Mounting a Tech II Transformer on the Control Panel

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

I have 2 Tech II Trasnformers that I’d like to mount on my masonite Control Panel. The Panel will swing down to vertical when not in use, so I need some way to secure the transformers on the panel. Don’t want to drill into them from the bottom :>) Thought about a metal strip across the top, secured on both sides. Any suggestions? Thanks! George

2

KidatHeart06,

You can mount these to the masonite using Velco that can be puchased at your nearest home improvement store.

3

I don’t have a Tech 2 to look at, but my older MRC has holes in the base to fit over screw heads mounted into the control handle. The head slips into a slot in the hole, locking the power pack to the control panel.

Rotor

4

Thanks guys! Don’t know why I didn’t think of velcro. DUH! And yes, my older MRC also has those holes that rotor is talking about. Tech II doesn’t. George

5

If you’re going to use velcro, don’t skimp and get cheap stuff; it’ll only come unglued in time. 3M makes a velcro that’s very heavy duty and holds to the surfaces it’s adhered to like there’s no tomorrow. Two variations are:

3M™ Dual Lock™ Reclosable Fastener 170 SJ3552# 3M™ Scotchmate™ Reclosable Fastener Hook SJ3572

This is from the 3M website. Another thing to watch out for is velcro really works the best on a sealed wood surface that’s free of oils and grease. Home Depot has some stuff that supposedly works on concrete block and walls, but don’t you believe it (been there, done that, stuff dropped off).

6

Thanks. I’ll check out the local Home Depot. They carry 3M velcro. Saw the “concrete” velcro at my other local hardware store. I didn’t believe the claim either :>)

7

One thing I should have mentioned earlier is to not scrimp on the amount of velcro that you use. Use at elast 2 or more strips. If you get the 3M stuff I mentioned, clean the surfaces well enough, and use enough velcro, you’ll probably be able to pick up the whole layout by the powerpacks. It’s MUCH stronger than the average hook and loop material.

8

I have a Tech II mounted in a box behind my vertical (temporary) control panel, with the speed knob sticking through one hole and the slide switches accessible through another. I took up the slack between the box and the power supply casing with strips of extruded foam sculpted to shape.

For front mounting, super-Velcro will hold it - but I would imagine that the knob would be vulnerable to being bumped unless the panel swings beyond vertical.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

9

I just used double sided mountng tape. Same concept as velcroe I guess… maybe a little easier. Before sticking, I drilled some small indentations (not all the way through) to line up with rubber stops on bottom of transformers… just a little more anti-slide security.

10

On my last layout I used double sided mounting tape (not the cheap Wal-Mart stuff) to attach screw brackets to the bottom of two Athearn power packs. The screw brackets were then then screwed down to the control panel.

11

Some great ideas. Thanks! I think I may use a combination of them. I like the idea of Velcro. As for the mounting feet on the transformer, I thought about building up the control panel so it’s level with the bottom of the transfomer That way the velcro would be flush up against it. Another thought I had was to drill holes in the control panel so the mounting feet would go through it and the transformer would sit flush on the panel (with velcro). Have to give it some more thought.