I've had a few Z scale locomotives over the years and since, ten years ago, the special Z-scale power pack was so much more expensive, I decided to take my chances with an MRC that I've used with N scale, just with some extra care to not go too high on the power. So far it has worked. However, I've been reading that Z-scale locomotives can take no more than 8-10 volts. That kind of stuff is a little worrisome, even though I've been careful. Unfortunately my MRC tech II Dualpack 2800 tells me nothing about the exact voltage it is sending out. Instead, it has demarcations that I guess are supposed to represent "miles per hour" or something. Now I usually have my engines cruising at what my MRC says is "40." Sometimes, when a loco is still warming up, I take it to "50." Does anyone have any idea how much voltage "40" and "50" would represent? Better yet, is there a model railroad product, or even something you can just buy at a Radio Shack, that a hobbyist can use to get an actual voltage measurement? If I could get better information on this issue, I'd have better peace of mind about running those small engines.
Jay, get a railpower 1300 that has a power restriction knop. Its design for z scale, so you dont have to worry. Z scale monster sells it for about $35.00Railpower 1300
On the zscalemonster website the description says that they have been externally modified by MT. Does anyone know, what exactly are the modifications? I have a spare 1300 laying around and I’m thinking that I could do the Mods myself.
Jay, I have used the very power supply you are talking about and it seems to work just fine. As long as you can keep the knob from going to full throtle you will be ok. I have also used a tech 2, tech 4, the 1300, and the marklin pack. I have been a nut about finding the power supply that works the best because I like to run the trains at slow proto speeds. In the end I am sold on the Jorger speed controlls as you may have read in my other posts. Combine those with the gaugemaster and the trains run better than with anything else I have used. If you use the #1667 adapter instead of the battery on them, you are gaurenteed to never go higher than 9 volts as you controll the setting yourself.
JoeS, which "gaugemaster" are you using? I went on their web page (I presume you are talking about www.gaugemaster.co.uk ?) and wasn't sure what I should be using with Joerger controller. thanks Chris
you can use the model hf-1 for one controll. og hf-2 for 2 controlls. (i use the last one, and it really helps!) i have not tried it with the jürger yet. (too much wiring.)
thanks Henrik ! now at last I understand what is being talked about Gaugemaster sells a lot of things so it wasn't immediately clear what was being talked about when Joe referred to "gaugemaster" that is the trouble with being new - you have to learn the lingo Chris
For us in the US, Gaugemaster products are usually not sold in hobby shops. Probably because MRC has a such stranglehold on the business. I had never heard of Gaugemasters before myself, other than seeing them in a tiny add in back of model railroader many years ago. I think it was the Relco that was more advertised than Gaugemaster ptoducts, but I remember the "Electronic Track Cleaner" advertisements. When I got into Z Scale about 3 years ago, I started hearing people refrence a "Gaugemaster" as something that makes your Z Scale locos run better. I finally tracked one down, as the only source in the US seems to be Glen and Sandy Siska out of Florida. After buying one of the HF-1 model Gaugemaster devices, and testing it on balky loco's I was very suprised at how well it improved the operation. I think it not only vaporizes dirt on the rails but also between the commutators in the motor. The "Gaugemaster" ,as I learned to call them in Z Scale speak, really does the job. At one of our GATS shows last September, while running DC on the outer line with a Gaugemaster, a man was holding his kid who was reaching over our trains, and the kid decided to put his fingers in front of the train as it was approaching. Before I could say anything the kid had layed his whole hand across the rails, then both him and his dad flinched backwards in what looked to me like a very pleasing electrical shock! I was overjoyed at what I had just witnessed, for the kid had got a good old shock from the gaugemaster, and with his other arm hanging around his fathers neck, had touched his fathers flesh, thus allowing the father to experience the many joys of the gaugemaster's track cleaning action on his neck! haha! The gaugemaster not only cleans dirt off the track, but cleans neglegent parents and their kids grubby paws off the track too! -Robert
