Recommendations for a O Scale 2 Rail Power Pack

I use the MRC Control Master 20 DC power pack. Has 2 voltage level settings and a hand held controller with braking & momentum. Meters can be added downstream.

DCC needs an AC power pack. For that I use a Lionel 180 watt brick that gives 10 amps at 18 volts, fed into a NCE PowerPro 10 system.

I used GML 6 amp walk-around throttles with memory for many years before I went to DCC.    They are US made and come with a 5 year warranty.

http://www.thegmlenterprises.com/id18.html

I liked them.    the throttle buss if you want multiple plugin jacks is a simple 3 wire cable.    the jack is a standard 1/4 inch stereo jack, although the "good ones" from GML work best.   

You  can get meters there and wire them in your self.    None of his come with meters.

I think Dallee Electronics makes a big power supply/throttle that has built in meters.      It is a box more like a traditional transformer I think.    I like the GML walk around better.

I get small Variacs and couple them to 24 volt step-down transformers. First I put a fuse, a switch, and a small light bulb on the input to the Variac, then the variable output goes into the stepdown transformer.  That output goes into a $3 bridge rectifier, and thence into a circuit breaker, a large capacitor, and a DPDT switch.

It all gets encased in a box with an aluminum front to mount a voltmeter, ammeter,  the fuse, circuit breaker, and various switches.

My output is standard banana plug, which means i can feed switch banks, or just take the transformer to a remote location by unplugging.

Variacs can be expensive - I think I paid $17 each for the Stacor small unit.  The rest of the parts can be had at electronics surplus stores for cheap.

I have only one layout, but I have three of these, and parts for a fourth.

MRC made one called the 'Power G'. Don't know if they are still available or not.

Simon

I use an LGB Jumbo; these deliver 10 Ampere and have V and A meters. They are not produced anymore but can still be found on ebay.

Regards

Fred

I have the 6 amp GML and the Bridgewerks Magnum 10 SR 10 amp unit.  Both are excellent.  

I had the opportunity to test the GML 6 amp when it was being developed.    The original did what all typical power supplies did, it lost voltage as the amperage went up.   It maintained constant VA.    We told GML that was not a good design.

They went back to the drawing board and reworked the circuit.    The resulting production model will maintain 12 volts right up until the circuit breaker trips at 6 amps.     I know this because I tested it on mine more than once.    

This is very important if you have some older locos that draw higher amperage.    You will still get 12 volts at 3-4-5 amps.    

The power supplies rated at 25 VA for example means it the product of volts times amps is 25.    If 2.5 amps, you get 10 volts.   If  you draw 3 amps, you only get  about 8 volts and if you draw 5 amps, you only 5 volts.

Since I already had a couple AC transformers for 3R, and given the hassles of selling/shipping, I used them as the power sources for the 2R layout.  A Lionel Z-WL powers the layout into an NCE command station.  Other handles are used for various accessory voltages, depending upon the output voltage needed.  A 4 amp GML is powered by an MTH Z-4000, along with a SPROG3 (DCC programming) on the test track. 

Hi Guys,

I would like this opportunity to thank all who contributed to this topic.  I now have many options to check out.

Steve

You can use a postwar transformer and run the output into a bridge rectifier. Cheap and effective. You can also wire a double pole double throw switch on the output of the rectifier for reversing the loco.

RoyBoy posted:

You can use a postwar transformer and run the output into a bridge rectifier. Cheap and effective. You can also wire a double pole double throw switch on the output of the rectifier for reversing the loco.

I made some drawings and a description how to do this: you can find that here:

http://www.classicogauge.net/f...idge+rectifier#p6059

Regards

Fred

Steam Guy posted:

Hi Guys,

 I would like this opportunity to thank all who contributed to this topic.  I now have many options to check out.

Steve

 

Biggest problem my two rail friends have is their power supply is amperage lacking where a normal train will trip the overload. Don't go too small, you will regret it.