchased them is the electrical connectors on the illuminated stations are Plug-Expand-Play connectors, not a regular 2 wire connection.  I assume I could cut off the Plug-Expand-Play connectors and wire them to a ZW output but I would prefer not to do that.  In the instruction booklet for the Power Block it shows you can get an 8" 3-pin female pigtail (6-82038) that I can plug the stations connectors into and have a regular 2 wire output, but I cannot find this item on the Lionel website not the websites of the two Lionel dealers I have purchased from on-line.  Have not tried calling local Lionel dealers yet about this.

Here is the page from Charles Ro. You can wait for the back order item you want or buy the jumper with the two connectors on it and cut the end off that you don't want.

I you have the manual for it, it should tell you the recommended AC voltage if you decide to power it that way.

Thank you very much for the link to the Power Block Manual, just downloaded a copy.  Regarding recommended voltage, illuminated station owner's manual says 12 - 14 volts from a CW-80 transformer, which is ac from what I can tell.

See this OGR thread bemoaning the dilemma of cutting the plug-play cable vs. waiting for the $10 female pigtail.

Yes, the CW 80 has 2x AC outputs.  You could use one of your ZW's outputs to supply power to the correct sized barrel connector into the Power Block Lock-on.

@BZ posted:

...

I purchased two new Illuminated Lionel Stations, 684318, and hooked them up to the Power Block track using track power.  But I am running post war trains (Conventional?) and the lights in the station are very dim.  I assume they were designed for 18v dc and work best with that.

@BZ posted:

I you have the manual for it, it should tell you the recommended AC voltage if you decide to power it that way.

Thank you very much for the link to the Power Block Manual, just downloaded a copy.  Regarding recommended voltage, illuminated station owner's manual says 12 - 14 volts from a CW-80 transformer, which is ac from what I can tell.

Just to be sure there's not a separate problem lurking below the track (so to speak)...

When you said the lights in the station were very dim when plugged into the Power Block track, I assume this was with your ZW providing conventional AC voltage to the track (i.e., way less than 18V AC)?  Didn't the station lights dim/brighten with throttle and turn off when pressing the Direction button?

Here is the page from Charles Ro. You can wait for the back order item you want or buy the jumper with the two connectors on it and cut the end off that you don't want.

I found a 3' PWR CABLE EXT 3 PIN on Charles Ro that is in stock.  Hard to tell from the picture but it looks like one end is male and one is female so I could use the female end and cut off the male end.

When you said the lights in the station were very dim when plugged into the Power Block track, I assume this was with your ZW providing conventional AC voltage to the track (i.e., way less than 18V AC)?  Didn't the station lights dim/brighten with throttle and turn off when pressing the Direction button?

Don't know.  Will have to observe next time I turn it on.

See this OGR thread bemoaning the dilemma of cutting the plug-play cable vs. waiting for the $10 female pigtail.

Thanks.  I think this is different than what I may consider- cutting off the male plug of an extension cable and just running the red and black wires to the transformer.

You could use one of your ZW's outputs to supply power to the correct sized barrel connector into the Power Block Lock-on.

Appreciate this suggestion, had not thought of transformer to barrel connector and not messing with the Plug-Expand-Play connectors.

Didn't the station lights dim/brighten with throttle and turn off when pressing the Direction button?

Just checked, yes, it does this.

As others have already suggested, I'd think the closest-exit is to flip the lock-on rocker switch to the AUX position.  Then feed the barrel jack on the lock-on with CW or ZW 12-14V AC (or whatever voltage is best for your accessories).

As the Lionel instructions suggest (underlined in red), by flipping the switch to the AUX position the power to the 3 plug-and-play connectors on the lock-on will come from the barrel jack.  I've got to believe it easier to find a pre-wired barrel plug or a screw-terminal barrel plug with the correct coaxial dimensions than splicing/modifying plug-and-play cables.

Just one technical question for someone familiar with this lock-on.  Is the rocker switch a DPDT type that switches BOTH power wires?  That is, is there any issue with having to "phase" the polarity of the barrel jack connections if track power and aux power are coming from the same train transformer?

@stan2004 posted:

As others have already suggested, I'd think the closest-exit is to flip the lock-on rocker switch to the AUX position.  Then feed the barrel jack on the lock-on with CW or ZW 12-14V AC (or whatever voltage is best for your accessories).

As the Lionel instructions suggest (underlined in red), by flipping the switch to the AUX position the power to the 3 plug-and-play connectors on the lock-on will come from the barrel jack.  I've got to believe it easier to find a pre-wired barrel plug or a screw-terminal barrel plug with the correct coaxial dimensions than splicing/modifying plug-and-play cables.

Just one technical question for someone familiar with this lock-on.  Is the rocker switch a DPDT type that switches BOTH power wires?  That is, is there any issue with having to "phase" the polarity of the barrel jack connections if track power and aux power are coming from the same train transformer?

Yes to what Stan said, that's what I was implying.

B BZ , if you have a multi-meter, you can check for continuity to see if one of the Lock-on's barrel connector input pins (with the switch in the Aux position) is connected to Track Power common.  If so, then wire the barrel connector so that the ZW Common wire is attached to that same pin.

If there's no continuity from track power Common to either barrel pin, then the Block Power switch is probably a DPDT and the two power sources would be completely isolated by the switch.

And here's one more off-the-wall scheme that could mean zero out-of-pocket.

Is the lock-on itself constructed in a way that is cleanly separates from the track?  It appears there are mounting screws as suggested in their diagram.  If it comes apart as shown, then you have two wires (red and black) that go to ZW or CW...and an albeit awkwardly shaped breakout box with 3 plug-and-play jacks for your accessories!  In this case the rocker switch would be set to Track Power (!) which would of course just mean power coming from the newly created red/black pigtail wires.

To Stan’s point, here’s the “breakout box” from the auxiliary power supply.  FWIW the lionel size(5.5mmx2.5mm)barrel connector is still live if you want to use it.

Great photos Ted!

I don't have FasTrack but from what I can tell, it appears that Lionel took a generic 10" straight section and simply drilled 4 mounting holes on the angled side of the roadbed as depicted above.

I'd think there are scenarios where the "breakout box" could be better located nearer the accessories that use plug-play connectors rather than being constrained to a piece of track.

And to answer my own question, it does appear Lionel used a DPDT switch in the lock-on module so it indeed switches BOTH power wires providing complete power isolation between AUX and TRACK.

First off, thanks to everyone for the very helpful posts.

if you have a multi-meter, you can check for continuity to see if one of the Lock-on's barrel connector input pins (with the switch in the Aux position) is connected to Track Power common.

I checked with my Multimeter and there is no continuity between the barrel connection and the track with the switch set to Aux.