transformer

If your looking for an all around workhorse, the Lionel PH-180 is a solid choice. Are you running any MTH DCS engines as well or pure legacy/tmcc?

thanks for the quick response

 i plan on running legacy and lion chief engines...i was looking at the lionel zw-l, thoughts?

That should have plenty of power for your layout, For your lionchief engines, if you plan on having them share the same track with your legacy engines, make sure they are the variant that can run on 18vac.

If you only plan to run engines that are command control, a power brick like mentioned above is fine. If you need a transformer that can adjust track voltage, and also has some fixed acc voltage, the ZW-L is fine but expensive. A less costly alternative that many use is the MTH Z-4000.

SirCaptain posted:

For your lionchief engines, if you plan on having them share the same track with your legacy engines, make sure they are the variant that can run on 18vac.

As of the writing of this comment, there are no variants of LionChief engines that will not run on 18VAC.

I think the power supplies with LC+ is only 14v. I haven't heard that was loco limit though.

Adriatic posted:

I think the power supplies with LC+ is only 14v. I haven't heard that was loco limit though.

Both the 54 and 72 Watt LionChief wall warts output 18VDC. The manuals for LionChief equipment state not to exceed 18VAC or 18VDC. Those with variable voltage transformers sometimes limit the voltage to ~14 volts to act as a "speed limit" to keep trains from flying off the track.

It may have a 14v minimum to work then...?   I forget; just trying to shake the memory loose again

Hollow chisel mortise drill

ignore that, it posted to the wrong thread