I’ve got a 1980 vintage MRC transformer that might be slowing down. The power to the locomotives tonight really started dropping, so I cleaned track and wheels. That seemed to help some, but then the power level seemed to be at half of its normal output.
Any suggestions on how to troubleshoot this? I’m going to try it on some ez track, and see if I get the same performance there. I’ll also keep inspecting my wiring and look at rail connections.
Thanks in advance for the help,
Phil
The best way is to have a way to monitor the output. If you already have a meter great. If not there are many places like Harbor Freight, probably even walmarts selling Digital Volt Ohm Meters for as little as $4.95. Place the appropriate leads to the DC track output terminals. Check the minimum and max voltage with no engine or other load. Usually runs between 0-16 vdc. Then measure it at a point say 30% of max with an engine load. Lets say it reads 6 volts.
Then measure the ouptput with the dial at the same spot, no engine load. It should be a bit higher, but most MRC’s are well voltage regulated. If the engine draws down the voltage a lot, then eith your engine is going south, try another engine or possibly your power pack is going bad. Have you added any track or accesory to the layout than could be sapping power. I’m sure others will have more to say, but this is a good start that should lead you in the right direction. Good luck, Dave
If the power pack has a pulse power switch, check that first. The less expensive implementations of pulse power provide improved slow-speed running at the cost of reduced effective voltage at top end. Unfiltered full wave rectified DC is a series of sine-wave shaped pulses, all in the same direction, butted together at 0 volts. The pulse power switch knocks out ever other pulse, sometimes called “half wave rectification”. This cuts effective voltage nearly in half.
The voltage checks that Dave suggested are another good check.
Finally, a power pack that is working, but at reduced efficiency, will usually get a lot hotter than normal. But this is not likely. The only internal component that is likely to have problems over time is the potentiometer or rheostat - what your control knob turns to adjust the voltage. These can develop “dead” spots where the resistance change is not smooth. Or the wiper can start making poor contact with the resistance. MRC did use pretty good quality rheostats, but a lot of use with heavy current loads at the same settings could lead to damage.
More likely suspects - if not the pulse power switch - are your wire to track connections and electrical conductivity of the track rail joiners. Rail joiner problems will usually cause a train to slow down or stall in particular parts of the layout, but typically consistent as to where this happens. A cold solder joint of feeder wire to layout can cause quite erratic performance also.
yours in tracing wiring
Fred W