I'm back after a long-term illness that put me out of the hobby for about a year. In the meantime, I've got to re-do a lot on my model railroad. One of the projects was replacing my MRC Controlmaster 20 with a MRC 9900 controller. I was able to find a model 1325 walkaround throttle for the unit, but it only has about five feet of workable extension. As some of you might remember, my layout takes up an entire 2-car garage (California basement, lol!), so five feet of walkaround isn't much. I can't find any information on whether or not the power cord to the controller can be extended. On the Controlmaster 20, I had about 25 feet of cord to work with, but trying 25 feet with this new controller doesn't work. Does anyone have any information on extending the cord for this controller? I tried MRC, but all they can tell me is that the unit is out of stock. I KNOW it's out of stock, I golt mine through a wholesaler. Anyway, if anyone has any helpful information, I'd sure appreciate it.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Good to have you back, Tom! You have been missed! I hope you are on the mend?
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I don't know about any cord extensions, but could you have "outlets" to plug in your throttle as you move about the lay out?
I know when teathered walk-a-round throttles came about, that was the way to do it. Your train maintained it's speed as you unpluged, and moved to the next one.
I know there must be a better term than "outlets", can't think of it now.
Maybe you could go "wireless" ? but the cost of that conversion maybe way too much, compared to a long cord, or outlets.
Welcome back. I hope everything is coming around for you.
Mike.
My You Tube
Thanks, Mike, I didn't think of installing "outlets" (can't think of the right name either, lol!). The MRC states that the controller has memory, so that might be the answer instead of worrying about a cord to trip over. I'll have to get a book on DC wiring to see how to go about it or talk to the guys down at my local hobby shop. They really know their stuff. Thanks again.
Thanks, Tom.
I'm doing okay for a 79 year old with 30% kidney function, asthma and two bum knees, lol! But I find if I take it in small 1/2 hour doses, I can get stuff done on the layout. Had to let it go for a while, and a layout here in California in a garage turns into a dust-covered museum in pretty short order. Got a lot done, a lot to do (mainly repairing scenery and vacuuming up squirrel poop) and hopefully I'll be back in it full force in another month or two.
Thanks for the concern. I really mean it. Tom
Even 1/2 hr stints is progress, Tom. It doesn't matter how quickly you move forward, it's the forward motion that's the important thing.
Good to see you back, Tom!
I use the AC output of my ControlMaster 20 to run my trains with a PWM throttle from Ken Stapleton. I have six fascia-mounted 'phone jacks, conveniently spaced around the layout, and a 30' springy coil-type 'phone cord. Works great and reaches everywhere I need to be...
Wayne
Tom W.,
nice to see a post from you. I need more heavy metal in my forum visits (LOL -referring to our shared interest in articualteds). Glad to hear you are getting back to trains.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site