New to this and i am building a N scale coffee table layout and trying to find a good duel tranfromer? I had an mrc 2800 but it didn't seem to give my trains enough power. any sugestions would be great :)
I kind of doubt your 2800 lacks "power" so if you have a voltmeter/multimeter, it would be worth checking the outputs of each side to see if you're getting good output. Specs say it puts out 14 volts at 8.5 VA from each cab, so should have plenty of juice for a small layout like yours. Just so that you don't get another pack installed and get the same results...
It may be a wiring issue on your layout, so worth checking this out first.
Most any DC power pack will have plenty of juice to run N scale. Maybe someone else can help with a specific recommendation, as I've been in DCC so ong I don't know anything about currently available DC controls.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Budviper,
First off. To The Forums.
Sounds to me like you need to start at square one, before considering why you think you need a dual cab transformer for a coffee table layout. I Suggest and recommend a book available from Kalmbach books, titled, ''Easy Model Railroad Wiring'' second edition by Andy Sperandeo, one of MRR, staff members. Easy to understand, with diagrams. There are others, but I believe, this one to be one of the best.
I believe you need to understand cab control wiring, for running and controlling more than one engine on a layout.
Take Care!
Frank
Hi, and welcome!
I second the previous posters and might add......... The MRC power pack you had probably had more power than you could use for a small N scale layout. If you found the trains slowing down in places and then speeding up, etc., the problem was either dirty track, dirty loco wheels, or more likely, not enough electrical feeders. Even though it may have been a small layout, feeders will do you well place 5 ft apart, and on every siding, etc. NO ONE had ever complained about having too many feeders.
Also, I second the notion that you need to read up on the basics before you jump in to the layout. Kalmbach puts out an N scale Primer (used ones on Ebay) that is an excellent start.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Are you freeding locomotive power through rail joiners? If so, you might give serious thought to:
Rail joiners are designed to hold rails in mechanical alignment. They do not function well as electrical connectors. If you used sectional track the numerous rail joints between sections simply add to the problem.
As for the MRC 2800, I would not hesitate to use it to power most of my steam roster, one locomotive per controller. Doubleheaders and my dual-motored locomotives would overload it - but I'm running 1960 era amp-hog open frame motors in twice-N scale, 1:80, aka HOj.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
My MRC 2800 has been serving my 5 X 7 layout for over 10 years now; a coffee table layout should be a piece of cake for it. I suspect it might be time for some loco tuning and then check the track for tight connections and cleanliness.
Bob Berger, C.O.O. N-ovation & Northwestern R.R. My patio layout....SEE IT HERE
There's no place like ~/ ;)
Thank you all for your inputs, lot of good advice here i picked the right forum i can see :) I have since gave my controller to my neibours son. I have two single bachmans that im going to use for now. My layout is two small slighty oval tracks conected together with a double crossover, Im using the KATO snap track and have added two extra power feeders on each line. Every thing seems to run very well it's 29"x48". Going to start staining my table today, and next week i'll be putting the layout in it and start my scenery :) I HOPE !!
Thank you Again
Brian