The situation: I own several power packs from the 1970s, (Good ole MRC Gold Case ThrottlePacks). I want to hook them to my layout and run locos built in the 1990s. When I crack the throttle, these locos take off like a scalded cat. My question: what is going on and how do I solve this problem? ------------------ Clifton Chief Cook and Bottle Washer of the LaZ & E RR, (known locally as the Lazee Boy Lines)
Well, at the risk of being cited as a turn-coat, I have one acronym for you: DCC. I have been doing a lot of research on this and it clearly is the wave of the future...no more toggle switch blocks etc. Of course if you want to go with a power pack, then I suggest the MRC Tech 4, as the newest and possibly best designed. I don't know for sure though, because I haven't bought power packs since the late 80's. Good luck and Happy Modeling!! ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
Clifton, I feel your pain, you ought to see the box full of those I have! Back then the motors needed a lot of grunt to start up, so the transformer started with 3 volts and went up to 13 to 18 volts. Go to a radio supply store, (or TV, VCR, or even a Radio Shack) and get an audio volumn reostat. They call them pots today, for potentiometer, but same thing. Wire this from your track to the OLD style power supply. Turn the pot to full wide open so you don't burn up the little nickle silver resistance wire. Now turn the power supply on and watch your gauge, as you increase the voltage, nothing will happen until the rotor touches the big pot inside the power supply. then the needle on your gauge will show somewhere around 3 to 5 volts. STOP TWISTING THE ROTOR!!! Permanently mark where the rotor just makes contact. Now if your engine is running and you want to slow it down, twist the volumn control counter clockwise as if you were turning down the volumn, and your train will slow down to a crawl or stop. DO NOT TURN UP THE transformer until you have first turned up the volumn control all the way. I glued a block at the 3 volt position, so I have to get used to using the volumn control to start and stop. If I want to run faster than the 3 volts, then I will use the power supply, but to stop, it hits the block, so again I get used to durning down the volumn to stop, and when coupling. Works great. That's the easiest way to salvage and use the old Tycos, LifeLike etc. This is also a way to run an accessory that only has a 1-1/2volt motor too. ------------------ Watash #982 [This message has been edited by watash (edited 05 January 2001).]
