Login
or
Register
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Home
»
Model Railroader
»
Forums
»
General Discussion (Model Railroader)
»
Electrical problem
Electrical problem
766 views
6 replies
Order Ascending
Order Descending
retsignalmtr
Member since
February 2002
From: Westchester NY
1,747 posts
Posted by
retsignalmtr
on Sunday, January 16, 2005 5:39 PM
some power packs have a fixed dc terminal along with variable dc. fixed dc is full 12 volt dc and variable dc works through the control knob.
Reply
cacole
Member since
July 2003
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
13,757 posts
Posted by
cacole
on Sunday, January 16, 2005 8:01 AM
It sounds to me like you have the power pack connected wrong. The track should be connected to the two terminals marked "Variable DC" on the back of the power pack, and the throttle knob should be turned fully counter-clockwise as its "off" position. The fact that the locomotives won't run when you use your Digitrax DCC system is normal if you don't have decoders in the locomotive(s) and have their address selected.
Reply
Virginian
Member since
May 2004
From: Ohio
1,615 posts
Posted by
Virginian
on Saturday, January 15, 2005 8:40 PM
Sounds like you're hooked to the wrong terminals and/or you have two loops on two different transformers connected together without insulators.
What could have happened.... did.
Reply
Don Gibson
Member since
June 2004
From: Pacific Northwest
3,864 posts
Posted by
Don Gibson
on Saturday, January 15, 2005 6:07 PM
SOUNDS like your MRC is putting out 12 volts OK,but the reostat isn't functioning.
Do have the knob turned all the way counter clockwise?
Do you have the right pair of screw terminals connected?
SIMPLE questions, but your problem has a simple answer. For example, Have you tried calling MODEL RECTIFIER CORPORATION?
Don Gibson .............. ________ _______ I I__()____||__| ||||| I / I ((|__|----------| | |||||||||| I ______ I // o--O O O O-----o o OO-------OO ###########################
Reply
jrbernier
Member since
January 2001
From: SE Minnesota
6,847 posts
Posted by
jrbernier
on Saturday, January 15, 2005 3:42 PM
Sounds like your old MRC pack is shot. A non DCC engine should 'hum' when sitting on a track powered by a DCC system. If you select address '0', it should respond.
Jim Bernier
Modeling
BNSF
and
Milwaukee Road
in SW Wisconsin
Reply
jsoderq
Member since
September 2002
From: Saginaw River
948 posts
Posted by
jsoderq
on Saturday, January 15, 2005 3:38 PM
Without more detail it is hard to tell. If the locos all take off the power pack is probably shot and putting power on the track at all times. Or you are incorrectly wired to the wrong terminals - many packs have more than one output. If the locos are not DCC why are you monkeying with Digitrax?
Reply
Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Electrical problem
Posted by
Anonymous
on Saturday, January 15, 2005 3:31 PM
Help! I place a loco on my track and it takes off at full throttle. I have tried 3 different locos different track including a strip of test track and they all behave the same. This is happening when using an older MRC power pack. None of the locos are DCC. When I switch to a Digitrax Zepyher pack the engines sit on the track and make a low humming noise with dim lights. I have no control over direction or speed on either pack. Can anyone help?
Reply
Edit
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Users Online
There are no community member online
Search the Community
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter
See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter
and get model railroad news in your inbox!
Sign up