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More Power for DCC

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vail, AZ
  • 1,943 posts
Posted by Vail and Southwestern RR on Thursday, August 23, 2007 1:07 AM

Four engines, even with sound doesn't strike me as that much.  It may be that at max draw, it isn't enough, but you are 'never' going to be maxing all of them at the same time, for practical purposes.  Ten, on the other hand, is a lot.  If the speed isn't changing, the voltage isn't changing, so I don't think you have a problem right now.  But planning ahead is a good thing.

To really know what's going on, you could get one of these:

http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/rrampmeter.htm

You can measure the current and see if it is really a problem, or you can measure the voltage, in real time, as you operate.

Jeff But it's a dry heat!

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 23, 2007 6:59 AM
4 BLI's F units placed into Heavy Load mode really pulls on the power. What might be the killer is two additional helpers at the rear of the train. If that does not max out a system I dont know what will.
  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Thursday, August 23, 2007 12:24 PM

 When I was running the 4 F3's with my MRC 9500 they only pulled .5 amp and around 12 volts at 65% thottle. After running the 70's athearn's that seems Looooooooow.Wink [;)]

 Thanks for the tip on the meter as well, later when I do added the new bench it might be a must have.

           Cuda Ken

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: New Bedford, MA
  • 253 posts
Posted by Jake1210 on Thursday, August 23, 2007 1:39 PM
 tstage wrote:

Ken,

If it were any other DCC system besides the Bachmann, I'd say look into it a bit more and go for it.  However, since the E-Z Command is somewhat unique, I'd be VERY careful about hooking up anything other than their own 5-amp booster.

You could also e-mail or call Tony's directly and ask them whether that particular booster would work with the E-Z Command.  I would do that before taking a chance and inadvertantly frying it.

For what it's worth... 

Tom

 

Actually, you can hook E-Z Command up to a Lenz booster. It was (and still is) recommended before bachmann introduced the booster.

  • Member since
    March 2001
  • From: Flat Rock, IL
  • 94 posts
Posted by jdtractorboy on Thursday, August 23, 2007 3:36 PM

I guess my question would be do you really want to have $200+ dollars in the bachmann setup?  Not trying to be rude or anything, but just a thought. 

Of course if you really like it....it would be a great investement. 

 

Chuck 

Ask not what your Model Railroad can do to you...Ask what you can do to your Model Railroad! Modeling in N-Scale a Fictional Crossing of the NKP, WM with other "trackage rights" for fun!
  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:35 PM

 Jdtractorboy, not rude at all and wonder the same thing as well at times.

 Here is what I have found out from MRC, Charles seems to think there would be no problems with using the Power Station 8 with the Bachmann EZ command. It would all so work with a Zephier, NEC, MRC etc. So it is not like I can not use it with other DCC systems and would be thrown away when I out grow my EZ Command.

 Here is a nother reason I am lerry of going to another DCC system. Last week I took my GE AC 6000 Blue Line with a digitrax DN163 decoder (I know it in scale but it is a tight fit being N scale) in it to change when the brakes come on. After Ken of K-10 Trains played with the CV's I took it home. Brakes still don't work right and now the 6000 move at a 3rd of the speed it use to. I think we changed the speed setting to yard work CV?

 All so called Tonys Train and spoke with another Ken, he thinks I am nuts as well. Told me to go with NEC easyer to use than Digitrax and all most fool proof.

                Cuda Ken

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • 732 posts
Posted by conrail92 on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:46 PM
Hey sorry to butt in but... I never seen this product before looks nice, Any chance this could work with a MRC prodigy express?
"If you can dream it you can do it" Enzo Ferrari :)
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 27, 2007 9:31 AM

Tim Allen he is my Hero. But I never had to vist a E R because of to much power.

....yet........Wink [;)] 

 

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Christiana, TN
  • 2,134 posts
Posted by CSX Robert on Monday, August 27, 2007 10:30 AM
 conrail92 wrote:
Hey sorry to butt in but... I never seen this product before looks nice, Any chance this could work with a MRC prodigy express?


Yes, the MRC Power Station 8 is supposed to work with any DCC system.

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