I'd like walkaround DC with an MRC power pack

[Anonymous]

Is there an easy way to do this?

I'm tempted to "gutt" the MRC power pack and make a handheld throttle out of it.

What other methods are there for having walkaround (teathered) with an MRC power pack?

Wireless would be ideal, but that would be getting into big bucks, and DCC would make more sense for me at that point.

I'm going to have a shelf layout, and can't imagine not having walkaround control for it. This may force me to go DCC if I can't come up with a cheap and easy way to do it.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't MRC still make a tethered hand held throttle for DC?

Walthers Part # 500-251, p. 867 Walthers 2004 HO Scale Reference

I think they have a reaonably priced wireless throttle for DC coming out.

Wayne

[Anonymous]

The MRC Prodigy and Prodigy Advance DCC systems already come with a tethered throttle, and are not too terribly expensive. The PA sells for about $180 from several online discount sources, and the basic Prodigy system sells for about $100 (IIRC). I don't know what the cost of a handheld DC throttle would be, but it probably wouldn't be a whole lot cheaper than getting a DCC system. Just some food for thought.

[FRITSCHSR]

Check out the basic train engineer by Crest (i think, maybe Polk hobbies) I have one & it works great, has built in momentum, also it is wireless. app $65.00

[FRITSCHSR]

I forgot to mention it hooks up between current power supply and the track.
Mine is hooked to a MRC 2500

[Anonymous]

DC?? Why???

[twhite]

If you want a walkaround DC MRC power pack, hike down to your local LHS and pick up the Controlmaster 20. That's what I've got on my Yuba River Sub and it works just dandy, thank you. You can use up to 40 feet of telephone cable with it, and I haven't had to put any plugs in the layout blocks at all. Reaches everywhere on my 24x20' HO layout. Only drawback is that I have to keep running back to the control board everytime I want to use the whistle thingamajig for my BLI steamers.
Tom[:D][:D]

[CNJ831]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FRITSCHSR

Check out the basic train engineer by Crest (i think, maybe Polk hobbies) I have one & it works great, has built in momentum, also it is wireless. app $65.00

Gotta go with Fritschsr on this one. I bought a wireless Crest uint a while back and I absolutely love it. Forget a tethered throttle.

CNJ831

[cwclark]

I use the DALLEE throttle and really enjoy it a lot. www.dallee.com It puts out a small enough voltage that
the engine headlights stay on once the train comes to a stop...one thing about the dallee throttle is that you have
to wire it to the AC side of the power pack and in turn, cannot use the DC side for anything else, it then goes to the throttle and out to the track in DC...I use 4 pin
mic jacks for the plug in at the control panel and you can get those at www.partsexpress.com just type in mic jacks and be sure you get both the male and female side...Chuck

[Don Gibson]

SOME of the smaller specialty mfgs. may still make thethered hand held's. RIX had a beaut - he still may have a few.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by up_santafe

DC?? Why???

I'm actually undecided about DC vs. DCC at this point. Here's what I know:

1) I want to build a very small shelf layout.

2) I already have a nice new (year old or so) MRC power pack. (when I bought it, the hobby shop owner said he could not in good concience recommend DCC to me for getting back into the hobby and starting a very small shelf layout. He recommended spending $50 on an MRC power pack to get some locomotive wheels turning that afternoon, and to re-visit DCC later).

3) I want walkaround control.

3) As much as I'd like to believe it, I doubt my wife will be as interested in the model railroad as me - meaning I'll be operating alone. i.e. - one train at a time. Most complex situation that is likely - one engine switching, with a train circling on the main line.

4) Dropping a couple hundred bucks on DCC when I don't know I need it doesn't seem like the smartest financial decision to make.

I will very likely end up with DCC down the road, but I don't need it to get started on my layout.

I might add, when I was a kid, my dad and I built a layout for 2 cab control on a 4 x 8. I don't think we ever, not one single time, used the 2 cab control on the mainline. We only used it to switch yard tracks off & on. My point: I realize cab control could be a headache for running two trains. On such a small layout, running two trains and flipping all those switches seemed extremely silly.

So I'm definately not anti-DCC, but I thik I could totally build my layout DCC-ready.

If I end up spending the majority of modeling time on, say, detailing diesels, it may be 3 or 4 years until I decide I really need DCC. I just don't know.

I do know that I want walkaround control as soon as I get started.

As a sidenote: Having just remodeled our house, I'm a good couple months away from starting. It's hard to justify building a layout in the garage when there are still small things to finish up on the house.

I love this hobby, but I love my wife & having a happy household even more!

This forum is feeding my MRR'ing hunger in the meantime. I love it!

[Jetrock]

I am in the same boat--I have a shelf layout which is becoming inconvenient to control from a single point. It's 12 feet long and soon to expand to 16, with a pair of view blocks to increase apparent length. I also like to uncouple by hand, so being close to the action, wherever it is, is important. I have a nice MRC Tech II momentum throttle, which works fine, but stays a little too put for my tastes.

My wiring is super, super simple. I don't even have two-cab control--other than the use of Peco "Insulfrog" turnouts, there is no block control.

DCC is not all that practical for where I am right now--at least some of my diesels could be equipped with DCC, but the trolley stuff I have is really not suited for DCC at all. I do plan on making the switch--especially as the layout expands to the point where two operators could keep busy--but in the meantime I'd prefer an inexpensive DC walkaround solution.

