I have a train engineer from the aristo starter set I bought. It attaches to the underside of the track and then attaches to the TE with very small screws. My question is what to do with it when not in use. For now I have it in a coffee can. I am in the process of making my layout. I have picked up used track and have a layout that will work for now. I have ballasted the track with crushed limestone just get an idea of how I want the layout and will eventually dig trenches when I am where I want to be. I use anextension cord for now also to get power to the TE. What do you do with your transformers, do you bring inside everytime or leave outside somewhere?
Thanks,
Ed
HI ED,
I BRING MINE INSIDE AFTER EVERY USE. ONE COULD MAKE AN ENCLOSURE, WATER-TIGHT, BUT THEN FOR THE COST OF UNIT I WANT IT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WHEN NOT IN USE.
JOHN
http://www.elmassian.com/trains-mainmenu-27/dcc-battery-rc-electronics-mainmenu-225/dcc-mainmenu-29/my-implement
I used an upside down drain box used for landscaping... keep something on inside, like a 15 watt bulb to burn out moisture...
Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
My transformers live in the garage, but I am lucky enough to have an indoor/outdoor setup. I connect my controllers to the track using trailer plugs. They come in five,six and seven pin and are sturdy enough to leave outside for years. I have run unregulated 12 volts underground, in protective conduit (you can just use garden hose for conduit) to the point near a station. The wires from the track also run to the plug at the same point. When I want to run, I take the controller out to the station and plug in the other end of the trailer plug. The only thing left outside is the fixed wiring and one end of the plug.
If your controller is part of your transformer case, you could just have the low voltage wiring from the transformer to the track connected through the trailer plug. You might only use two connectors out of the five. You would still have to run an extension cord outside for the mains voltage.
Good Luck.
Mick
Chief Operating Officer
Northern Timber Company - Mt Beenak
I keep mine in the house by the front door. I run wire outside and under the ground (landscape wire) to the layout. I never have to hook anything up. Works great.
Back when I still had an outdoor layout I used this setup
Which is a portable platform holding the powerpack and the BTE RC controller, whose antenna is wrapped under the dowel handle. it sat on a fixed wood post where the power leads from the track were plugged into a modified Lionel track connector. The pack was plugged into a yard extentsion cord. Worked great.
Have fun with your trains
Mine lives in a converted hard plastic truck/tool box. You'll find some pictures here. I too have a train engineer which reside inside the box along with the switch controlers and the power pack. Wires are run through PVC conduit to the train lot and into the garage to ckt bkr box. Have had no problems in over 5 years. I disconnect the TE RCVRs from the tracks when not in use (at the RCVRs in the box). Also serves as storage for some tools and accessories. Jack
The first couple of years that I was doing outdoor railroading I used to bring my big transfomer outside and hook it up to the track with quick disconnects. I have an outdoor outlet on the outside of my train shed and just plugged it in. I got tired of the hooking and unhooking and lugging it in and out all the time though. I ran wire from the outside quick disconnects to the inside of the shed and put the transformer on a shelf by the door where I can stand in the doorway and mess with the controls all I want. I of course also have an outlet inside of the shed. From the doorway to the track is about three feet so this all worked out good for me.
brains I have a train engineer from the aristo starter set I bought. It attaches to the underside of the track and then attaches to the TE with very small screws. My question is what to do with it when not in use. For now I have it in a coffee can. I am in the process of making my layout. I have picked up used track and have a layout that will work for now. I have ballasted the track with crushed limestone just get an idea of how I want the layout and will eventually dig trenches when I am where I want to be. I use anextension cord for now also to get power to the TE. What do you do with your transformers, do you bring inside everytime or leave outside somewhere? Thanks, Ed
RUDY JAGER, CEO OF THE LONE WOLF RAILROAD
TRUST ME--I USED TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT!
I have a little shed which came with the house when I bought it. It was intended as a home for a Generator. I use it as storage for my rolling stock when not in use and to house a battery for re-charging my locomotives. I use a solar panel to keep the battery charged
This "train shed" is not big enough to walk in side but has plenty of room for my stuff. I would think you could get a dog house or some such for pretty cheap which would look fine and "keep the powder dry"
Winnegance and Quebec Railway
Eric Schade Gen'l Manager
I have a Bridgewerks 15amp paower pack that I use, It came with banana plugs. when not in use over the rainy season I store it inside. durring the rest of the year its outside on a shelf covered with a plastic cover and a towel to hold it down then I lay a hammer on top to keep the wind from blowing the covers off. this kas worked fine for me the past five years.
Dave
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
I have two te and two power packes that I leave in this cabinet!
I bring in the hand set ( away from heat or cold) Batt seam to last longer.
Sean
I sold all mine.
Is it REAL? or Just 1:29 scale?
Long live Outdoor Model Railroading.
Being the "analog dinosaur" that I am, this is how I protect/store everything. It has a lid that becomes a "work bench" for lite jobs in warm weather.
Tom Trigg
Marty had to sell his transformer to pay for his batteries and chargers.
Say Ed ,
If you wanna go to YouTube and type in Empire 2 Line, there you will see my "Empire Builder" coming in through the "Train Room". This room is insulated and Heated & AC'd, My Bridbewerks 30Volt 25Watt powers systems are all housed inside of the room and I don't have to ever bother with hooking or unhooking anything, I just flip the switches and I am up and running in seconds on about 1500 foot of stainless track.
This is the fourth layout I have started on and I did not want all of the former hastles of picking up and moving trains and power packs or anything all the time........I just wanted to operate as smoothly and hassle free as I could this time around........Room construction and all is quit alot of initial work..... but is will worth it in the long run......just pull a train in and shut off the power and lights and lock the doors at days end.........reversal is just as easy for getting up and running......only hassle at times now is to still have to clean the rail heads off, due to the Squirrels and the sand on their feet.
Byron
I made a carrying box for 2 TE receivers and power supply. See pictures here. I keep the box in the house, bring it out and plug in track power via a pair of banana plugs and AC power at the same location. It takes less than a minute to do this. Same to put it away. Locomotives are also kept inside. Cars stay in a car shed during the summer. Been too much snow for winter operations the last 2 years.
paul
Thanks for all of the input. I have many options here to figure out what to do. The qucik connect connection at the track with banana plugs would be my best option. I cannot wait to get some warmer weather to go out and play.
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