Power supply recommendations

[Anonymous]

I am looking for recommendations and information concerning which power supply/packs I should use. Also, are their any web sites available that give reviews. My scale is HO and I'm fairly new to hobbie. I hope to progress into DCC but I feel I need to master analog first. [?][8D][:)]

[Anonymous]

It depends how many trains you want run at a time. I use the tech4 dual pack. They have alot of power and work well, and they are priced fairly. http://www.modelrec.com/

[cwclark]

my choice are the MRC tech 4 260 models..they can pull up to 7 locomotives and have two extra special features...momentum and braking...they are really nice power packs and they cost about $55-$60 US dollars....I wouldn't use anything else...what i've done is gone to cab control...I use the power pack as Cab 1 and a DALLEE Yardmaster walk around throttle as Cab 2 (the DALLEE costs about $95 US dollars and you will have to use the AC side of one power pack to operate the DALLEE walk around throttle ...another thing...don't try to hook up the DC side of the pack in conjunction with the AC side for the DALLEE..it doesn't work like that because the AC will backfeed through the DC side and the throttle won't work right) ..this set-up works great...Chuck[:D]

[Anonymous]

chuck: will that particular model of MRC enhance braking & momentum for cheaper non-flywheel N scale locos? Or can you see a difference only for higher quality units?

[cwclark]

QUOTE: Originally posted by choocher

chuck: will that particular model of MRC enhance braking & momentum for cheaper non-flywheel N scale locos? Or can you see a difference only for higher quality units?

it should work because it very slowely increases voltage to the track over a long period of time..I don't know if it will cause jerky starts or not but with my experience with them they are one fantastic throttle...very smooth, slow, prototypical starts with my athearn locomotives...i do HO and don't know how it will respond in N scale...I like them because they can free up my hands for a bit before the train gets rolling...just turn on the "momentum" and set your throttle to what ever speed you want the train to run at..it takes about 1 1/2 minutes before the train even starts moving (it simulates the train pumping up the air brakes) and then there is a very slow smooth start until the train reaches the speed the throttle is set at...then you can put on the brake and the train slowely comes to a stop...I'd check with MRC and see what they say...Chuck[:D]

[rrinker]

Absolutely, the MRC units will help even lower quality locos. They probably help lower quality ones better than they help the really good ones, the really good ones already run well at low speeds. The MRC Tech II and Tech 4 packs have automatic pulse power at the low end which greatly helps get the loco moving and keep moving at slow speeds. I used to have a Tech II 1500 for my N scale layout, this was back before the fine-running Atlas/kato N scale locos were available, so I had a bunch of Bachmann. Definitely a worthwhile upgrade.

[mrgstrain]

I have recently started back into the hobbie after about a 25 yr layoff and i am use all my old equipment one of which is a POCHER 4-4-0 made in Italy do not even know how good it is but I am useing a MRC Tech 4 280 ( dual cab) and it will make my engine crawl very slow. I think it was a good choice. Testing all my track is really fun.

[cwclark]

the duel cab 280 is a good pack except for one thing..if one of the speed controls goes out then the pack is worthless...(say bye bye to cab control)...single power pack units are better because if one breaks then one pack is the only thing you have to replace..I have an old duel pack that had a throttle go out and all it is good for now is for wiring accessories to the A/C posts...Chuck

[mrgstrain]

cwclark I had not given that a thought that is what is good about these forums lots of opions hope my dual cab lasts awhile.
Larry

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately for those of us who don't care to retrofit our locomotive fleets with decoders, there are fewer and fewer analog power supply choices. MRC is the de facto "standard" throttle supplier - and has been for many years (my first non-train-set throttle [we called them power packs back then] in 1959 was an MRC 501). They are very reliable. If you go with MRC you will be well advised to make the additional investment in the Tech 4 versus the regular Trainpower. However, many of them put out excessive maximum voltage (maybe the Tech 4 does not, this is the only part of their line with which I have no direct experience) and the DC output is far from clean if you care to scope it. I use the TAT-V throttles offered in kit form and find them greatly superior.

The wireless "Train Engineer" system from Crest is also very good and would be an interesting sort of crossover for you between analog and digital.

The Dallee cabs I think are costly for what they offer, also do not provide "clean" DC, and seem to have shortish lives (my experience, shared by two acquaintances).

[Junctionfan]

What do I need to operate 4 trains with at least 4 engines each?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Junctionfan

What do I need to operate 4 trains with at least 4 engines each?

If you're going to run them all at once, you need DCC. [:D] Seriously, you should probably consider going DCC, since wiring multiple short blocks and 4 controllers would be a lot of work.