MRC 270w Dual Pure power transformer

[kbgb]

I need a new transformer as my current ones are old and the whistle button is a bit poor. The new transformer needssome older locos and modern ones with whistle and bell. I also have a lionel trainsounds boxcar and intend to get more lionel locos with this feature. I am not interested in TMCC. As I live in the UK I dont have the opportunity to check out any purchase before I send for it from the USA. The mrc 270 dual looks good. Can anyone comment on this transformer or suggest an alternative. Thanks KBGB

[Anonymous]

I made a same post regarding the MRC back in March. Here's the thread that should give you more info:

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=61058

And btw, [#welcome] to the forum!

[mpzpw3]

After reading your post, and viewing some older ones, I'm not sure if this is the transformer for you. I have no experience with this transformer, but after reading up on it, it seems that it has a hard time operating postwar air-whistles. It sounds like that is what you would like to operate, along with some modern sound systems. I almost bought this transformer, but I run some post war, and like my air-whistles. If I am wrong on this, PLEASE correct me!!
Buying a transformer is something you really want to study up on. It is at the heart of what you want your trains and layout to do. There are many options, and you should judge the pros-and-cons of each.

[ChiefEagles]

Wait until tomorrow. Jim Apitz can tell you as he has one and run old and new engines. I believe the transformer will not blow old [postwar] whistles.

[willpick]

Kbgb, The MRC Pure power dual is not very good at operating PW air whistles. I'm assuming that you have a stepdown transformer, as all of the transformers currently available from US companies run on 120V 60HZ. there is another GB member of this forum (forum name Nick12DMC) who had lots of trouble attempting to use the Lionel CW80 transformer that came with his starter set on UK power.
He had to come up with a unique solution to the power problem. He bought a pure sine inverter(output 120V 60HZ) powered by a high current 12VDC supply (220V input) so that the CW 80 would run properly.
Hope this helps a bit, and welcome to the world of O !

[Nick12DMC]

Welcome to the forum Kbgb!

Willpick is correct about the Solution for running US 120V 60Hz equipment.
I had lots of trouble with my son's Santa Fe Fast Freight Set with Trainsounds.

I am intrested that you run a Trainsounds boxcar, does it work correctly??
The older Railsounds boxcars work OK so I have been told as they have the
battery. Trainsounds works directly off track power and has no battery.
Along with the CW-80 Transformer, Trainsounds contains circuits that
malfuntion on 50Hz power. This causes the bell and whistle to go off all the time.

You may be better with a Lionel Powerhouse, Cab 1, and a Powermaster and
run TMCC in conventional mode. This will run most things just like a
normal transformer, but you are free to walk around the layout with your Cab 1
remote.

If however you would like a conventional transformer, see if you can get a
Post War celebration ZW as this uses two 135 watt powerhouses which gives
you 270 watts. (Grzyboski's Trains has these for $299)
I know the newer ZW has two 180 watt units but this will put you over the
300 watt limit that the 220V 12V DC supply can supply the inverter.

This limit is only really due to cost factors. The 12 V DC supply is a 25 amp
unit and cost around £40. (this is the cheapest, highest powered unit I could
find)
The inverter is a 300watt pure sine wave 110V 60Hz unit and costs around
$140.

Here is the link to the 12V power supply
http://www.amperordirect.co.uk/prod_app_300p.asp

Here is the one for the Inverter
http://www.invertersrus.com/inv300ps.html
(note: if you have any trouble getting these guys to ship to the UK mention my name)

I have written a article on the inverter set up for "Shortline" the Lionel Collectors
Club UK Magazine. It will appear in the September issue.
Club website
http://www.fastnet.co.uk/lionelclubuk/

Hope this helps

Regards
Nick

P.S. Step Down Transformers do not alter power frequency which in the UK is 50Hz,
the USA is 60Hz which is why I had to go with the Inverter set up.

[Jumijo]

The MRC will not blow post war or modern air whistles. Aside from that, I like mine. Try an MTH 4000 or a Lionel ZW.

Jim

[kbgb]

Thanks for all the replies guys the info on the mrc dual was very useful. As most of my old locos are prewar they dont have air whistles. I have just one with ( a 675) so the mrc may be the one to get as its cheaper than the alternatives and its got the useful meters.I can use these to add up the total wattage being drawn and possibly add a second tansformer for a small trolley line. I need to keep the total watts down to 300w ( not including separate accesories) as I am intending to use the 12v plus 300w inverter route as suggested by Nick . This should be ok as my layout is reasonably small 12x9 with short train lengths. I have just purchased this equipment but unfortunately the 12volt supply seems faulty. I am waiting for a replacement to arrive. The new train sounds equipment does not work correctly on 50 Hz Uk power (the whistle and bell constantly go off) . So the inverter will allow me to import any new lionel loco with sound and know it will work. MTH locos with ps2 do work in the uk by the way.

[Nick12DMC]

Hi Kbgb,
Just a thought on the 12 volt supply, have you checked the voltage
trimmer? Its a little black contol knob on the back of the unit next to the two terminal connectors. Try turning this till the voltage Led's show 13.8 volt.
(this simulates a fully charged car battery).

Also its important to connect the inverter to the terminals on the back of the
unit. Don't just stick the cigar lighter plug on the inverter and plug that into
the front cigar socket of the 12 volt supply, as this is only rated at 7 amps
and the fuse will blow if you put more than around 70 watts load on the
inverter. The terminals on the back are rated at 25 amps and you want to
connect the inverter to those.

Unfortunately the Amperor 12 volt supply does not come with instructions.
They are available to download from their website though.

Most MTH PS 2 DCS stuff works OK on 50Hz I have been told, but it appears to
work better on 60Hz. (I don't have any MTH so my info. is from others)

Please let us know how you get on.

For others intrested in running a large layout using the inverter method.
I have done some further research into being able to power somthing
like a Lionel ZW with two 180 watt powerhouses or a MTH Z4000.
This will obvously cost considerably more.
I have found a 60 amp DC supply for around £180 this would run a 600 watt
pure sine wave inverter which would be around $280.
If you want the Daddy[8D], I have come across a 120 amp DC supply for around
£350 (note: this thing is 11Kg in weight!) But should run a 1000 watt inverter
no problem.

Regards

Nick