Simple question, if you are still using DC, do you use simple power packs?
Or something more advanced?
With or without pulse power?
With or without full voltage pluse width modulation speed control?
Maybe this :
http://www3.sympatico.ca/kstapleton3/851.HTM
Or wireless like:
Aristo Craft 10 channel Train Engineer
Train Engineer Revolution https://www.revoelectronics.com/
Radio Control Systems https://www.rcs-rc.com/
Or something you possibly built yourself?
Sheldon
When I fire up the Christmas train (DC) I use an MRC Railpower 1370 power pack. It's a good solid and simple controller that cost me only $25 new on eBay.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
When I run a DC loco once in a while I use a home made throttle from a circuit I found in this MR magazine back in the 1980's. I modified it with a LM555 IC for PWM for nice control. A resistor across the 10k pot turns it into a switching control.I do not have Photo Bucket anymore but someone will post a circiut here of one that is real good. Right now it is in my bookmarks some where.
Too late.
Edit. It was quite similar to this one but good for 2.5 amps. In a 2 x 2 x 4 inch metal box. A thermal circuit breaker out of a very old console TV was the protection.
Rich
OH, I stopped using AD BLOCKER here.
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
RAILROAD of LION has no stinkin' throttles. No Reversing Switch.
TRAINS of LION are automatic. The track itself controls the speed of the train. A Resistor here a feeder there, trains can only move forward, they can never run in reverse because another train is only 180 seconds behind you.
ROARING
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I have used Troller Autopulse 2.5 throttles without momentum exclusively for my last 4 layouts.
.
The original STRATTON AND GILLETTE in N Scale was powered by a Troller Autopulse Twin Momentum 5. I decided to drop momentum, and realized it was better to have two 2.5 amp thottles than a twin 5 amp throttle.
I intend to use Kato's nifty new cell phone controlled sound throttle for my local switcher operations when I build my layout. It looks ot be everything I ever dreamed of.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
So for those who don't know, I use the Aristo Craft 10 channel Train Engineer wireless throttle, which is a wireless radio throttle using full voltage pulse widith modulation.
And looking the the early responses, we have:
2 people using full voltage pulse width modulation
1 person using a fixed voltage with automated stopping and starting.
1 person using an older solid state transistorized pulse power pack.
And 1 person using the MRC railpower 1370 which Rapido warns not to use with their dual mode DCC decoders.
So, related to a number of conversations on the forum recently, most of the DC systems reported so far would be seen as unacceptable for dual mode decoders, which pretty much hate any kind of pulse power.
I am exploring these facts to demonstrate the truth in my statement in another thread regarding the inefectiveness of dual mode decoders in DC.
Dual mode decoders are joke, they exist just to promote DCC to the beginner who already had DC. They encourage the purchase of that first DCC loco before having to invest in a DCC system.
And that is fine.
I'm all for DCC........for other people, especially and particularly if you like onboard sound.
So please, if you still run DC for any reason in any way, let us know what kind of DC motor control you use.
ATLANTIC CENTRALSo for those who don't know, I use the Aristo Craft 10 channel Train Engineer wireless throttle, which is a wireless radio throttle using full voltage pulse widith modulation.
I also use this throttle, I have three and rotary swirch block control. In use for fifteen years with no problems.
Dave
Mel,
I use 13.8 volt regulated bench power supplies for my 10 Aristo throttles. It seems to be just the right voltage for 95% of HO locos.
Nearly all my locos reach a stop speed that is either right around their prototypical top speed, or at least more than fast enough for my operations.
This works out good giving the largest possible range of usable speed steps.
Again, not the best photo, but here is a picture of my typical Aristo throttle with the base station mounted on the power supply. All of my Aristo throttles have the optional cooling fan despite the power supplies only being 3 amps, no where near the Train Engineer max of 10 amps.
I'm using the Stapleton throttle mentioned in your original post, Sheldon, and powering it from the fixed AC terminals of an MRC Controlmaster 20....
It offers smooth speed control, and the option of variable momemtum settings (none for me, thank you), and will easily handle multiple locomotives on extremely heavy (for HO, anyway...like in excess of 24lbs.) trains. It's easy to use, and I have it on a 25' or 30' 'phone cord, with several plug-in jacks in various locations around the layout.
While the walk-around throttle which came with the Controlmaster 20....
.....could handle multiple locomotives, there wasn't a great deal of finesse as far as speed control. The momentum feature didn't work at all...in use, there would be several seconds of no motion at all, then an immediate jump to whatever throttle setting had been selected. I very seldom used the braking feature, as it was just as easy to use the throttle knob.
Prior to that, I had used a couple of SCR throttles from Intrakit, powered from an older MRC Golden Throttlepack. This one...
...was easier to use than their later offering...
....as I often hit the wrong brake button on the newer one.Both of the Intrakit throttles gave excellent speed control and braking, but neither had the capacity to handle long or heavy trains or trains with multiple locomotives.
A friend gave me two of these...
...which I powered with the Controlmaster 20. Like the Intrakit throttles, it had difficulty with heavy trains or multiple locomotives on the same train.However, it was a real pleasure to operate, and I still occasionally use it to run a train or two. While I think that they were originally meant to be panel-mounted, I had always planned to fit them with an over-the-shoulders strap and use them much as a real operator would run a remote radio controlled loco, such as this...
The control is extremely smooth, and the built-in momentum the most seamless I've used (and I'm not much of a fan of momentum, as much of my operation involves switching). However, when running a train, one need only select a throttle setting, and then not touch it again until the train's run was over. Stops and starts along the journey can be easily and smoothly handled by deft use of only the brake handle, at right.
