Don't get TOO cheap a power pack - and older cheap rheostat power pack won;t work well with modern HO locos. You almost need an N scale pack i using a rheostat type. The current draw of modern HO locos is much less than older ones and the result is that not enough voltage drop is realized across the rheostat, making the locos take off at full speed, AN N scale rheostat has a higher resistance and may work with newer HO locos - but then put one old Blue Box loco on the track and it will only go slow (and possibly burn up the N scale rheostat). You really want another newer transistor pack like the 1370. Because of the different way transistor packs reduce the voltage to the track, they work for any scale and any motor load (up to the maximum, of course). If you remember back, things like the 501 Throttlepack came in 501 and 501N versions - because the low current N scale motors were not controllable by the HO rheostats. ANd even further back, when people built their own, there were different rhostats for O scale motors and HO scale motors for the same reason. All the modern transistor packs, there aren;t seperate N and HO versions, because it doesn;t matter.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Late to the party, but I'd say you're making the right call on getting another DC power pack.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Ok folks, you supported what I thought - that while it could work, it is certainly not best practices.
I will bug MRC until I get a reply, and then either get the MRC repaired or just buy a cheapo Tyco pack off Ebay.
Thank you!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
You *could* use the Zephyr. It supports running an analog loco using address 0. However, doing so may have drawbacks, possibly as severe as burning up the loco you're testing.
For that reason, I agree with the suggestion that you bite the bullet and get another DC powerpack. Maybe pick up a used one at a show, or on that auction site.
It'll work, but not well, and you won;t be able to get accurate stall current readings. Some newer locos seem to completel ynot work - my 44 tonner caused an instand short using address 00, but it worked fine on a regular power pack, and works fine with a decoder installed. That was the first I've come along that wouldn;t go at all. If you just want to see if the loco moves at all, it's ok, but it's no proof of a really good running loco. On the other hand, I once had a stubborn Bowser steam loco that someone assembled and painted but never ran. The DC pack I had would not make it go. Ussing address 00 I was able to break the mechanism free and get it to run enough in both directions that now it would run on the DC pack. The strong pulses of DCC were just what it needed to initially get moving.
You select address 00. The direction lever may or may not be accurate, don;t worry about it. Drive the loco back and forth a few times on the test track isn't going to hurt anything. Do not leave it sitting there stopped however, this will overheat the motor. Take it off the rails or turn off the track power.
Another DC pack is the best option for all testing though.
You're better off getting another powerpack.
Hi,
Except for a few locos in a display cabinet, all of my motor units are DCC. On the work/test bench, I have a Digitrax Zephyr which works great for working with DCC locos.
I also have an MRC Railpower 1370 that I used for testing DC locos - especially lubing and tuning them before adding decoders. Well, supprisingly that powerpack stopped working. And so far, MRC is ignoring me - which is quite a surprise as I have been a fan of their products for 50 years.
Ok, back to the zephyr......... I know this subject has been beat to death, but I confess I never paid attention to the details. Soooo, my question is, can I use the zephyr to power DC locos/motors on the test bed? If so, what precautions should I take, Etc.?
Thanks all!
PS: The Stewart Santa Fe ABBA consist with the TCS T1 decoders works beautifully! And as expected, those four power units can really pull.