Trains.com

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!

Power Supplies I'm so confused

1353 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 22, 2002 7:58 PM
If you are familiar with electricity the best catalog you can have is one from Newark. They are the biggest distributor I know of. If you know what you need you can find it there and will be able to build your own. If not you will find that the folks on this forum do know. Take their advice to heart.
John
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 22, 2002 2:43 PM
I have used a MRC TrainPower 6200 with my LGB Garden train with good success. A basic rectifier with good power and control. This unit also powered my Aristocraft Christmas G scale layout without a problem. The unit is now providing power for an Atlas DCC Command Control in the lower power setting. It has been a reliable device for over 5 years now.
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Guelph, Ont.
  • 1,476 posts
Posted by BR60103 on Thursday, November 14, 2002 9:49 PM
Full wave rectified, unfiltered DC sounds like the traditional powerpack (Transformer + bridge rectifier) rather than one of the transistor controls or DCC. I don't know why "unfiltered" is specified.
The alternative to Full wave is Half wave aka Pulse power which you get using only 1 diode for a rectifier instead of 4.
See if your library has any books on wiring or electrics for model railroads.
--David

--David

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: San Jose, California
  • 3,154 posts
Posted by nfmisso on Thursday, November 14, 2002 4:47 PM
Okay; we are talking large scale here; stay away from MRC, they do not make anything with sufficient power. I suggest Aristocraft;

http://www.trainworld.com/aristocraft/aristocraft_powerpacks_and_rc.html

specifically 55450 or 55461. These will work well for you for an extremely long time. If in the future you decide to go to DCC, the power supply will still be useful.

Nigel
Nigel N&W in HO scale, 1950 - 1955 (..and some a bit newer too) Now in San Jose, California
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 4:20 PM
Check out Modelrec.com. (Model Rectifier) They can probably help you out.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Power Supplies I'm so confused
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 1:20 PM
I am a novice just starting out. There are so many choices in power supplies. the only artical I have ever found on the topic was in Garden railroad last year. And I thikn I'm even more confused. I own a Lionel GP-9 engine, which has a bulit in sound card, but requires full wave rectified unfilted DC power. how do you find a power supply with this? Maybe I sould not worry about this 'Feature' and just pick up a good supply. right now my 'G' scale layout will only be 150', but I do plan to add to that. Any suggestions where I can get some info and get smarter? Thanks!

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!

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!