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Lionel Trains Workshop => Power & Control => Topic started by: Kentiki on December 04, 2017, 04:55:00 pm

Title: Re: Lionchief power question
Post by: TrainLarry on January 06, 2019, 08:11:39 pm

You're welcome.


Larry

Title: Re: Lionchief power question
Post by: BarryHayes on January 06, 2019, 06:23:26 pm

Larry,

Thanks for the quick reply. 

Barry

Title: Re: Lionchief power question
Post by: TrainLarry on January 06, 2019, 11:21:18 am

I do not see any reason you can't attach multiple Fastrack power supplies to  your layout.

With good, clean track and connections, the track limit is when you start to lose power on the far side of the layout. To compensate, distribute the power around the layout with multiple power sections.

Depending on the size and complexity of your layout, there is no limit to the number of LionChief trains running on the same layout with sufficient power. The question becomes can you keep track of the trains and control them all?


Larry

Title: Re: Lionchief power question
Post by: BarryHayes on January 05, 2019, 06:35:41 pm

Larry,

Are you saying that you can run multiple FasTrack power supplies on 1 long track?  If so, how many.  What's the maximum recommended # of tracks (or track length) per power unit?  How many different Lionchief sets can be run on a single continuous FasTrack layout?


I appreciate any help you supply.

Thanks,
Barry

Title: Re: Lionchief power question
Post by: Kentiki on December 05, 2017, 09:22:02 am

Thank you! I figured an upgrade was in order.

Title: Re: Lionchief power question
Post by: TrainLarry on December 04, 2017, 10:00:27 pm

You can add as many terminal tracks as you need. Put one every 4-5 feet of track to get good power distribution, and use a heavy gauge wire to run the feeders to them.

Make sure the track is clean, and the pins on the track ends are making good contact to the next track to minimize power losses.

You should upgrade your transformer to a CW-80, if not a CW-180. You can never have too much power.


Larry

Title: Lionchief power question
Post by: Kentiki on December 04, 2017, 04:55:00 pm

Hi all,

I'm new to O gauge and Lionel, so please excuse the newbie questions. I'm running the Hogwarts Express with LionChief remote control.

I've expanded the set to a simple offset dogbone about 20 feet long and 5 feet wide at the widest ends. One switch to a spur. I only intend to run a single engine, no blocks, etc.

At this size, with the engine and three lighted coaches on track, the terminal track light just blinks, and there's no power at all to the train. If I remove the coaches, the engine and tender run fine. I realize I should supply power to more than one part of the layout, right?

I use the wall-mounted adapter the set came with. Can I add another power adapter to a terminal track at the other end of the layout to supply more even power? Or is it harmful to use two at the same time?

Otherwise, I am thinking the only other option is buying a larger transformer and running it to two locations on the layout with wire. What do you all recommend?

Thanks,

Ken