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I have a lot of accessories, mainly lights and switches, and the numbers keep growing.  I have all the accessories wired into 2 separate power strips.  The 2 power strips are wired to an old, actually my first transformer, MW solid state transformer, one strip to the train side the other to the accessory side.  I think they are in the ballpark of 75 watts.  Unfortunately I believe this is now under powered.  After 10 or 15 minutes the transformer trips the breaker and becomes very hot.  I've tried hooking them into my other transformers, 3 old ZW's, but they also heat up and trip because the ZW's also run 2 trains a piece. 

To make a short story long is there a way to add a 180 watt powerhouse to power only these accessories from the 2 power strips?  If so do I need the direct lockon?  Is there a better way to wire these accessories short of buying another ZW?  I'm not opposed to this but really don't have the room for another large transformer.  I've been trying to read up on this but if you have read any of my posts in the past I am electrically challenged.

Thank You

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I presume your running conventionally? If so than no.

If by chance your running TMCC or legacy command:

You can use the powermaster as long as you add a Lionel AVC /accessory voltage controller 6-14186,or TPC track power controller 6-14179/6-14189, or a legacy powermaster 6-37146.

Either of these components allows you to set the 180w brick to the desired voltage via a TMCC/Legacy remote.

The AVC and TPC are no longer in production but there are usually plenty new and used on the secondary market.

The legacy powermaster is the newest component and at around $80 is often less expensive than the other two.

 

FrankM posted:

How about the GW-180?  Just saw this today.  It allows for variable voltage, correct?

Yes, the controller has 2 variable 0-18 volts outputs(one is the handle, the other, ACC, programmable by button/handle combination - set it & forget it).

So you have a 18 volts fixed, & two variable with a GW-180, 10 amps total output. You would have to make your own Molex connector tap to get the 18 volts from the brick(I just use 18 gauge wire slipped in to the existing connector).

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