Right of way industries 400 w power supply

Do these have fast acting breakers?

I have one and they are great. You could run trains all day and they won't even get warm. They have fast breakers but not instant. The only thing it doesn't have is a direction button. That was because ROW engines did not have flywheels. I have seen them for a 100 while others have priced them at twice that much.

The guy who designed these is a forum member. They are built like tanks. 200 bucks would be a misdemeanor. 100 bucks would be a felony. They are worth much more than that.

Pete

Because it has been sitting for so long in an unknown environment, I'd have it checked out before using it.  If you are concerned about circuit protection, you can always add a fast acting fuse or even better the resettable and very fast acting PSX-AC electronic circuit protection.

its the best all around best transformer ever made / ever will be made imo. 

I'd personally rather have a pair of 180W bricks, they have a superior circuit breaker.  OTOH, that's not a bad supply, and I certainly wouldn't offer more than $100 for it.

It's not going to be a pure sine wave I would imagine, it has electronic throttle control.

Jim 1939 posted:

I have one and they are great. You could run trains all day and they won't even get warm. They have fast breakers but not instant. The only thing it doesn't have is a direction button. That was because ROW engines did not have flywheels. I have seen them for a 100 while others have priced them at twice that much.

Upgrade the 8amp breaker to 10 or 12 amp ... it will handle it just fine.  Use ours to power all lighting and turnout motors.  I'd NEVER part with it!  I actually have the last one manufactured by ROW.

I am not sure what grj's statement;" It's not going to be a pure sine wave, I would imagine it has electronic throttle control" was referring to- either the 180w bricks or the Rowi 400w. But as an owner of the 400w Rowi, it is a pure sine wave transformer. I have no problems with QSI equipped locos as well as PS1 locos- as long as you don't get a track short!

You've actually put a 'scope on that transformer and verified it's a true sine wave?  The only way that would be true would be if the two controls are actually controlling wipers on a transformer coil similar to what many Lionel PW transformers do. I'm sure that given the vintage of these units, they're not doing what the MTH Z-4000 does and synthesizing the sine wave.

Are you saying that the two throttle knobs are actually controlling transformer wipers?  I saw someone say they are variac knobs, which would actually yield a pure sine wave.

If you look carefully at the dial plates they look just like the one on this Staco Variac.

I vote for a pure sine output via variac.

I did see a post that said they used a pair of variacs in them.  If so, I retract my non-sine wave comment.

They are, in fact, variacs. I bought one for the club. I think it would be the ultimate transformer for a conventional operator. Not ideal for command though. They put out 26 volts with the breaker set at 8 amps. An individual could put a stop on the knob or mark at 18 or 20 volts but with many club members at the controls its too easy to crank it to max.

We ended up selling it.

Pete

jhz563 posted:

 

Also, does this device put out a clean sine wave that would be compatible with a dcs system?

All thoughts appreciated.

Yes it does. 24Vac max.

BobbyD posted:

Do these have fast acting breakers?

No.  They have 8 amp thermal breakers.  They were 10 amp but the ETL inspector said no to that.

Lou N

Norton posted:

The guy who designed these is a forum member. They are built like tanks. 200 bucks would be a misdemeanor. 100 bucks would be a felony. They are worth much more than that.

Pete

Thanks.

Lou N

Jim Berger posted:

its the best all around best transformer ever made / ever will be made imo. 

And thanks again!

Lou N

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I did see a post that said they used a pair of variacs in them.  If so, I retract my non-sine wave comment.

Hey John,

Yes they are sine wave, yes they are variacs, and the only electronic part is the high amperage diode banks for the whistle/bell control.

Lou N

Ouch, 24/26 volts would scare me, that's certainly enough to zap some TMCC or Legacy stuff.

The transformer I always thought that got poor billing is the MRC Pure Power Dual, a real 270 watts of power with meters.  I also liked the fact that it didn't have self-resetting circuit breakers.  The huge carbon brushes for the throttle handles looked like they'd last forever!

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Ouch, 24/26 volts would scare me, that's certainly enough to zap some TMCC or Legacy stuff.

For sure.  But at the time the only thing that would run old Standard Gauge was a Lionel Z.  The RoW transformer was built while TMCC was still on the drawing board.

Agreed that a careless move of the throttle would not be good for the health of modern electronics.  Same with the circuit breaker.

Unfortunately the step down transformer is a 24Vac output device without any secondary taps for changing to 18Vac.

Lou N

I think I'd put that one out to pasture and go with something more modern, my stuff is almost all command and doesn't like anything more than 18 volts.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

The transformer I always thought that got poor billing is the MRC Pure Power Dual, a real 270 watts of power with meters.  I also liked the fact that it didn't have self-resetting circuit breakers.  The huge carbon brushes for the throttle handles looked like they'd last forever!

There was also a copy of the RoW transformer that I believe was called THE MAX.  It was built by Davis Electronics in Cincinnati.

Lou N

Unfortunately the contact I had with the power supply hasn't answered my emails since I started this thread.  I am willing to pay a fair price but don't have any other way to get in contact.

Sorry Lou n. "The Max" at 700 watts was a separate product from a separate co.  

