Power systems/Who 's do you use for track power

[Anonymous]

I am confused and looking ??? What power system is best for running long passenger trains ??? Lots of amps needed. Loc-Link, Crest, Bridgewerks ??? Who's best $ wise and performance. What have you done ??? I'm talking "G" gauge here SS track.

[Tom The Brat]

The financially challenged "Nickel & Dime" railroad has an Aristo 55401 10 amp "Controler" powered by 5 amp electronic power supply from allelectronics.com. The open frame power supply is mounted in a freezer tub with an old CPU fan.

Figuring on going to Aristo Train Engineer some time.

[Anonymous]

I'm using a Bridgewerks 15 amp unit and like it . Never a loss for power and reliable . Sometimes I hook up Bridgewerks wireless remote so i'm not trapped by the powerpack and can wander around the yard with my trains .

[Anonymous]

I use a 10amp dc ULTIMA CRE5560 , I use a T E with it . I like it .BEN

[Anonymous]

Not financially challenged at all!!! Amperage challenged though. Aristo ABA/Phoenix
w/12 passengers, 11 lighted is just one consist. 4 Aristo SD-45's lashed up another.
LGB ABBA Warbonnets w/7 LGB kit lighted 1st run passenger cars a third. Just to name a few, and am having a time just to find a power system large enough to run em.
Have been waiting on a new Bridgewerks Mag 18/30 Amps to be built for me since December, they say maybe next week. Gonna try it with Loc-Linc. Any one tried anything similar yet?? Think It'll work ?? Been trying Crest Walkaround 10 amp with 2 MRC 20 controllers an MRC 6000 and Tri-Tec, all 4 parallel wired together, but still not enough!!!

[Anonymous]

The way you are going,you are going to crisp yourself with all that amperage in the garden
Troy

[Anonymous]

Take notice of what Troy hgas said he as an electrician. Before you do anything and certainly before you buy anything determine what your power requirements will be now and for the future.

1/ Do you neeed AC or DC and have you thought this through properly; Troy and I use AC sort of.

2/ How many volts do you need ?

3/ have you done a power audit of your layout ? do you know how many amps or even watts that you need?


Rgds Ian

[toenailridgesl]

RCS radio/control & batteries. No track cleaning, no power pack, no extension cords, no hassles!


(Tony, this HAS! to be worth a discount on my next system!)

[Anonymous]

Yeah guys, I've been experimenting for about 10 years now, DC Power mind ya, and as of yet, don't find nothing capable of running or powering all the lighted passenger cars. Don't wanna hassle with batteries in each car. And like to run and look at a proto operations, long lighted passenger trains as well as multi engined long freights, not little single engine narrow gauge operations. You know like the GN Empire Builder. Santa Fe Chief. 10 passengers or more. Am use to being able to run long passenger trains in HO scale, all lighted aluminum Mantua Famous RR series cars, long trains, 12 or more cars, just like the original Empire Builder. But in "G" gauge they make the nice cars---Aristo, USA, Soon to be MTH. But nothing substantial enough to let you run a long lighted train, power wise. Don't have to hassle with track cleaning, read my previous response--All Stainless Steel Track, I'm Mr. James J. Hill the II, you know, "THE EMPIRE BUILDER" had a 2000' plus brass layout formerly, woulda hated it if it wern't for the LGB track cleaning engine. "BRASS" NEVER AGAIN!!!! Have tried multi pack parallel wired systems to get the power, not the best way. Presently am running 500' plus all SS track, luv it. And note the UP passenger I mentioned earlier, 11 lighted cars can't even run it yet. Am just waiting for the Bridgewerks Mag 18. So I guess from response I'm getting everyones happy to just stay with little narrow gauge operations, even though the manufacturers are putting out this nice mid 50's proto USA stuff now. Quad motored SD-45's, Dash-9's, Dash-8's and the like, but ya can't even run em lashed up like the real thing, cause they don't, "WON'T EVEN" make any power systems to handle the drawwww!!!!!! OH WELL...........Byron

[Anonymous]

Hi bfc7493
I am using LGB's 50110 90VA transformer on my line. runs what I want with power to spare.
You are going to have to rewire your coaches to get the power requirement down and remove the power drag caused by all those pick ups if you want to run ABBA locomotives and eleven coaches and I would sugest jumpercables through the whole train Locos as well to try and get the resistence of the cct down as much as possable as well.
Having a dummy A & B unit in the loco consist two locos should adequatly haul what would efectivly be a 13 coach train.and require a lot less amperage too do it.
regards John

[jebouck]

I use an LGB Jumbo.
Routinely pulls a USA A-B-A PA set/ w phoenix sound in each loco and 8 fully lit USA streamliners with amps to spare.
Also pulls a pair of Ge 4/4 - III's (phoenix in both) with 12 fully lit RhB passenger cars.
No problemo....[:D][^]
jb

[Anonymous]

OK John & JB appriciate the input here. But one big question here, are you tethered or tied to your power pack with your operation?? That's why I'm gonna try the LOC -Linc system along with the power of the new Bridgewerks Mag 18 pack so's I can move around with them, you know 2000' of track is all around the house, can't always see what's going on. Just wonderin if others have been faced with the same type scenario and what system they chose to alleviate it.

