Digitrax Zephyr question

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have a MRC Tech II 2500 will it work in the jump port of the Zephyr? The manual mentions ‘smooth’ DC what is smooth DC?

Thanks
Pat

2

Smooth DC is something that doesn’t have “pulse power” (half wave DC), or starting spikes (small full 12V spikes thrown in at low throttle levels). The old MRC AMPacks, or Throttle packs would work.

Unfortunately I don’t know what the MRC 2500 is. It seems to me like the tech series did do something electronic in the lower throttle settings.

A large capacitor might smooth it up though.

3

I think MRC calls thier pulse … proportional tracking control, and they are not smooth.

I know my old MRC had pulse…I think it was a TECH II…I’ll try to look for it.

Jim

I found it…but is tells me nothing. Its a MRC TECHII Railpower 1400…with out any more markings. I’m positive mine had pulse…can’t say for sure about yours.

I would guess that yours does. Pulse nudged an engine into moving at a really slow speed.

4

Is this yours? …

http://cgi.ebay.com/MRC-Tech-II-2500-Model-Train-Control-Power-Supply-MIB_W0QQitemZ6002654542QQcategoryZ484QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If so, it has pulse.

Jim

5

Yes it has proportional tracking control, I still have the box, I was afraid it was pulse. I was hoping to use that with the Zephyr… when I get it.

Has anyone used the DIY throttle from Tony"s Train Ex. site? I’m on a tight budget and can’t see a Zephyr, decoders & a second throttle in the near future.

Thanks
Pat

6

It should work, give it a try.

There is also a Jump Throttle on the Digitrax Yahoo Group, comprised of 4 parts from Radio Shack plus a battery. I build one of those and it worked great.

–Randy

7

Anyone know about the MRC Railpower 1300???

8

I’ve searched the digitrax forum on yahoo and sofar came up emty, can you stear me in the right direction?

9

I use my Tech 4 260 without problems… none that I am aware of anyway. Dave

10

I believe it’s in the file section. Just a single .gif file with the schematic. Unless someone deleted it because it was old.

–Randy

11

I found 2 I’ll be looking at them both.

Thanks
Randy

Pat

12

My Tech II (can’t remember the number… 1400?) has a switch to turn off the pulse. It works well with my Zephyr.

Andrew

13

I have an MRC Tech 4 with “momentum” that works very well with the Zephyr as a “jump” throttle. It works with momentum turned on or off, and when turned on the momentum features work fine.