As I posted long ago, I have 3 of the ROW 400 watt transformers and all have "run great"

for me - I run only  conventional - the ROW's give me  "plenty of extra power" for the longest passenger trains

with all the lighted  cars - that was why I originally got them when my older  Lionel ZW's seemed

to come up a bit "short" on power for some of  the longer passenger trains.   They are built like tanks.

The Max. I think less than 20 were manufactured.  I saw two on the shelf at Davis Electronics in Milford.  Mainline Industries may have been one of Joe's companies.  Retail in the '90s was about $700 - I think.  Jim Barrett may have more accurate information.   John in Lansing, ILL

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Sorry Lou n. "The Max" at 700 watts was a separate product from a separate co.  

Thanks; so I see from the additional pictures here.  For some reason I thought that was a Davis electronics product.  

Lou N

gunrunnerjohn posted:

The transformer I always thought that got poor billing is the MRC Pure Power Dual, a real 270 watts of power with meters.  I also liked the fact that it didn't have self-resetting circuit breakers.  The huge carbon brushes for the throttle handles looked like they'd last forever!

I really like these as well. Seems like a very nice transformer for a good price and nice looking too. I use PH-180s for all my track power, but I may end up with an MRC unit for other things someday? Also, I don't understand why MTH says not to use these, as has been mentioned here before?

When I was in the ASC training, they were very specific as to the fact that the MRC transformers were a problem with some PS/2 stuff.  I never had any issue with them, and the fact that they output a pure sine wave leads me to believe that someone was confusing this transformer with the MRC Dual Power 027 which has electronic voltage control.

Variac is a brand name of autotransformer, just like Kleenex, Dumpster, Dremel, and Scotch tape.

If the design uses autotransformers, there has to be one or more transformers that isolate. So the question is, one big isolating/step down transformer, then run the autotransformers on say 20Vac, or does AC power go into the autotransformer, then an isolating/step down transformer on each branch.

illinoiscentral posted:

Variac is a brand name of autotransformer, just like Kleenex, Dumpster, Dremel, and Scotch tape.

If the design uses autotransformers, there has to be one or more transformers that isolate. So the question is, one big isolating/step down transformer, then run the autotransformers on say 20Vac, or does AC power go into the autotransformer, then an isolating/step down transformer on each branch.

Did you read the whole thread?

Lou N posted:

Unfortunately the step down transformer is a 24Vac output device without any secondary taps for changing to 18Vac.

Sounds like two 110 -> 24 step-down transformers.  That would make sense as as the variac size would be enormous if it were controlling 24 volts as the currents would be 5x what the 110V model has to handle.  Fixed transformers are a lot more manageable for the step-down task.

PLCProf posted:

If you look carefully at the dial plates they look just like the one on this Staco Variac.

 

 

 

I vote for a pure sine output via variac.

Mine was the last one built by ROW and I think the dial faces are different.

Lou N posted:

Jim Berger posted:

its the best all around best transformer ever made / ever will be made imo. 

And thanks again!

Lou N

I hear one can swap out the breakers for 12 amp ones with no risk to the transformer, aside from perhaps dual-use as a welder?

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I think I'd put that one out to pasture and go with something more modern, my stuff is almost all command and doesn't like anything more than 18 volts.

We use our ROW to power all lighting, accessories,  and turnout motors, phased to the MTH Z-4000 transformers.  Seems to work very well for that, with more capacity than we'll ever need for the layout future expansion.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

illinoiscentral posted:

Variac is a brand name of autotransformer, just like Kleenex, Dumpster, Dremel, and Scotch tape.

If the design uses autotransformers, there has to be one or more transformers that isolate. So the question is, one big isolating/step down transformer, then run the autotransformers on say 20Vac, or does AC power go into the autotransformer, then an isolating/step down transformer on each branch.

Did you read the whole thread?

Lou N posted:

Unfortunately the step down transformer is a 24Vac output device without any secondary taps for changing to 18Vac.

Sounds like two 110 -> 24 step-down transformers.  That would make sense as as the variac size would be enormous if it were controlling 24 volts as the currents would be 5x what the 110V model has to handle.  Fixed transformers are a lot more manageable for the step-down task.

You've got it right, John....

Variac to step down transformer.  The step down transformers were from Signal.  Very well made.

Lou N

Kerrigan posted:

Lou N posted:

Jim Berger posted:

its the best all around best transformer ever made / ever will be made imo. 

And thanks again!

Lou N

I hear one can swap out the breakers for 12 amp ones with no risk to the transformer, aside from perhaps dual-use as a welder?

Yes you can "up" the breakers.

Funny; you're not the first person to use the term welder in the same sentence as RoW transformer.

Lou N

gunrunnerjohn posted:

When I was in the ASC training, they were very specific as to the fact that the MRC transformers were a problem with some PS/2 stuff.  I never had any issue with them, and the fact that they output a pure sine wave leads me to believe that someone was confusing this transformer with the MRC Dual Power 027 which has electronic voltage control.

I bet you are exactly right here and the one you have pictured is the actual offender, not the other one. Either way, I still like the MRC Dual and still might end up with one someday. I think they look good too, and they are not as big as a Z4000 or ZW-L. 

Well, the MRC Pure Power Dual is a true 270 watts, but the Z-4000 is 400 watts, and of course the ZW-L is 620 watts.  Stands to reason they'd be bigger.

I had a MRC Pure Power Dual, but I eventually sold it as I really had no use for it, I use the bricks for power.