What power supply to buy

[Anonymous]

Being new to model railroading, I am a little over whelmed at the options for supplying power. I have one engine that is DCC compatible but is not equipped. I plan on adding additional engines as I go on. Along with accessories. I have been looking at the MRC Tech controllers. I don’t know if I should start a little more basic or jump into DCC at the start. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Javern]

well you can pick up a used Command 2000 off Ebay cheap, start with DCC right off the bat at a low price

[SpaceMouse]

Go DCC and don't look back.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone used Bachmans DCC E-Z command system.

[tstage]

Kevin,

Welcome aboard! [:)]

I would have to aggree with SpaceMouse. Go with DCC. You can get into a simple system (limited but functional) and a decoder for well under $100. If your layout is small, you can "get away with" just running two wires for powering the tracks. (Not the ideal, but it will run.)

In the meantime, a good, basic, no-frill power pack would be the MRC 1370. It will provide you with a more than adequate source of power and the sensitivity of the reostat is far better than the cheap power packs that come with any of those train sets. For a little bit more, the Tech IV series will provide you with momentum and braking.

In the event that you do switch to DCC, you can still use your MRC transformer to run your accessories (i.e. turnouts, lights, etc.), using the AC terminals. The MRC regularly runs around $40 MSRP. I picked mine up on ebay (brand new!) for around $20.

Hope that helps...

Tom

[tstage]

Kevin,

That's the system that I was referring to above. I bought mine from Wholesaletrains.com for $53 ($100 MSRP).

The Bachmann EZ Command System is a basic and limited system but it's definitely an inexpensive way to "get your feet wet" in DCC. About all you can do with it is address the locomotive and turn the headlight off and on. You may be able to do some limited sound effects but I'm not sure. A basic decoder can run you as cheap as $15. Worth considering...

Tom

[simon1966]

Kevin, not only can you use a basic DC controller like Tom suggests as an accessory power later when you switch to DCC, but if you go with a DCC system like the Digitrax Zephyr, you can use is as a throttle to control another DC equipped locomotive.

[cwclark]

I like the MRC tech 4 260 model..it has everything i need and the brake and momentum are outstanding features..Chuck