While I can appreciate many of the features of DCC, I'm not a fan of sound (close to four decades in a steel mill can have that kind of effect), nor do I wish to run multiple trains at the same time.If I'm the engineer, fireman, conductor, and brakemen, one train requires my full attention.As for "consisting" locomotives, as can be done with DCC, all of mine have been assigned tonnage ratings based on actual in-service tests, and pretty-well all of my trains require more than one locomotive. I choose from what's available for each train, and because all chosen are actually needed to move the train over the many curves and grades on the line, they perform well with one another, regardless of their make or type.
For the test track in my workshop, I'm using this old Scintilla power pack, dating from the '50s....
Wayne
in order to test DC locomotives before installing a DCC decoder, I used a simple PWM throttle I built. It plugs into the same jack as my PowerCab, which provides power and connections to the track.
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
I keep an MRC rail power 1370 for display loops and such. Also have a set of Bachmann reversing track for the subway display.
Joe Staten Island West
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
I have an MRC Tech II. Remember those. That is ised for. Bench testing and the train around the tree. The large scale is a combination of the bridge master 20 amp and cvp's airwire system Dead rail. The ho is a NCE ph-pro. The postwar lionel is a 1033 switchgear throttle of the day
Wolfie
Before joining a modular club, my DC train set used to have a Railpower 1300 controller. I sold it a couple of years ago.
I remember seeing those Dyna-Models packs pictured in "Electronic Projects for Model Railroaders" as examples of commercial transitor power packs for those that didn't want to follow the steps in the book and build their own. Most of those early transistor packs just weren't made to handle the high current of multiple locos on a train, afforable power transistors just didn't have the current capacity, and ones that did were incredible expensive. Plus I think a lot of them either cheaped out or didn't have the engineering expertise to do a multi-stage design.
I wonder what the inside of that looks like - I know a lot of the MRC ones are surprisngly crude on the inside. At my first post-college job, we had drivers for EDM machines that were made in England and each one seriously looked like it was soldered by someone camped out in their garage. ABout the quality and neatness level of projects I built at home when I was 9-10 years old. I spent a lot of time repairing and rebuilding them, as we had several machines that used them. ANd they were nothing complex, just multiple parallel power transistors to switch high current.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I use an MRC Tech ll Railmaster 2400 series power pack with a pulse switch. It's a good unit and I'm very happy with it.
At this point in the game, switching to DCC is impossible. I use four MRC Controlmaster 20 units to run my HO layout. Been in service for decades and to date happy to report no issues. I monitor amps and voltage on all units with hardwired meters. Have four track main enabling 4 trains at once or using cab control switching any train can go anywhere. With newer can motors, four or five locomotives per train is OK. Running older Athearn BB....three to four locomotives per train doable. In the early years, I used a MRC Tri-pack and Starr-Tec Hogger 5 amp PS. Both are packed in bins and remain serviceable.
I use a MRC Tech 2 Locomotion 1500. It is excellent. It has withstood numerous drops onto hard floors over the years and works as well as ever.
Alan
BubbyI use a MRC Tech 2 Locomotion 1500.
I use Tech II model 1500s to run my Tortoise Switch Machines.
NVSRRThat is an interesting system Lion. Could you create a thread just for it? Would line to know more about it Wolfie
Whole thing is in Website of LION. You can even down load operations manual of LION.
(Link is below) : )
On my last layout I ran the "Train Engineer". Got a backup too, brand new in the box. Been experimenting latly though, got a DCC setup for cheap and the new stuff is much better than the old stuff that got to be no fun fast in DCC. Also got Train Engineer HO onboard, just plugs into the 8 pin plug, bought it originally for going dead rail so we shall see what the future holds.
I have three MRC 9950s, two for the double track main, one for the yard. I like their amp and volt displays, they've proven useful for me in solving some locomotive and resistance wheelset problems.
I have an MRC Tech II 2400 on a separate test track with an ammeter and voltmeter.
When I switched over to DCC I did not want to loose the DC capabilities which have served me well for over 50 years. I kept the DC in operation by using a DPDT connector switch whereby I could run one or the other and it works fine. I now have the best of both worlds.
My current MRC power pack is a Command Twenty Station, and when the DPDT connector is switched to DC I can use DC engines without fear of damaging my new MRC Prodigy Express.
I also have several smaller MRC units under the table that I use to power my lighting.
Robert Sylvester
Newberry-Columbia Line, SC
2 controlmaster 20 s, Ken Stapleton 3 Amp throttle, 3 amp GML and a Soundtraxx D220 IR dc w external sound.
Happy with all ! A DC cab control system with rotarys and toggles for cab selection.
Ron High
I forgot although not used at present a 2.5 amp Scalespeed unit imported fromEngland a long time back works great for switching .Iwill put it back in service. soon I hope.
I use a railpower 1730 from MRC. It's about the most basic DC powerpack MRC makes and is quite affordable. I have also used an old MRC Tech2 but it is showing it's age and the voltage is not longer zero at zero throttle, meaning the trains still move at zero throttle. It's quite annoying!
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
Isaac,
I assume you meant "1370"? I have a couple of those and they are a good units.
SPSOT fan I have also used an old MRC Tech2 but it is showing it's age and the voltage is not longer zero at zero throttle, meaning the trains still move at zero throttle. It's quite annoying!
I have one like that, a Tech 2 model 1400, that was given to me. It is great for a power source for Tortoise switch machines.