LionChief Wall Wart Running Legacy

Until relatively recently, TMCC/Legacy engines required AC track power, or would blow the RailSounds circuits.  GRJ would know better than I.  Also, it would depend on the wattage of the wall-wart.  Legacy units with dual motors, smoke, and lighting effects eat a lot more than a basic entry level engine.

Jon

@NOT LionelLLC posted:

For a basic LionChief starter set that comes with a wall wart to power the track, and there's the dedicated remote to control the loco, can you put a Legacy-bluetooth-equipped loco on that track (keeping the track powered by the wall wart) and control the Legacy loco (standard two motor diesel) with the LionChief App from your phone?  It's OK if the LC loco has to be taken off the track and the Legacy loco the only engine on the track.

Will this work?

Stu

I believe the manual explicitly  states to use AC power for Legacy locomotives.

Pulled this from a Legacy Shay Manual...

Power your locomotive with an alternating-current (50-60Hz AC) transformer only. Powering your locomotive with a direct-current (DC) transformer, or in excess of 19 volts AC, may result in damage to sensitive electronic components.

I believe I read here a while back that newer Legacy models with BT will operate with AC or DC power now but only BT operation with the app for DC.  Legacy control is only good with AC power. Hopefully others will chime in as I am not totally sure on this..

Brad

Thank you both.  Sounds like you're both saying the wall wart puts out DC.

Just in case it sheds any more light on the topic, while I don't yet have the SKU for my friends starter set, a picture is attached.  Also, the loco he wants to get is one of the Amtrak F40PH's from 2022.

Stu

@NOT LionelLLC posted:

Thank you both.  Sounds like you're both saying the wall wart puts out DC.

Just in case it sheds any more light on the topic, while I don't yet have the SKU for my friends starter set, a picture is attached.  Also, the loco he wants to get is one of the Amtrak F40PH's from 2022.

Stu

The phrase " Simple Wall-Pack Power Supply" definitely is the giveaway for a DC Power pack.

The good news is that the set will run on an AC powered layout.  So get an AC transformer and put the DC one away.

The newer Legacy electronics will operate on DC with Bluetooth only control. So any engine with a LCP2 or LCP3. This would be engines from 2020C1 and beyond. For conventional or command control, AC is required.

The older RCMC electronics only worked on AC power.

Well can't get a better answer than that.

@Dave Olson posted:

The newer Legacy electronics will operate on DC with Bluetooth only control. So any engine with a LCP2 or LCP3. This would be engines from 2020C1 and beyond. For conventional or command control, AC is required.

The older RCMC electronics only worked on AC power.

THANK YOU DAVE!!!

Stu

It is great that Dave monitors the forum and provides information when needed. Dave's reply above applies only to O gauge Legacy engines. Many S gauge operators read this Control Systems forum as well. For S gauge, any Legacy engine made beginning in 2013 will run on AC, DC or DCC track power.

Many S gauge operators have purchased FlyerChief engines equipped with Bluetooth but no Legacy engines have been made with Bluetooth. Some also run their layout with DC power. This causes a lot of confusion about what engines are compatible in S gauge. There is also question about use of FlyerChief engines on DCC powered track. Will DCC harm the FlyerChief electronics over time?