I would appreciate suggestions for DC powerpacks capable of driving American flyer DC and AC cast engines,with some indication of quality and effectiveness.Thanks for your help.
What scale are these American Flyer locomotives you are asking about. The AF S-scale engines required AC power and probably won't run on DC. Their HO scale locomotives, IIRC, run on DC power.
Thanks for your reply but see this thread:http://cs.trains.com/ctt/f/95/t/199136.aspx
oroborus I would appreciate suggestions for DC powerpacks capable of driving American flyer DC and AC cast engines,with some indication of quality and effectiveness.Thanks for your help.
The current draw will be the biggest issue. While I'm more familiar with Lionel, the situation is pretty much the same. If your engine/train draws 3 amps (takes a 50 watt transformer to run it), then you need at least 36VA (or a 3 amp output @ 12 volt rating) from the DC power pack for that one engine/train. There weren't a lot of DC powerpacks made in recent years with that kind of output. You will probably have to look through the used MRC powerpacks.
An alternative if the voltage control is pretty good on your existing transformers is to attach a rectifier to the output, and use the transformer speed control to control voltage through the rectifier. A 5 amp, 50 volt full wave bridge is not difficult to find.
Another practical alternative is to build your own DC transistor throttle, and again use your existing transformer for the AC input. Do a search for DC throttles for circuits, then make sure the circuit can handle 3-5 amps output. You WILL need good heat sinks for the power transistors to handle that kind of power. This can be a really excellent setup.
Some of the G (large scale ) power packs will also likely provide the DC power you need, but will probably be costly.
Your post-war engines may also need around 14-16 volts to obtain a decent speed.
I assume you understand that the E units on the field wound motors may or may not work correctly with DC power. You may have to replace the E units with electronic versions intended for use with DC (Dallee is a source). Or possibly use a rectifier bridge in place of the E unit to control the polarity of the field windings (I've forgotten the details since leaving the Lionel world).
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
Thanks for your reply(excellent info), but being new to model railroading my electrical ability is limited and I was looking for something out of the box.The G units might be the ticket I'll keep diggin'.
You should direct that question to the guys on the Classic Toy Trains forum.'
Rich
Alton Junction
Thanks.I'l ltry that.
Not trying to throw you off this forum, but there are some very knowledgeable American Flyer guys on the CTT forum, although it is dominated by (gag) Lionel guys - - - LOL
Ahh, spoken like a true Flyer guy.
Good luck !
I've been thrown out of better places than this!...LOL
oroborus I've been thrown out of better places than this!...LOL
Look at it this way. If we will have you as a member, you don't want to be here.