I noticed an ad in the April MR for the MRC Tech-6 DC/DCC Hybrid. Does anyone know about this and how it really works. From what I have read putting a DC loco on a DCC layout is a no-no, it will fry its motor.
I bought one and then bought the handheld remote addon throttle giving 6 locomotive capability.
You are correct about the issue of a DC locomotive accidentally getting DCC current from the Tech 6 “dual mode”. The powerpack delivers safe DC power only if DC is selected instead of dual mode, but also it isn’t “really” DC. Occasionally, a DCC equipped locomotive won’t accept the DC current even though the same locomotive runs fine on a proper dedicated DC powerpack. Some DCC equipped locomotives will run on the DC supplied by the Tech 6 but will only run in one direction, ignoring the reversing switch. Some wizardry is going on with the Tech 6.
Of course you would never need to run a decoder equipped locomotive in DC only mode if you use a Tech 6 so this odd quirk isn’t important. It is important to always remember, if you decide to get a Tech 6, that you never power it up with a DC locomotive already on powered track unless you are SURE you last switched off the Tech 6 while it was in DC mode. The unit turns back on in the mode it was last set for. MRC should have set it up to always power up by default in DC mode only, but they didn’t.
It’s a great product for a very niche market, which I happen to be part of so I’m very happy with mine at the moment. I have not tested it on a full layout yet though.
Unless you have quite a few DC only locomotives (really DC, not just DCC ready without decoders) it is better just to buy a DCC system. Add decoders to any locomotives you have that are DCC ready. The Tech 6 is intended for a DCC operator that wants to run some of his collection of classic DC only locomotives once in a while. Better to fit decoders into those if you can. DCC is the way to go unless you have a very good reason to want to run DC only.
Really it’s liek having a toggle to flip the layout between DC and DCC power, so it’s one or the other, never both at the same time. Except in this case, the ‘switch’ is within the power supply itself. Otherwise there’s no real magic going on, it’s a DC power pack plus a simple DCC system in one case. The DC mode is most likely PWM, which is why some DCC locos don’t work with it in DC mode. But why wuld you, when DCC mode is a button push away and you gain access to all teh features of the DCC loco, not just what it might automatically do when running on DC.
Only put DC locos on the rails when in the DC mode. Only put DCC locos on the rails when using DCC mode. Never mix the two.
–Randy
What if it is a dc/dcc hybrid loco? Like most sold today
Usually referred to as “dual mode”. All DCC locomotive motors actually run on standard 12v. The decoder converts the DCC current to DC as it gets delivered to the motor. It also controls that voltage for motor speed control.
A dual mode decoder automatically detects straight DC voltage (most of the time) and passes the actual DC voltage through to the motor with no action required by the operator.
So, the Tech 6 is perfectly safe for dual mode decoder equipped locomotives. The operator should select “Dual Mode” on the Tech 6 but it isn’t necessary unless: a) the operator desires DCC functions like sounds or b) the decoder doesn’t automatically respond to the type of DC voltage the Tech 6 delivers.
The need for care is in the case of a non decoder equipped DC only locomotive (whether DCC ready or not). You must not try to use the Tech 6 in dual mode (which is actually just full DCC mode) to power a DC only locomotive, even if it is DCC ready which just means no decoder but a plug in spot to add a decoder. Until you plug in a decoder DCC ready is actually just a DC locomotive.
Those should run if they receive input from a traditional DC power pack or a DCC system set to their address.
It stands to reason they could work with the MRC Tech 6 in either mode.
-Kevin
Some dual mode decoders don’t run in DC mode with the Tech 6 for no apparent reason. The DC power output is clearly not straightforward DC. It is suggested maybe the Tech 6 DC power is PWM and that’s the reason. It does seem to be older dual mode decoders that exhibit this behaviour.
The important thing for the OP is that it doesn’t matter. The Tech 6 will run the dual mode decoder with “Dual Mode” selected anyway.
Unfortunately it won’t run 2 typical BLI steam engines that smoke as they draw more power than the tech 6 can supply . MRC use to make a more powerful version (which I have two of) that are great! Why they discontinued these is beyond me.
Tech 6 is 2 amps. The handheld add on used to add power up to 6 amps. I can guess why that may have seemed a bit much.
The Tech 6 with add on can control up to 6 locomotives but maybe not at full speed for all 6. It only contemplates one operator. Maybe two trains running at once, maximum?
The handheld doesn’t add any more power, it just adds the ability to simultaneously send DCC commandst to up to 6 locos. What some DCC systems call “recall”
There appears to be no way to add additional power to the Tech 6, since you can’t just add a DCC booster, that wouldn’t do anything in DC mode. N scale, non-sound, you can probably easily run 6 on a 2 amp system. HO, probably not, unless your fleet of 6 locos are all Stewart Baldwin switchers with the Canon motors like mine - when running free, not stalled, they draw under 100mA.
Thought I find it hard to believe two BLI locos draw more than 2 amps - assuming MRC isn’t overrating the system like they do many of their power packs.
–Randy
https://www.modelrectifier.com/v/vspfiles/resources/dc-ac/Tech%206%206.0%20%200001201.pdf
At one time MRC made a 6.0 amp version. I had understood this was only supplied complete with the handheld throttle.
