Today I want to discuss the options of how to power your G scale railroad with some advantages and disadvantages. Lets start with DCC battery operation, there are many advantages, you can take your trains anywhere and run them like at a club meet without the worry of what kind of track power is being used, you don't have to trench any under ground wires, you don't need to worry about having to install any isolationg tracks and switches. You don't have to worry pretty much about oxidation on your track. The downfall is that you have limited time runs, you need a dedicated trailing car to put in a battery such as a box car, you also need to have a battery changing station for ease of battery changes. Now lets move on to DCC constant track power, in this case you would use a transormer that would put out a constant supply voltage, usually between 12 to 24 volts depending on what maximum voltage requirements of your locomotives are. This indeed is a great set up, no worries about isolating tracks, you can run as long as you like and have a hands free operation by using a remote to operate everything, The down fall is the huge expense, especially for someone like me, to convert 16 locomotives over to DCC would be a huge expense and you still have the track maintence to do. Another disadvantage is that most DCC systems can't operate on high DC voltage such as 24 volts. The option I chose is total track power control with a twist. Total track power allows you to run all day also, but you have to have isolating tracks and switches, you are also stuck turning off your locomotives manually if you wat to park it on a siding of the same track you want to run another locomotive on. This is more in my budget area and now for the twist. The transformers I chose are Bridgewerks MAG 1000 DL models which are fully remote controlled so in reality, I still have some remote power of my trains. Aristocraft offers a train command walk around system but it is still corded. Now if you are going transformer control you have to know what your manufactacurers maximum DC voltage requirements are and what type of DC output voltage they require. Aristocraft trains require a pulse width output DC voltage, the Aristocraft transformer takes the input voltage and changes it to a pulse width output. Now lets talk about AC voltage for a second, AC voltage is NOT a constant flow of electiricty like DC, if you were to put a oscillating scope on a AC current outlet, there would be steady spikes of electricity pretty much like a heart monitor. These spikes can be harmful to some locomotive motors because most transformers will take that same AC spike and transform it to DC power with the same spike in it, but you would never notice it on your transformer monitor because it happens so fast, usually a milli-second. This also brings us to why I chose Brdgewerks transformers, Bridgewerks transformers have a patented DC filtering system in each of their transformers, The Bridgewerks actually takes the spikes in AC voltage out before it transforms it into DC power giving you pure DC power. Brigewerks also has a huge selection of transformers and I actually got to meet the owner and founder Dave at the East Coast large scale train show. He is a great guy making time to help anyone out in there power need, he is 100% totally American and shows it, all of his transformers are made right here in the USA. His son works for a eletircal testing company so of the internal Bridgewerks electronics are fully tested under harsh conditions before it even hits the market. You get a 5 year warranty for anythig that goes wrong with it. I had a failure in one and it was 6 years old, when I called and told Dave about it, he said send it out and I'll fix it, I asked how much it would be, he said free, all you have to do is ship it, he told me he doesn't worry about the warranty dates and wants everyone to have these and pass them on to another generation, so I got it fixed for free. He also gets to see why the unit failed and improves upon it, you can visit bridgewerks site here www.bridgewerks.com
Just on quick correction: Aristo-Craft's Train Engineer is a wireless system, the only cord is from the transformer to the receiver, and then from the receiver to the track. I don't know if that's what you mean by corded or not. Also, Aristocraft trains can run on standard Linear DC, and the Train Engineer is capable of accepting either linear or PWM. Aristo-Craft transformers can put out either PWM or Linear voltage, but if you only have the Basic Train Engineer, you can only use PWM, which limits you to Aristo locos, because most manufacturers recommend against PWM use on their locos. I personally think that Aristo locos run better when on Linear DC rather than PWM, but that's just my opinion. Hope I'm not being rude, just making sure some beginners don't get confused with selecting a transformer, which is probably the most important piece of equipment in model railroading.
