Vision Line power

Im confused as to what you were doing, or what you are trying to do. 

 

Are you trying to run all 3 engines at the same time on the same 180 watt brick? If so, yeah that could trip the 10amp breaker in the brick.

 

Yes the VLBB draws a lot of power with all 3 smoke units on, but 2 180 watt bricks is more than enough for those 3 engines if your track is split into blocks.

Three VL-BB locomotives with smoke WILL trip the 10A brick, each locomotive draws around 4 amps with everything running, and that's without a load, just running on the track alone.  Almost half of that is the smoke units.

 

hook both PH 180 together in phase and you should be good to go. that is how the 3 railers have wired each of their 4 lines.

Um, putting 2 180 watt bricks together on the same power district is a very bad idea. You are putting 20 Amps on the rails and if you have a derailment you can do some very serious damage to those expensive locomotives should you short anything out. 20 Amps is a lot of power to short thru a loco and you will fry circuit boards and weld wheels to the rails.

I agree 100% Matt.  First off, the circuit breakers of the PH180 bricks get confused in parallel, and you don't get the power you think you're getting.  Also, they're really good at welding wheels to rails in a derailment.

Isn't this what the former TPC400 unit provided for folks who wanted this level of power?  Granted, 20 amps is a lot of power... but if you're just running loops without lots of complicated track configurations (i.e., where most derailments occur), the TPC400 may be your ticket.  You may need to hunt for the TPC400's though, 'cause I don't think Lionel is offering them anymore.

 

David

Lionel is introducing a 360W Legacy PowerMaster soon to fill the void.

 

I still think it's a bad idea.

 

It can be done an the Power Houses do function in parallel, but you do lose some level of protection and you do have significant amperage available and between blocks.

 

I watched a layout run that had several block along a 1000 square ft plus layout in a house attic.  Up to 5 or 6 PH where in parallel in each block, because consist ran with up to 4 dual Pulmore motor engines in MU on each block.  At time you could have 2 Consist in the same block.

 

If you had a derailment you had to act fast and yes there were a lot of sparks.  Otherwise it ran fine, but this was not a layout you could walk away from, and it certainly had potential for disaster.   I don't think 2 PH in parallel on the same block is much of an issue.  No different then 1 on 2 blocks when a train is crossing the blocks or they are thrown in parallel via switch when moving between block.

 

I do think the TPC is a method to improve the safety though.   G

I had a derailment between two power districts not long ago of a Legacy F3 set and 20 amps smoke out the sound and the breakers didn't trip. Cots me $99 to fix since the board was not repairable

I believe Lionel has stated here on the forum that this information is incorrect. They had to switch manufacturers or something. Last I heard the PH-180's would be available again in early 2016.

 

I also agree with the others, paralleling two PH-180s is not a good idea. If you must do this at least wait for the 360W Powermasters or find a TPC-400.