[Anonymous]

Hi bfc 7943
I have a fixed control point for the line wich will eventualy be two as my line
is planned to treble in size.
I have easy acsess to the whole line so moving about is not a problem the over all plan is to divide the line into blocks
Each with its own controler to allow for multipal operators as the only time
fixed point becomes a problem is at sidings when there is a need to shunt trains but as they are in reach of the control point it is not really a problem
for me.
regards John

[jebouck]

QUOTE: OK John & JB appriciate the input here. But one big question here, are you tethered or tied to your power pack with your operation

I'm tethered, but I can see the entire layout. Track is nice and level, so derailments are rare.
jb

[Anonymous]

Well I just received my first power unit from Bridgewerks, the Mag 15SR 15 Amp 24 volt unit, an it runs the UP Aristo 12 car passenger set just fine as it is, With power to spare. So bridgewerks is where I'll stay. Will install the 5 Amp Loco-Linc receivers at a later date an let ya'll know how it all works. Thanks for input guys. Byron

[vsmith]

Gee, I feel so inadequate here, with only my LGB 1amp powerpack and Basic Train Engineer R/C controller...works great for my tiny tiny layout though!

[Anonymous]

Vic, at least you didn't listen to Tim the Tool Man Taylor, He have for mega Bridgewerks power supplys on you layout[:p][:0]

[Anonymous]

NO adequate is for what adequate needs!!! 1amp works just fine for the setup I am presently using for my grandsons LGB toy train collection. Use of BRAIN though, dictates using what is adequate to accomplish needs. But as said earlier, if narrow gauge operations suites your fancy. GREAT. Who am I to knock ya. I just happen to like it larger and that's what makes the hobby so enjoyable, as well as those who really enjoy the hobby as THEY CHOOSE TOO, and are willing to share their experinces and knowledge with others in the hobby as well. Enjoy it guys. I do. Byron

[Anonymous]

Hi bfc 7943
Be a bit carefull of lumping narrow gauge into its traditional
corner there where and still are major mainlines of narrow gauge track..
My traditional view of narrow gauge is a tatty thread bare 2 footer,
But go to iandors neck of the woods and you find concrete sleeperd main line standard 2' with monsterouse modern diesle locomotives
Where as my employer has some modern mainline 3'6" gauge tracks.

Back to topic my personal opinion of the train set suplied transformer controlers is replace with something better fas/t
They will not run a Stanze with two 4wh coaches and lit mail car so dont have the capacity to expand the set in a meaningfull way
So are best despenced with early they will not drive many of the acsessories that we would want to add fairly early in the piece[2c]
regards John

[Anonymous]

Point well taken John Thanks BFC

[Anonymous]

Before you get into power blocks, which is an old fashioned and messy way of doing things, look at DCC control. Once you have paid the dough the rest is easy and the more complex and bigger things get the more you will smile to yourself and say "I'm glad i went to DCC".

I run quite a complex and reasonably large layout on a single LGB 51105 (i think) 6 amp transformer and it does it easy. because the equipment i use and the sytem has been properly engineered in the frist place.


Rgds ian


Rgds ian

[Anonymous]

Isn't that what the Loco-linc system is. At present that is what I've chosen to go with. Got to shove for now work nights will respond tomorrow. BFC

[Anonymous]

Hi iandor & bfc 7943
That brings on an interesting question.
At what level of complexity and size does DCC become the only sensable choice.
While my layout is planned to be of reasonable towards the larger end of things.
The overall plan is reletively simple and uncluttered single line with passing loops as far as is practical spaced at 3X train length or more apart
nothing overly complicated but with enough staitions ( Depots I think our US friends call them from passed descusions) and a branch line to keep operations interesting.
regards John

[Anonymous]

Well John,
I have chosen the Loco -Linc system at this juncture per the recommendation of my supplier as well as because of the numerouse problems I've experienced in times past. My customary layout designs for my mainline are what is called a extended dogbone. A side by side double track so's trains are passing each other, than with sidings, a ladder yard area, as well as a reverse Y or Two incorperated into the design. And by useing DCC it's very easy to incorperate these complex track designs while running the large Diesels on track power and let me emphisize again the Stainless Steel track is well worth the investment. It rained most of the day yesterday here in central Florida and I just run the LGB track Cleaning engine around a couple of times just to remove surface sand and debris and I'm up and running in less than 5 minutes. Well gotta go out for now, get back to ya later. Byron BFC7943

[tmcc man]

I am in favor of aristo, my club members for the modular display use crest with the ultima 10 amp, one guy had all three of his shays running, and it worked fine, we also ran 2 aristo Dash9s, a USA SD 40-2, and an aristo SD 45, and we still had enough power(i know all of this even though i am 14)

[Anonymous]

tmcc man
I have been using the ultima 10 amp from creast for 5 years and it is holding up well, i use a train engineer with it . BEN