Skip to main content

Replies sorted oldest to newest

PLCProf posted:
Moonman posted:
PLCProf posted:

Given the rumored change in suppliers, it will be interesting to see if the new ones can be run in parallel with the old ones.

Why would anyone need 20amps? Welding?

I agree completely with your opinion, but looking forward to the Powermaster 360 and backward to the TPC 300/400 line, apparently some people do parallel them.

Then, I would say that they will not be alike. Would need to match the new with new or the old with old, due to the backstory.

PLCProf posted:
Dominic Mazoch posted:

They should make a LC 180:  a brick controlled with an LC type "clicker".

In that vein, I would like to see the GW-180 with an integral Base-1L and an included Cab-1L. Be a great entry-level option for those just starting out in Legacy; only one thing to buy, and you could still run conventional with the handle on the GW-180.

If you have a Cab-1L, you will not need the handle.  Run in TMCC/L in Conv.

Hi Sam / I have four on my layout, one for each of four main lines.  I did not know, that they were hard to come by, I may have to purchase one for a back up.  I have them hooked up to a Lionel "L" - "ZW" / The tracks are always at 18v / only time I use the ZW, is when running the old stuff.  Do you run the bricks to a ZW or right to the tracks?

In the Lionel Track & Power Catalog, 2016 - 17 • Page 48 / 180 Watt Powerhouse / 6-22983. Do you know, has the male plug on the end still the same design as the old Lionel Bricks?

Gary

Hey Gary - No, I am not all that familiar with them. I picked up one a couple of years ago after we dismantled our home layout to use on my bench. With just one I had no polarity issues.  Good to hear they will be available soon. 

My friend Harold picked up one of the older ZWs with two 180 bricks for the new club layout at York last week.

Last edited by c.sam
trainroomgary posted:

Hi Sam / I have four on my layout, one for each of four main lines.  I did not know, that they were hard to come by, I may have to purchase one for a back up.  I have them hooked up to a Lionel "L" - "ZW" / The tracks are always at 18v / only time I use the ZW, is when running the old stuff.  Do you run the bricks to a ZW or right to the tracks?

In the Lionel Track & Power Catalog, 2016 - 17 • Page 48 / 180 Watt Powerhouse / 6-22983. Do you know, has the male plug on the end still the same design as the old Lionel Bricks?

Gary

Gary,

The new production will have the same connector terminal on the end. It will fit any old or new equipment designed for it.

When two bricks that are not exactly the same (wire size, turns ratio, etc) and run in parallel they run current through each other to get the output voltages to exactly match. You loose some capacity of the bricks to heat buildup in one or both. If your layout needs more than 180 watts then block it and use one brick per set of blocks, never allowing bricks to be interconnected. How big the effect is is a function of the differences in the bricks designs. 

A couple years back I too pursued the 180 watt brick only to find them gone (did they ever come back or is this the same shortage as about two years ago?). My layout is small and I could run all my accessories and the track on a single 180 watt brick. But that is academic when you can't buy one. So I put only the track on one 100 watt brick and all the accessories on another 100 watt brick. The 100 watt bricks were MTH units with extremely slow circuit breakers. I indeed did get to see welding with derailments. So I added a magnetically triggered aircraft style circuit breaker in series with the track. It trips in less than a second and saves having to tear open my MTH TIU to replace the fuses after every arc producing derailment.

LDBennett

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×