sclairfan wrote:I just picked up a Bridgewerks Magnum 10-SR power supply. I ordered it from Machan Home Hardware in Goderich Ontario. This made a very noticable improvement to the way my trains ran. There was no jerking or stopping at all. I was using a power supply from my LGB starter set before and, it was a bit frustrating to use. The Bridgewerks equipment is very well made and extremely sturdy. These are well worth the investment and models like the one I purchased are remote control ready.
Bridgewerks are great supplies but I dont like "lever" controllers. I like a knob controller, so I stick with MRC or LGB.
The 6200 is a good pack and has great support from MRC. It is not perfect--if you run a two motor LGB engine (a krokodile,etc.) with a modest string of cars for over a couple hours, you will see that the pack will lose lots of amperage--you will have to raise the throttle to keep it going at a same speed. The pack after hours of use drops voltage as it gains a load. The transformer is well built in a metal casing that is really tough.
MRC is notorious for deceiving customers on output power. For example, the 6200 has "60 VA" in big letters on it. Only if you do your homework you realize that half of that is available for the DC trains.
Unfortunately the pack peak is 18volts.
If you haven't got a pack yet, I suggest a MRC "Power G" 10 ampere @ 22volts. The great thing about this pack is it has TWO circuits that work independently---one circuit is the handheld-throttle at 0-22 volts, whilst the other is 22 volts constant. Total load must be under 10 amperes. This means, at first you can run one train, and then just buy another throttle (Aristo, LGB,etc.) and you can run two or more separate circuits.
If you're running under the extreme conditions as Dave mentions, then you--obviously--want a power supply with the guts to support it, and a 35 watts is definitely on the low end to do so. Remember, though, that 2 amps is a maximum current at maximum voltage. If you're running at 9 volts, you'll get 4 amps out of the unit. Your train will move, just not quickly.
For the 4 years dad and I ran electricity outdoors (250 feet of aluminum rail with 4% grades), we used an even smaller power supply (25 watts) without any trouble. Our trains were short, say 8 cars, and the locos were small LGB locos with one or two motors, so we weren't loading them up to the extremes Dave mentions. In light-duty situations like that, the 6200 will be more than adequate.
Having said that, if you're in the market for a power supply, I'd try to get something with some more guts behind it. MRC makes the Controlmaster 20 (5 amps @ 20 volts) and the "Power G" 10-amp power supply. Alas, their web site lists them as being out of stock, but stores may still have them. I'm also fond of Bridgewerks' power supplies. They're a bit pricier, but they're built like tanks.
I wrote an article for GR a few years ago (2002?) comparing the various large scale power supplies. It may be available on line, I don't know. Most all of the supplies reviewed are available today, with the likely exception of the LGB ones.
As an alternative, you may also want to look into HAM radio power supplies. You'll need a controller (such as Aristo's "Train Engineer" or such) to actually control the speed and direction of the train, but the power supplies themselves are said to be very solid, stable, and--most importantly--relatively inexpensive.
Later,
K
I use a MRC 6200 for my granddaughter's garden railroad. In the mode I it will power one, two motor loco (F3, GP7) pulling seven frieght cars up and down 2.5% grades. On a hot day it will eventully trip the breaker.
Good luck, Rob
unless you are at full-slip on a 4% with 20 cars and aluminum track driving a K-27.
Or a Shay under similar load.
That should cover one and two motor units.
According to MRC's web site, in the 18 volt mode (suitable for G-scale) the total power is 35VA (volt-amps, or watts). that will give you just under 2 amps at 18 volts. That will be suitable for one or two motors with lights and smoke, etc.
Can someone tell me what is the amps of a MCR 6200 transformer are?
Thank you Chuckshobby
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