[cheese3]

I made a simple throttle with a potentiometer and a DPDT switch. It is powered by my MRC transformer. If you have any questions e-mail or instant message me.

[Anonymous]

Cheese3 - Now we're talking!

Some background: I'm a mechanical engineer, and wiring things doesn't scare me. Designing a circuit does.

You know - I could probably just pull the Pot and switches out of the MRC power pack and use those. I'll just have to buy a small electrical box to house it in - shouldn't be a problem at all.

In effect, I'll have an MRC power pack with an extension chord to the throttle & switches! I could use beefy wires to keep the resistance down from all the extra wiring.


Jetrock - sounds like you'll go to DCC at some point. Hmmm.... Decisions, Decisions. The truth is, $150 or $200 or whatever for DCC isn't that bad, but I don't want my model railroading hobby to go the way of all other technical gadgets in life - where you buy something, then it's outdated in 2 years. I really hate that.

Check this out - I just looked at DVD players at target a couple days ago. No-name brand: $35. Name Brand: $55. One was 1/4 the size of mine that's only like 2 years old. NOTE: I'm not the guy who buys stuff when it's new - my brother-in-law spent $500 on his first DVD player several years ago, and it can't play half of the new DVD's! I don't want to be in that boat with DCC.

Yeah, yeah, it's standardized, right? I'm sure DVD players were too - that business is much more serious than model railroading.

I may very well go DCC, just trying to make sure it makes sense.

But my upgrade path will likely go: MRC power pack to MRC power pack with walkaround throttle to DCC. Maybe by the time I make it to DCC, it will be $50 instead of $200. I can certainly say a DCC system is way simpler than a DVD player! The cost has to come down as it becomes more popular.

[cheese3]

There are no circuit boards involved so it is not hard at all, i have 15 feet of phone wire connected to the track and my transformer (two wires to each) and then it goes into an electrical box (like what is used in wiring for a house) one power wires goes to the potentiometer and the other goes to one of the middle terminals on the DPDT. The other two phone wires go on both terminals on one side of the DPDT(these are the ones connected to the track). I have another wire coming from the potetiometer to the open middle terminal on the DPDT. Conect two wires to the remaining open side teminals on the DPDT and connect them to the opposite terminals on the other side of the DPDT. Drill holes in the box big enough to fit the throw of the DPDT and the nob of the potentiometer through. put both of them in and use the hard ware provivded with each to screw them down. Turn on the power and flip the switch and we have a simple hand held throttle. I also added a cover plate to conseal wiring inside the box so all you see is the grey casing of the phone wire i used. The box is kind of rough looking but you could find better looking boxes if you want it does not bother me. Hope this helps![:D][swg]

here is a pic...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CARRfan

QUOTE: Originally posted by up_santafe

DC?? Why???

I'm actually undecided about DC vs. DCC at this point. Here's what I know:

1) I want to build a very small shelf layout.

2) I already have a nice new (year old or so) MRC power pack. (when I bought it, the hobby shop owner said he could not in good concience recommend DCC to me for getting back into the hobby and starting a very small shelf layout. He recommended spending $50 on an MRC power pack to get some locomotive wheels turning that afternoon, and to re-visit DCC later).

3) I want walkaround control.

3) As much as I'd like to believe it, I doubt my wife will be as interested in the model railroad as me - meaning I'll be operating alone. i.e. - one train at a time. Most complex situation that is likely - one engine switching, with a train circling on the main line.

4) Dropping a couple hundred bucks on DCC when I don't know I need it doesn't seem like the smartest financial decision to make.

I will very likely end up with DCC down the road, but I don't need it to get started on my layout.

I might add, when I was a kid, my dad and I built a layout for 2 cab control on a 4 x 8. I don't think we ever, not one single time, used the 2 cab control on the mainline. We only used it to switch yard tracks off & on. My point: I realize cab control could be a headache for running two trains. On such a small layout, running two trains and flipping all those switches seemed extremely silly.

So I'm definately not anti-DCC, but I thik I could totally build my layout DCC-ready.

If I end up spending the majority of modeling time on, say, detailing diesels, it may be 3 or 4 years until I decide I really need DCC. I just don't know.

I do know that I want walkaround control as soon as I get started.

As a sidenote: Having just remodeled our house, I'm a good couple months away from starting. It's hard to justify building a layout in the garage when there are still small things to finish up on the house.

I love this hobby, but I love my wife & having a happy household even more!

This forum is feeding my MRR'ing hunger in the meantime. I love it!

Now I understand. When only running one loco, then DC is the way to go. When you are ready to run multiple consists, then DCC is the best solution.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CARRfan

Is there an easy way to do this?

I'm tempted to "gutt" the MRC power pack and make a handheld throttle out of it.

That is probably the easiest and by far cheapest way to do it., leave the output transistor, transformer and power switch in the pack. Put the poteniometer, reversing switch in the walkaround box. You have to decide about momentum and pulse power. You'll need at least four conductors, using a coiled phone cord is sufficient, because there is no power, just signal to/from the throttle box.

Budget about $15 plus the power pack if you keep it simple: pot and dpdt in a box with coil phone cord.

[dragenrider]

I use DC and a MRC power pack. I just inserted an Aristo Craft (now marketed by Crest) wireless receiver in between the pack and the track. I then added a second receiver and MRC power pack and then I toggle back and forth between the two on the handheld wireless controller. Viola! Wireless DC with cab control! [:D] You can find these items on the Walthers website.