Anyone using the MTH Commander? Is it a good way to be able to follow your train? What transformers must be used? Will it
operate Lionel and Atlas engines? Thanks for your response.
Bob Blakita
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I own one more out of just curiosity, but also have S and HO scale MTH PS3 engines, so it's a way to run those tracks and layouts.
I could not recommend it for general O scale used for the following reasons:
#1 it outputs DC on the track regardless of input (in other words, you can use AC going in from a transformer, but it is rectified to DC on the output). This is problematic because there is a long list of Lionel products and cars that cannot be used with DC on the track. Basically anything using a TRIAC- they need the zero crossing of the AC waveform to turn off.
#2 The firmware is not updated and it's kind of an abandoned platform. You cannot do lashups and a number of other things
#3 Again if you do use the variable out function, it is variable DC out which a lot of Lionel stuff may not be happy with.
#4 It is current limited, and it also doesn't like voltage spikes- a couple people have damaged the output section.
Again, it's not terrible, but also not ideal. It had it's purpose and place- really around 2 rail DC smaller engines like S and HO.
FWIW, here is the PDF instructions and it outlines some of your questions:
https://mthtrains.com/sites/de...ction/50as17834i.pdf
It takes in AC or DC input, either via the jack or via the input screw terminals.
Note the 5 Amp circuit breaker and the specific wording of a 6A maximum for input.
Again, output to the track is ALWAYS DC, either a fixed voltage or a variable voltage.
The firmware is only version 1.40 and hasn't been updated since 2011!!!
https://mthtrains.com/dcs-software-downloads
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