From the document it is apparent that the extra power came from the wall wart which could be upgraded to 8 amps for a modest extra charge. This at least implies that the base unit could handle 2, 6 or 8 amps depending on which wall wart you plugged it into. Of course, the base unit could only control one locomotive at the one time. You needed the handheld to add extra locomotives to concurrent operation. My guess is MRC found out no normal human can run more than three locomotives concurrently.
Ain’t no way that little plastic box is handling 8 amps without melting. The old unit was a bigger box with no local controls on it, it ALWAYS used the handheld.
I would say they probably discontinued it because it was suckign sales from their full blown DCC system. Or not selling because it was priced closer to their full DCC system. The only extra is had was the ability to run DC, and there were limitations to the DCC functionality, so it was pretty much a dead end. You couldn’t add a DCC booster to it as your layout grew, is just one thing.
Only reference I could find with a picture of the 6 amp version - MRC has virtually erased it from their web site, not even an instruction manual to be found.
(take that “in stock” with a grain of salt - but maybe they have one gathering dust on their shelf.)
Bigger base box with no controls, and a huge beefy power brick that looks liek it might even have a fan in it. Not at all like the current 2 amp version. And the price - yeah, there are many full DCC systems selling for that, or less, including MRC’s own.
–Randy
Before the discount that Tech 6 6 amp would cost $300!!!
Yes, similar to the cost of a D.C.C system but remember what the goal is here, the ability to run D.C and D.C.C.
As far as I can see the Tech 6 is the only game in town for DC and DCC use from one power pack. Tech 6 must be used carefully with any DC locomotives when they sit on powered track. DC mode MUST be pre-selected before power to that section of track is switched on. There are no ways to failsafe that problem if you use the Tech 6.
Tried out my Tech 6 today on the nascent layout. No track bus and quite incomplete. There is an Atlas #6 crossover so even with my Peco #7 double curve crossover power routing I’m getting power on both main lines.
Running two locomotives concurrently seems busy enough. The unit will control up to six. Not sure I need anything more elaborate. Not sure I’ll even need a bus to be honest. But I’ll wire one anyway.
Interesting when I got few derailment shorts. The unit flashes at you until the short is removed and then it repowers the locomotives. Quite handy.
I thought you said you were skilled at reading source documents. [;)]
From the document it seems, to me, apparent that you could upgrade your “wall wart” (for the $39) OR you could upgrade your base station to 8 amps for $29. They didn’t say what you’d get for that $29, or how the ‘upgrade’ would be done, but I’d bet it involved at least the same size box as the 6A version; presumably you’d send the box you had back to them and they’d either change out components or send you a ‘new’ one (with the beefier components or whatever) from stock.
I was interested to see reference to a #0001212 wireless handheld that would let you operate two separate controllers. The PDF document lastspikemike referenced appears to be the only reference I can find across the entire Internet for that MRC item number. Does anyone have better detail, or a different item or model number for Tech 6 wireless command?
And so I am. Often more skilled at reading them than the author was writing them. I find “expert” writing in many areas to be anything but from a purely writing perspective. Interestingly, each of my three daughters is employed, in large part, translating expert writing into intelligible English. Often this involves binning the entirety of the so called expert writing and simply interviewing the expert about what he was actually trying to communicate.
A few other searches reveals that the 6 amp version of this device is completely different in appearance. I infer the exterior differences reflect different “architecture” within. So, it seems likely that the 2 amp version cannot simply be plugged into a 6 amp wall wart. Nor can the existing 2 amp sized box be upgraded.
The Tech 6 handheld is not wireless. There is no indication from MRC that the new wireless throttle can interface with their Tech 6. If it can I’d be all over that. Odd that MRC wouldn’t make that claim if it is possible.
Given that two or three trains is the most I expect to be able to operate concurrently and two of those will be set to run in continuous loop mode at any given time I now think the Tech 6 2.0 is pretty handy to have, for me intending to run single DC trains from time to time.
The $29 upgrade they are talking about is upgrading the 6 amp model to 8 amps (and since it mentions it comes with a 10 amp power supply - that seems plausible). One does wonder why they shipped a device designed for 6 amps (or probably designed for 8 amps) with a 10 amp power supply, but MRC often does things that boggle the mind.
Yes, it mentions a wireless option that appears to have never seen the light of day. Again, my speculation is that the 6 amp version with a walkaround handheld was already cannibalizing sales of Prodigy DCC systems and adding wireless to the Tech 6 would make things even worse, hence no wireless and the 6 amp version being totally dropped.
–Randy
I just finished changing CV29 on one Rapido FP7A to run in reverse mode using mybTech 6. I now have an ABA that will work using my Tech 6. All other locomotives have to be taken off any powered track while you program a locomotive (or any number of locomotives you want to have the same coding).
Although the Tech 6 has no consist function you can program the three F units as one address (06 in my case) and then take two units off track while you change the CV on the third unit to run in reverse mode. Then place them all back on track and power them up. They run as a three unit consist, more or less.
You do have to power down and power up all three units simultaneously. If they get out of phase with the F8 function (derail or other power interruption) then you may need to power each down on track separately (other two off track) with the F 8 key in order to get the three units to work together again.
Before I noticed (and remembered) that DCC direction is decoder directed it was interesting to see that the two A and B units facing forwards could drag the third unit backwards under power…