Suggested DCC Voltage

The DCC system of your choice will list the needed voltage.

Any MRC transformer would be a good test unit. Beware; On previous posts here, it was stated that AF engines may have issues with DC power. And also only the latest diesels from AF are DCC compatible. (The SD70ACe and the ES44.)

I'm sure others will ad to your post with the details.

About all I can say is all DC power packs are not created equal.

My SD70 and Y3 ran fine with my ancient MRC Controlmaster X, (1970's technology)but wouldn't work properly with a much later MRC 6000 or a pack from an early Bachmann On30 set.

Jon did his best to iron out the idiosyncrasies regarding contemporary DC power packs, (the MRC 6000 and Bachmann packs now work OK) but there may still be issues depending on the pack.

I don't know all the technical issues, but it seems the closer you can get to a pure DC output, the better the new engines will run on DC.

Rusty

I have been R&Ding this over the last couple weeks and decided on NCE's system.  Rusty, I know you have the MRC Prodigy system - almost went that way.  I found the "do not exceed" specs on the boosters and my AF SD70ace instruction manual says do not exceed 19v for that engine so this is all good.

Thanks Dave - this helps a lot - as I may still keep some O to run once in awhile and was not sure if I should be looking at 16v to 18v for the O stuff and a lot lower for the S stuff .

Thanks Rusty - as I remember someone talking about being careful on power packs (most likely it was you, I just couldn't find the post).

>> And also only the latest diesels from AF are DCC compatible. (The SD70ACe and the ES44.)

If you like steam engines, the AF Y-3 can be converted to DCC by SSL&S  (S Scale Locomotive & Supply) in Florida.  Mine works great.

I do like steam.  Been holding off to see what comes out in the next year from the big guys.

BTW, just saw a posted video of your layout - pure art and inspiration to those of us just getting going on a layout.

You may want to grab a Y3 while you can. You likely aren't going to see new steam from the "big guys" next year. The Flyonel Berkshire should be the only new steam for a while.

I meant what we see in next year's catalogs.  Would like a detailed scale berk or mikado or ?

Looked at AM's stuff. Not bad  - just nothing jumped out at me.  I know MTH will not be tooling anything new until they have run thru a bunch of the SHS tooling for a bit.

Will have to relook at Y3.  One of our forum sponsors has them at a great price.