I would like to post a slight disagreement with EMD Trainman. He said that “Another disadvantage is that most DCC systems can't operate on high DC voltage such as 24 volts. “ I run the MRC Prodigy. I use a MRC power station 8 to boost my output to 20 Volts DC at 8 Amps. I run a point to point railroad with a steep grade that requires helpers. The PowerStation 8 may not be offered anymore by MRC, as I could not finde it on there web site. However they do now offer a POWER BOOSTER 3.5 AMP booster. That will bring you up to 7 amps. Remember that when we are talking about electrical power, its measured in to ways. Volts and Amps. To keep this simple remember this, Volts is the speed at witch electricity flows and Amps is the total power that can be drawn or used. We vary the volts to change the speed of the train where as the train draws more Amps as it works harder. In the same sense the more trains we run the more Amps we need. With all that said. I do agree with EMD Trainman, DCC can be vary expensive. However, the reward can be just as big! When I started to plan my layout, I planed On DCC and doing it right. Because I was on a budget, I started construction of the layout and built in regular DC block system. The DC block system is still there today. I have found it to be extremely helpful in finding shorts in the line. It allows me to turn off section of track. This helps me narrow down the problem. I also found it great to turn off stalls in the round house. This cuts down on runaway locomotives, also can you imagine the sound of 6 steam locos steaming away in the round house all the time? Back to the expenses of DCC. I began to piece meal my DCC together. Buying some here and there, now and then, when I had some money. Then when I had enough of it together I started the conversion. I still have 2 locos waiting for DCC decoders. But the depth of operation that has been added to the layout is really something. The ability to run trains with out looking for block switches really pays off and gives to the realism of it all. On a side note, one early operating session showed both how real DCC made it seem and how real life accidents happen. To of my friends where having a train meet in a town called Fredonia. There chatting ( Not watching what they where doing ) got the best of them and an switch set the wrong way led to disaster. As I watched from the corner of the room, I saw a train going onto a siding where another train was already waiting for the first train to pass it on the main. Neither engineer noticed the switch that was set wrong, even though my switches are “ High Stand” or “tall target” types. Allowing you to see there alignment from quite the distance. At any rate these operators where us to DC operations and 2 trains on the same track in the same block would move in the same direction at the same time. But this is not the case in DCC. As I spoke up, but sadly not in time, the train that was supposed to be on the main now on the passing siding and baring down on the waiting train at the station. The 2 operators deep in there conversation and all I could do was cringe and watch as the trains meet at the station. One operator was quick to exclaim, how the $%&^ did that happen. All I could say was where you on the cell phone or text-ing and did not see the switch line for the siding? No he wasn’t on the cell phone, but the results of the conversation was the same. Lucky for me there was only minor damage, but it was a good head on collision. So I passed a new rule during operations. You can only engage in conversations after your train has come to a complete stop. DCC adds real realism to the hobby and brings some dangers as well. Just lay your watch band a crossed a 24 volt rain and get all 8 amps threw the wrist. That will wake you up. here is a link to MRC's web page: Train Controls, Prodigy DCC, Digital Command Control
Traditional Catholic, you are not being rude, I always encourage comments and this is how we learn from each other. Since how you are much younger than me, the original Aristocraft train engineer was a bbasic walk aroound unit which was corded. I'm going about 10 years back and since I never kept up on Aristocraft's techology advancements I never knew they went cordless now, especially since I don't use Aristocraft transformer components. Thanks for bringing me up o speed and don't be afraid to post comments even if you don't agree on something. Difference is what makes the world go around
Phantom, thanks for your posting and bringing me up to speed on DCC. Finding DCC to operate on high voltage or on systems above 12 volts was hard to find for some time. Nice to know there are more choices out there now. I think selection of high voltage accessories such as lighting is still liimited, at least thru a company like Ram Track
I would add one more option to the power grid, "Switching" transformers. A switching transformer dispenses with the iron core double digit weight of the conventional transformer, and somehow uses the house currrent itself to deliver the "oomph" of high volts/high amps in a very svelte, easily transportable case. The best examples in the trainworld are the AC crest elite transformers, no thicker than a large paperback, but as AC is proud to announce - delivering the power you need for your mile-long consist. AC didn't invent this type of transformer, it was invented for the PC industry where a small footprint and clean, "spikeless" power are de rigeur for powering delicate IC circuitry. What is good about the PC industry use is that switching transformers, from AC to DC volts, are readily available as surplus from many electric houses. Back when I was powering my outdoor layout, I could choose between three BW "Mag" 25 powerhouses or three LGB Big Red conventional trafos, each one costing near $400, for a $1200 investment, or I could order 3 switching transformers from 0-28v (adjustable downwards to 22v via potentiometer) dual voltage 110-220 v switchable, and 6.5 amps rating, switching transformers: each in a very industrial looking ventilated stainless steel metal caseing, for $30 each, from All-Electronics surplus center (NLA). And since they weighed only a few pounds each, It was easy to transport my power supplies by using banana plugs to unhook the wires to the track and bring the trafos and train engineers inside after every operating run. No hernias incurred. My powersoaker USA F7 ABBA Chrome Warbonnet set pulling 8 streamlined Aluminum USA lighted passenger cars and blowing smoke on all four engines (with 8 motors!) did not even make this paperback book-sized trafo running through a train engineer break a sweat. Simply amazing. Five years on, with no failures on any of the $30 switching transformer boxes, I rate switching transformers highly recommended!
Power choices Id just like to chime in, too......with a frustration I am having doing the decision making on how to control my layout. To me there are two parts of the equation......power.......and control. Yes, one can have one transformer/control for the whole layout. But that is a bit oldschool, especially when one wants to run two seperate trains on the same track. Yes, I could go DCC......but the costs are much higher. I have been looking at the newer 2.4 ghz Revolution by Aristocraft. Yes, technically, it is a radio controlled system, but it can be powered thru track power. I could use my MRC super G for power, and control as many units as I want to buy recievers for. I have read the manual.....and other posts on other forums....but still come down to the intimidating instalation...... There inlies the dilema.........installing the recievers. The lack of standardization in wiring....and lack of wiring assembly instructions/diagrams is frustrating. Are there any of you out there that have or now use this system, and have real world experience with instalation of these units in your engines?? If so......I would love to here your experiences.....as for now.....I will just run one train at a time....... D
I don't use AC's but I do use Air Wire. It was on the market before AC's. Been using it for about eight years. It is small and easy to install. I'm running a battery car with the AW in it so I can run all my engines with it. That way you can keep the cost down.
Hello, i am very interested in your post about switching transformers. I found the ones you mentioned at all electronics and was wondering what you used for a controller. Thanks Allan
