is a power pack a controller that can work with any track? or something else? thanx.[:)]
Power Packs in most places on this forum can be used to operate most DC controlled Trains. However the ones for HO might have a little difficulty running G scale trains as N, HO, S and O Scales run on 12 V and G runs on 24 V
James
It’s kind of a generic name for a transformer, rectifier and potentiometer, usually with a reversing circuit thrown in. The transformer takes the line voltage, usually 120 volts in the US, and brings it down to something like 12-16 volts. The rectifier takes the AC voltage and turns it into DC, and the potentiometer allows you to adjust the output from zero to the maximum output voltage.
The old Lionel supplies put AC on the tracks, so there was no rectifier. HO runs on DC (unless you have DCC.) The old Lionels were called “transformers,” while HO typically had “power packs.” DCC takes a power source (depending on manufacturer) and applies a modulated square wave to the track, which is more like AC than DC, but it’s inaccurate to refer to it as simply “AC” because it’s more complex than that.
A power pack is a little box with an AC line cord connected to it, and screw terminals for output. There are controls for speed and direction for a DC (not DCC) model locomotive, and better quality packs may include momentum and a separate brake.
A power pack doesn’t care what kind of track it’s connected to (sectional with or without roadbed, flex, hand-laid…) but DOES care about what kind of locomotive is standing on the track. If the loco is fitted for DCC it will run, but not with all the bells and whistles operational. A brushless AC motor will be a non-performer. A standard DC loco (all HO train set and inexpensive locos, for example) can be run with an ordinary power pack.
The reason I gave the simple, “Black Box,” description is that present day power packs are factory sealed (Thanks, CPSC) and many contain electronic circuits rather more complex than a simple transformer, rectifier and potentiometer.
Pure AC locos use a “transformer” with similar controls. DCC is electronics-intensive but the basic controls (speed and direction) remain the same.
Chuck
all,right i have a santa fe high high hood,so would an mrc controller work?
If the engine is standard HO and the MRC is any of their standard power packs, YES. MRC made hundreds of models over many years, but all of the HO packs will run HO DC trains. If it is an N scale pack, it will not run an HO engine very fast. It should say some where on the pack its max voltage. HO like 6 - 18 volts for opperations.
When you get to DCC everything changes, and some of the European train sets played by different rules so the brand of the engine also could make a difference.
DC is really very easy with standard stuff and reading up a little will assist you in learning enough to sort out the unussual stuff and solve the many little problems that will show up.
It isn’t a question of what your locomotive is. As long as your locomotive doesn’t have a DCC decoder in it, you’ll be fine. Do you know what brand your locomotive is? If you tell us, we might be able to tel you whether it has a decoder or not. (Most likely, it doesn’t).
You should also note that MRC produces both DC Power Packs and DCC Command Control Systems.