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I bought a Lionel 180W Power Supply in June 2020. I just took it out of the box to try it and it wouldn't power the track. I thought it was a short somewhere on the track, but then I switched to a different power supply and track came on. I have the receipt to the new Lionel power supply, but I don't know where to send it for a replacement. Is there a phone number to call first? Can anyone help me?

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I bought a Lionel 180W Power Supply in June 2020. I just took it out of the box to try it and it wouldn't power the track. I thought it was a short somewhere on the track, but then I switched to a different power supply and track came on. I have the receipt to the new Lionel power supply, but I don't know where to send it for a replacement. Is there a phone number to call first? Can anyone help me?

Have to send it to Lionel. There should be instructions with your brick. It should have a Phone Number to call.

I unplugged the power supply, then I pushed the pin in for a few seconds. Right?

With its plugged in and on, the pin MUST be depressed to supply voltage.  If that pin isn't pushed and stays pushed you will get nothing.  It's a momentary switch. 

How is the brick connected to your track?

Last edited by MartyE

LionChief terminal track. When I pushed the pin in, I heard it clicked. I held it there for a few seconds, then it it stopped. No power to the track. Every time I hit the pin it comes on, then in a few seconds you hear it go off when I let go of the pin.

Don't let go of the pin. That pin must be pushed in and stay in for power to be on.  If you let it go it will shut down the power.

Can you take a picture of the wiring to the terminal track.

As soon as I let go of the pin it’s not on. There’s something wrong with it. I’m going to have to send it in to Lionel and have them look at it.

It's working correctly.  The pin must stay pushed for it to stay on.  Again, the pin MUST stay pushed in for power to be applied.  How are you connecting it to the terminal track.  Until we see that we can't help you any further because we'll have to figure out a way for that pin to be pushed continuously.

Last edited by MartyE

The reason for this pin is for the new UL listing and like it’s been mentioned the pin MUST be fully depressed at ALL times for the brick to work. I don’t know how your hooking up the brick but if your using your own molex connector simply put a pin in the 3rd slot that doesn’t hook to anything. That will depress the pin and turn power on

@MartyE posted:

It's working correctly.  The pin must stay pushed for it to stay on.  Again, the pin MUST stay pushed in for power to be applied.  How are you connecting it to the terminal track.  Until we see that we can't help you any further because we'll have to figure out a way for that pin to be pushed continuously.

I can see how the OP is frustrated.

Does this mean that you have to keep the pin pushed in with one hand at all times during your operating session while trying to control trains with the other or insert some sort of device to keep the pin pushed in at all times ? Doesn't make sense to me.

@Richie C. posted:

I can see how the OP is frustrated.

Does this mean that you have to keep the pin pushed in with one hand at all times during your operating session while trying to control trains with the other or insert some sort of device to keep the pin pushed in at all times ? Doesn't make sense to me.

Yes it means that the pin must stay in to have the unit put voltage out.  No one expects them to hold it in place but until we can see how it is connected, we can recommend a way to have it stay in.  There is a solution but until we see how it's being connected we can't suggest one.  Is he using the molex to bare wire adapter or something other to connect to the track?  What is the connector on the power house plugging into?

Last edited by MartyE

Maybe page 4 and 5 of the manual might help explain better than I.  Page 5 especially reads...

The PowerHouse has a safety switch built into the output plug. The connector
on the TMCC TPC Adapter cable must have contact pins installed in all three
positions to activate this switch and enable the PowerHouse output. A spare
contact pin has been included to be installed in the empty position of the TMCC
TPC Adapter connector.

Lionel 180w Power House manual.

Last edited by MartyE

Sounds to me like he doesn't understand what a picture means. Prairie Land Junction you need to take a couple pictures (as requested several times) of how you have it hooked up. It is that simple. THEN everyone can help you and tell you HOW to keep the pin depressed so you have voltage. I know you are frustrated but take some deep breaths and POST A PICTURE!

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