Train Shelf Power Question

@papajoewill posted:

I have read a lot about a few of the power options available and was thinking about having a 72w Lionel power pack "jumping" (like you would with jumper cables) from the fast track piece up to the Atlas for DC power because I have a LC2 Big Boy and read they don't like AC or that it will wear out the electronics converting to DC? Please someone correct me if I am wrong.

Absolute mythical hogwash. You are safer to assume a 3 rail O gauge item will accept AC over DC. 3 Rail O Gauge has been low voltage AC for over a century. There is essentially nothing in the 3 rail O Gauge arena that won't operate on AC, but much that can be damaged by DC. Stick with the establishment and go AC track power. A Lionel GW-180 comes with a PH-180 power supply and will get you the basics for getting up and running conventionally with the ability to easily reuse the 180 brick as part of a full blown Legacy Command setup.

@bmoran4 posted:

Absolute mythical hogwash. You are safer to assume a 3 rail O gauge item will accept AC over DC. 3 Rail O Gauge has been low voltage AC for over a century. There is essentially nothing in the 3 rail O Gauge arena that won't operate on AC, but much that can be damaged by DC. Stick with the establishment and go AC track power. A Lionel GW-180 comes with a PH-180 power supply and will get you the basics for getting up and running conventionally with the ability to easily reuse the 180 brick as part of a full blown Legacy Command setup.

I was thinking that to be the case and will skip the DC jumping all together. For the power supply do you think the Z-1000 is a decent idea or skip it and buy the GW-180 to be on the safer side of things?

The GW-180 is almost twice the transformer of the Z-1000 and integrates nicely with Legacy in the future. Sure, the Z-1000 will run a train around some track of that footprint if that is all you seek, but not have much room for growth. Regardless of power supply, don't overlook strategic use of TVS diodes and external breakers as an insurance policy for your expensive and/or unavailable train electronics. There are many many threads on the forum about these items you can read up on and then come back here and ask any clarifying questions.

@bmoran4 posted:

don't overlook strategic use of TVS diodes and external breakers

I saw some info about the breakers but am now deep into what the TVS diodes do.

@papajoewill posted:

I saw some info about the breakers but am now deep into what the TVS diodes do.

They are diodes which help to (s)upress  (t)ransient (v)oltage spikes, which can damage sensitive electronics.

Any other votes from people about what brand of transformer? Would Lionel the go to? I think I found a good deal on a new GW-180 but wanted to be sure before pulling the trigger.

There were a few low end 3 rail DC Lionel sets in the early 90's. A blue B&O General Set immediately comes to my recollection.

If you don't mind only one direction, a well placed diode between the pick-up and the motor will "convert" that locomotive to AC operation.

Three rail DC is an idea that came and very fortunately was a flop!