Do LGB trains run on a different power supply than other (USA or Aristocraft) engines? Is there a reason my LGB 2-6-0 doesn't want to run on my track unless I hook up the power supply that came with the set?
I have been told that LGB locomotives like to run on plain vanilla variable DC voltage. I have always run my Mogul with the Revolution radio control, which is pulse width modulation, with no problems at all. The PWM might cause troubles with earlier sound systems, but I use the Phoenix P8 soundboard on mine and power my engine with battery power. This setup has worked fine for a couple of years now.
Ed
A few LGB engines will draw more amps than others. Check to see if your third party power supply equals (or is greater than) the output amps of the LGB power supply. This is especially true if you are running with lights in the cars. I've seen a few USA starter kit power supplies that will not run USA when lights are in the cars. In my opinion it is best to upgrade to a more powerful power supply, like a 15 or 20 amp system.
Tom Trigg
Which LGB 2-6-0 Mogul?
There are some with MTS decoders which can get confused with a pulsed power.
I run mine on the Aristo 27mhz TE but have the power set to linear.
And even the old LGB 5003/110 power pack has no filter and this mogul runs on it and it puts only 1/2 amp DC.
And some supplies are what some of us call dirty output where the electronics put out ripples that can also confuse a decoder. I have not personally seen this but I did have a customer call where an engine would run on 2 supplies but not on a third. and other engines worked on all 3 supplies.
Check the power (meter it) with a train that does work then check (meter it) the power with the LGB. Really I never had a problem.
See what it is telling you voltage wise.
Will
I would check the current rating, i had to buy a 10 amp controller in the UK to run my Shay and GE 45 tonne
Some LGB Locos do draw a fair bit especially on a 12-15 volt DC system
gck49er Do LGB trains run on a different power supply than other (USA or Aristocraft) engines? Is there a reason my LGB 2-6-0 doesn't want to run on my track unless I hook up the power supply that came with the set?
Another thought occurred to me, are you using a larger size cable as a volt drop may be be affecting the performance. Measure the voltage at the source full load, then measure again at the furthest point of the circuit (Track and see if there is a big difference
Essex here is some thing I saw http://www.invertrain.com/ JFYI
As was asked, what model mogul?? LGB used several different boards, some with analog sound, some with digital sound, and some with digital sound and MTS boards from the factory. LGB as a rule do not like PWM or pulse style power, they want smooth clean DC power for thier electronics, anything else violated the warrenty and could cause issues. Probably was thier way of selling more high doller power supplies back then. The 5amp set up was in two seperate parts, transformer and controler, the Jumbo 10amp throttle was and still is the price of a locomotive, but has nice features like time delay stops for stations, meters to monitor track voltage and amps. I think Bridgewerks transformers work well with LGB stuff as well but I would have to research that. I am converting all my LGB, which is all I really run normaly, to battery RC. Then track power and the cleaning to go with it will be a thing of the past! Mike
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
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