Another Newbie..with Fleischmann power supply question.

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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I’ve been building 1/35 armor most of my life. This Christmas my wife purchased some HO scale structures and recommended we start model RR as a family hobby…good idea. Problem is I currently live in Germany and won’t return to the states for another two years. We really like european settings and would like to purchase Fleischmann trains, but I am concerned about the power supply issue. Can anybody help? I hear this forum has members of high caliber experts, so I decided to tap into it…thanks…

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Hi Hutchman;

Stick with DC trains, and you will have no problems using US equipment and power supplies. Marklin (and Marklin compatible) use AC, which means in the USA $$$$.

You can also use DCC, now a world wide standard, based on the Lenz system.

If you stick with DC, just purchase an MRC pack when you return, and hook it up the same way as you did the Fleischmann power pack.

If have a Fleischmann ICE locomotive, and started out (nearly 40 years ago) with a 4 wheel Fleischmann center cab diesel. There is no reason to limit your self to just Fleischmann. Roco is another company that makes fine equipment. And there are many others too.

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Thanks, this is all new to me and I appreciate the guidance. I have much research to do. I like US settings. My father retired from the RR and trains have always been in our family. We want to make a European Alpine setting. I will take a look at Roco and some others…thanks again. Hutch

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The others are right. There are no problems if you run DC. I use american locos from athearn, life like and so on with an old east german power packs, no problems. If you have 16 volts on the tracks, the loco will move. One problem are the wheel norms. German companys don´t use RP25 wheelsets, they use the NEM Wheels with higher flanges. This could cause problems, if you use code 70 or 55 rails. But on normal code 83 they run fine. The best tracks you can buy in germany are “Roco Line” with roadbed, or “Tillig Elite” rails. And think of, that power packs in germany need an input of 230 Volts, the americans only 110 volts. if you ever return to usa, you will need new power packs.

If you want to use DCC, there might be some problems, but most modern DCC loco can operate under the european (NEM) and the american (NMRA) DCC System.

Micha

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Thanks, I will likely opt for the DC, so that I can operate in the US. I saw Roco sells european rail locos that I assume will work in the US. Thanks for the tip on the track code. I had my heart set on a Fleischmann loco, but see it is too complicated to convert to US compatibility when I return back to the states.

Hutch

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On power supply , as Micha noted, Germany is 220 U.S. is 110. This problem only applies to the power pack and there are transformers here that will take 110 to 220 volts. Also, the 220 will work on 110 you just get half the voltage out of the power pack. So while I would get 110 if you can, it’s not a total loss if you have to get 220. The engine just runs on DC at 1-12volts (except for Marklin which is AC), so you can get any DC engine.
Enjoy
Paul

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Most DCC systems (Lenz, Digitrax, NCE, etc.) do not include a power transformer. You have to supply your own. The reason for this is so that the same DCC system can be sold and used in different countries with different kinds of power requirements. The modeler simply has to supply a transformer to drop the local power down to the 12-16 volts needed by the DCC system. If they were to move to a different country where the power specs were different, all they’d need to do is to get a new transformer to supply the same DCC system.

Dale B.

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Hutch;

Your statement makes no sense. There is no conversion involved, you just buy a new MRC power pack when you get back to the USA. It will run you between $30 and $100, depending on model.

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Hutch;

Your statement makes no sense. There is no conversion involved, you just buy a new MRC power pack when you get back to the USA. It will run you between $30 and $100, depending on model.
[/quote]

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Nigel,

As you can see, I am very green behind the ears (I can’t even post a message correct lately!!). I understand now about the transformer issue. I was confused because I didn’t know there was such a wide range of options. My eyes are really opening wide. I really appreciate the eduction by so many experts on this forum…thanks.

Hutch