also, for MRC Prodigy Advanced. I saw the prices jumped up $20 most places. was $175 now $195 at lowest I knew of. but last night, I found the PA for $176 again, and extra PA cabs for $54: http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200407081 http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200407082
Lots of talk about amps in this thread. My RRamp meter has never gotten above 1.2 amps with 140 feet of track and with 4 sound equipped locomotives running on grades at the same time. Engines are P2K and BLI I love my Lenz 100 system. I have a Digitrax Super Chief in the cabinet and have not found a reason to even test it out. If I had a small layout, I'd not hesitate to have either a Bachmann or MRC system. But if it is expansion and features one is focused on, Lenz and Digitrax seem to be the prime choice.
I'm wondering about amps also. I have a five amp NCE system on 850 feet of track. With 12 engines running (3 ABBA consists), I've never seen anything close to 2 amps.
Pete: With two ABBA FT consists running at almost half throttle; 36 loco's at rest with lights turned on, 40 turnouts, 25 Soundtraxx Sound only decoders on, my RRampmeter registers 1.54 amps. At 1/4 throttle of the two ABBA FT consists, plus everything else on, the RRampmeter registerd 1.25 amps. It will take alot more power to register over 2 amps. However the Prodigy Advanced is rated at 1.6 amps?? The Digitrax Zephyr is at 2.5 amps. If you run a maximum of 2-3 trains the Prodigy Advanced will work adequately. Stay cool and run steam....
Sounds to me like the concern over amps is much ado about nothing. The MRC ought to run half a dozen or more engines with sound. (HO) of course. Like I said, the issue is expansion, flexibility, accessories and complexity.
Just a quick note. The longer your track or run is will not draw more AMPS. It may cause a voltage drop. The longer the run of track, the more resistance is bulit up, this will make the volatge drop. AMPS is an aparnt power. This means you car draw as many amps as you need, with in the limits of your system. Whare as volatge is a constant. To beter understand AMPS, think of it this way. The more trains you run the more AMPS you will draw. So 5 trains in HO might draw say 2 AMPS where 15 trains may draw 30 amps. In eather case the voltage will be the same. Or if you look at it like this, Volatge is the constant speed of Electricty. ( Dam electrians we cant spell worth beans! ). AMPS is like the force that we can aply, or work that we can do. Now abut MRC. The first Prodigy basic, welp its a basic pile of p**$. However the Prodigy Advanced is quite another story. I run The prodigy Advanced with and 8 AMP power station 8 , on G scale. I have no complanits. I like the hand held and the LCD read out. Its realy nice.
Well is seems as we all have a diff in what is better and what is not. I for one think the Digitrax systems is a good one. I have read a lot about them and the others also. And like all of you i have read the good and bad on MRC. I think it is like a lot of the guys have said get what you think is right for your layout. I am running a small layout and the zepher is great for me i am not going to run a lot of loco at one time. And the MRC has a nice looking hand held unit for there systems. But i guess i heard more good on digitrax than bad so i got there setup. and so far so good.
MRC Prodigy...... I second "rmansker" observation. Sometimes too much really is too much. You've got to sit down and think, what are your present needs? Do you anticipate major layout expansion? A caution, if you're the only operator you can only safely operate so many trains without "cornfield meets". It is very easy to get so involved with switching and making up a train that other trains can be forgotten. Next operating department message is, "Oh, oh".(Speaking from experience) I don't have MRC Prodigy Express, do have MRC Prodigy Advance and it has been a positive experience. No glitches other than the operator. Check out NMRA website for recommended practices and decoder installations. Decoder installations are also available via manufacturer websites. Obviously there are good tips on this forum and trains.com forums. Do the research on your DCC needs, better to research than tear out and do over. Jon
I had a Prodigy and was very disappointed in it. The cable coming out of the trottles kept breaking wires. Then MRC came out with the advanced, but my Prodigy wasn't compatable. One of my friends has Digitrax and I operate on his railroad so I went out and bought a Zephyr. Best thing I've ever done. I love it. I wouldn't reccomend MRC DCC to anyone.
just to make it clear for others, sounds like you are referring to the OLD plain "prodigy" DCC system (which is not a good DCC system), not the Prodigy Express or Prodigy Advance which are excellent bang for the buck and 1000x better than the old plain prodigy.
A few posts back, someone was unsure of the Prodigy Advance power rating. just to clear it up: Prodigy Express ($97) is 1.6 amps Prodigy Advance ($179) is 3.5 amps. add a PA throttle to the PE and you get all the features of the PA except still only 1.6 amps vs the PA 3.5 amps.
right now,i'm using prodigy express,no complants easy to use, you can update it to an advanced system if you need to.i have a small layout,i'm happy with,great for a first timer in dcc:thumbs_up:
