I’ve heard mixed answers on this subject. From the British side, I’ve heard ‘yes you can’ and from the North American side, I’ve heard “no you can’t”. The difference is that the electricity/voltage is different from Britain compared to America/Canada (I believe that America runs lower voltage (120V) compared to Britain (240V), I could be wrong though). I know that this is a North American model railroad forum so you guys might not know what the answer is. I was just wondering if anyone knew here?
There is a simple answer to your question - yes, you can.
What you cannot use, is your British power pack, because the Brits, like most of the European countries, run on 240 V AC. You´d need to fit a step-down transformer and an adapter in between.
HO scale and N trains run on 12 - 16 V DC, so you can place a British loco on US track and run it - with your US power pack.
You 100% can run British locos on US layouts. I do it all the time. (See evidence in the Youtube link in my signature)
Hornby, Bachmann Branchline, ViTrains and other OO scale all run on HO scale track. The voltages at the track are the same. Many of mine are DCC converted and run on US DCC layouts.
Some of these older Brits have real deep flanges and only work well on Code 100 track. As a result I use Atlas Code 100 and Peco turnouts.
BTW, don’t bother trying to use a Brit powerpack in Canada, just pick one up for North American use.
My experience with using a 220/240v power pack is that it works fine on 110v, but you get half the voltage. A 220v pack outputting 12 V DC only puts out 6 volts V DC on American 110v. In some situations this could be okay and in others not.
Enjoy
Paul
If you use an American power pack I don’t see a problem. I had no trouble running a couple of European made locos that I bought in Germany. I ran them with nothing but US power packs. In Germany I used a US made power pack on a step down transformer (220 to 110) and once back in the states I just plugged it into a wall socket. The only difference was they ran a little slower in Europe due to the 50hz current.
Funny I remember answering this question already. I answered it on another forum and the OP’s post was identical to this one!!
The trains will work just fine, since they all work on the same voltage and our DCC systems and protocols were developed based on the system Lenz developed. What will not work is the actual transformers. Europe uses 50Hz 240V and different plug configuration. Most of the Americas use 60hz 110V and the common plug we all have in our houses.
Massey
Thank for your help so far!
Plug adapters are available. If you’re staying in U.S. you can change the plug. Works fine.
Paul