I have been using Troller Power Packs (conventional DC) nearly exclusively since 1983.
Among the controllers I have used are the handheld Troller Trakker hand-helds in various models.
I guess I never read the instructions. I just purchased one on eBay that included the original instructions, and in three places in the instructions it states that the input must be attached to the AC terminals, and states to NEVER attach the Trakker to the DC accessory terminals.
Well, guess what... I have always used the DC terminals. Exactly the opposite of what the instructions state.
What difference does this make? If there is a rectifier in the Trakker, why would provining DC current make a difference?
Is this dangerous? Have I made a terrible mistake? Have I been damaging my Trakkers?
Could this damage my equipment?
Please provide your thoughts.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Kevin,
I loved my Trollers when I used them and had a tracker.
As I recall, it worked off the AC terminal. This was to create the pulses that made the Troller products work so well at lower speed settings.
Putting pure DC through it, would just eliminate the pulses and lose the smooth running. Running it off the normal output from the Troller pack, designed to go to the track, should allow the pulses through. Either way, you're not going to hurt the Tracker or the main pack.
I grabbed these up whenever I saw them when I was in DC. Even had one that said Tyco on it, but was a Troller right down to the spade lug connectors.
These packs got a lot of undeserved bad press that folded the company, but were actually very good packs. Better than their contemporary competitors. The closest thing to the old troller circuit today is the Kato pack. It's constantly being described as pure DC, but in fact is almost identical to the old Trollers and operates with the same pulse that disappears as the speed knob rotates higher.
Don
Don, Thank you for the reply, and that makes perfect sense. I am glad to hear I have probably not damaged anything.
Troller Power Packs quickly proved themselves as an excellent product when I was just starting out.
When I was 16, one of my first purchases with money from my first job was a Troller Twin Momentum 5, and it worked perfectly for more than 20 years.
I currently own more than a dozed working Transpak 2.5s that will be the exclusive power pack for the rest of my life.
They look great when flush mounted into the fascia.
That "underserved bad press" was that they falsified UL ratings on certain models - that had NEVER been tested by UL. That is and was a HUGE no-no. One thing to be cautious of today with inexpensive China=made electrical and electronic items. Other countries besides the US have their own standards and tests, and products DO get banned all the time for not meeting requirements.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinkerThat "underserved bad press" was that they falsified UL ratings on certain models - that had NEVER been tested by UL. That is and was a HUGE no-no.
I have never actually seen any printed article or internet news posting about these falsified UL certifications.
Was this ever in the hobby press? Can your provide a magazine issue date or an internet link.
All my searches have revealed nothing about this scandal.
I am sure this was reported in MR, but the search on the 75 year DVD is next to useless because even with the option for complete words selected, you get every instance where the word "controller" shows up if you search for 'troller' and even doing troller and ul gets you controller and any word that contains the letters ul.
However - nothing can hide from me. Found the mention. November 1978, page 4. Coincidently when Jim Hediger got promoted to Senior Editor. Troller released the 5501 Twin Trans Pak which was now safety listed by Underwriters Laboratories. The predecessor model, the 5500, carried a false UL symbol and units tested by UL did not meet their standards. UL was requesting Troller recall the 5500. There is a reference to another item in the September 78 issue which is where I am headed next.
September 78, page 8, third news item (right below one saying Troller moved to a new location) is the UL report that the unit did not meet required standardsa and was sold bearing a false approval sticker. In some genius product placement, the news item continues on page 10, with a full page ad by Troller in between!
I knew I wasn't just making this up. Googl search turns up that I have mentioned this several times in threads on Troller power packs.
Interesting is that there are several fishing lure patents ALSO assigned to Troller Corporation, around the same time they were making the power packs. ANd from 1986 on, there has been a Troller Corporation in PA that makes boats.
Hmmm... I was only ten years old in 1978, and still a few years away from Troller power packs.
It seems Troller continued in the power pack business for around twenty years after this bad press incident if the dates are correct, and that would also explain why I never heard about it. I did not subscribe to Model Railroader until I was 12 or 13 years old.
Thank you for looking it up. I honestly could not find anything.
I remember the Troller advertisements in the 1980s where they showed what the power packs went through for UL testing. This would have been after the fradulent UL listings. I guess they were trying to get over that stigma.