Skip to main content

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Question for Gunrunner,

If running DCS & Legacy, on a fair size layout (14'x25' with 2 interconnected loops & one reversing loop) what would be your top 3 power sources? If money wasn't an issue or a moderate concern. The layout is a little more complicated than that, it also has a few sidings & a yard. Of course feedback from members welcome.

I am an electronics DUMBBELL, and every time I hear "chopped sine wave vrs smooth sine wave", my head spins! I'm not interested in why, just what will be the most harmonious environment for my trains, & I have no doubt there will be a compromise somewhere. I do not run conventional. If it makes it easier just the ideal choice, but why.

Thanks,

Joe

My choice would be the Lionel PowerHouse 180 bricks.  Excellent fast electronic circuit breaker and very reasonably priced per watt of power.  Any claimed advantages for smoke production to chopped wave transformers evaporates when they're set to full power, and pure sine wave is least likely to generate any electrical noise that may affect your trains, or even other electronics close by.  For pure command operation, the PH180 is hard to beat.  You might want a variable transformer for accessories, many of them are picky about the voltage range they run in.

Sounds good. I've been running an MTH Z4000 for close to 15 years & very satisfied. About a year ago the voltage would drop on one of the throttles, I was told the potentiometer needs replacing. I'd love to get it repaired. Its just a 30 lb door stop now. I switched to a MRC Dual 270 Watt Transformer & so far the trains are running fine. I have 2 180 bricks that came with a Lionel ZW-C just sitting in the wings.

You should be able to run with that transformer.  There's no significant risk, the only issue is some transformers don't work well with the MTH electronics.  They don't necessarily damage it, they just don't run right.  The whistle and bell buttons work the same for any conventional running.  That is, the whistle imparts a positive DC offset on the center rail and the bell button imparts a negative DC offset on the center rail.

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×