[?]Does anyone remember the Troller line of power packs that were manufactured in Chicago in the late 70’s and 80’s? Was there something wrong with them that they were only around for a few years? ANY help will be appreciated Thanks! John
I’ve kind of been wondering that myself. I was working in a hobby store when they were on the market, and at the time felt that they were the best available. MRC has since pretty much taken over the basic DC power supply market.
We recently “inherited” two Troller power packs when old trains were donated to our club. One has a single controller, and one is a dual controller pack. The dual controller pack is burned out on one side, and we haven’t had the nerve to try drilling out the rivets so we can gain access to its innards.
One big disadvantage to them is the power connection socket on the back, which seems to require a special size of terminal that is hard to find. None of the readily available crimp terminals fit them.
I remember the astoundingly low prices when Troller went under and their inventory was dumped on the market roughly coinciding with a Trainfest in Milwaukee. I could not believe the prices. I also did not buy. Word on the street was that Troller had some excellent features and clever design but the durability could not approach Model Rectifer Corp. I might add that my first ever MRC “Ampack” that I got with my first Penn Line train set – I think we are talking 1961 or so – is still going strong, powering my test track. It still looks handsome too.
Dave Nelson
The pulse power system Troller used had a tendency to burn out motors in the smaller scales. There was an article in Model Railroader discussing the issues and comparing a number of different power packs. (I want to say it was in the August or September 1980 issue.)
Back in the early-to-mid 1980s when I was working in a hobby shop, we saw enough Trollers come back with blown power transistors that we stopped selling them pretty quickly. In the years that followed, our repair guy got pretty good at replacing the power transistor they used with a beefier component as people brought them in.
I’m not sure whether they were using an under-spec’ed component or one that regularly wasn’t being delivered to them up to spec, or whether the lack of any provision for airflow in the case is what killed off the power transistor in most cases.
I have one that is in everyday usage. Yes, there was a problem with them burning out. Why hasn’t mine? I don’t use the Momentum feature and it just keeps on running. I have used it for 10 or 11 years with no problem so I would ASSume that the problem was with the Momentum.
There are much better products on the market today, so I wouldn’t repair it if and when it did die.
Thanks for everybody’s input. The reason that I asked in the first place is because I have a Troller Twin Transamp 2.5 with momentum and braking - their top of the line model - NEW in the box. I just wish I knew exactly what transistor to replace so I could forestall any problems. By the way they gave you a package of the connectors that plug in the sockets, and I’ve found them elsewhere, as well. Anyway, thanks to everyone for your help. John Stanley [^]
I just recently got back into model railroading.I took my olt Troller transformer into my LHS for repair.The owner told me he had’nt seen one in years,and said that Troller went out of business because they were notorious for setting fires,and strongly suggested that I throw it out. I did exactly that and got a new transformer.
The only thing wrong with the Troller packs, at least for HO, was the very poor (read, “non-existant”) overload protection. If you limit the current output to around 1 amp, they last forever.
I used a dual-filament brake-light bulb, feeding the power through both filaments in parallel. This not only limits the power to 1 amp, it gives you a positive short-circuit indication when the bulb lights.
Actually that arrangement works so well that I add it to all of my throttles.
I have a Troller Autopulse 1 that I have used regularly for 20-25 years with that circuit protection, and it’s still going strong.
Oh, - one more thing: The terminal connectors on the back of the units accept a standard female 1/4" spade connector. Find them at any auto parts store or discount store auto section.
I miss my old Troller packs. I had two of the Autopulse packs, both with the add-on walkaround cabs. For me, they were very reliable for years. My dad’s got one of mine that he uses on his N scale layout, but I lost the other one at some point during one of my many moves during my 20’s…
I had several Trollers- great as long as they worked. The last one’s speed control just up & died suddenly and the train went faster & faster until the 0-5-0 switcher pulled the loco off the track. That was around 1980 or so I think. I never throw anything away, so two old Trollers are serving very well as power supplies on my current DC layout.
The Trollers are great packs, BUT they do not protect themselves. If you do as Gary suggests, you will not have any issues with them. The ONLY improvement the MRC Tech 4 is over a Troller is that the MRC protects itself. It is no better a train control, and some would say the MRC is not as good.
The transistor that fails is the output device. Just about any similar Darlington type will work, preferrably one with a higher current rating, and it should be heat sinked. Read the designation from the transistor in the pack, and cross reference for a similar device. An exact match is not required.
The failure mode is first a short: full DC voltage will be applied to the tracks so the locomotive will go to max speed, then the device opens - the power output will drop to zero.
espeefoamer: that hobby shop owner gave you a load of _______ there is no fire risk, maybe a bit of smoke and stink when the output transistor blows. He just wanted your money.
We lost Troller because they could not afford to repair/replace all of the returns.
Nigel
Thanks again to everyone who has replied. I’m going to follow Gary’s advice, a simple enough fix. I wondered at the time they went out of business if it was partially because of pressure - MRC is a huge corporation who at the time was virtually the only manufacturer of power packs.
I bought a Tech 4 about five years ago (I forget the model no.) that supposedly had a memory and other junk. The only problem was every time you turned the power off to the pack, you had to reset the memory. It was a pain to reset, and when I called MRC about it they said it was my problem, not the power pack. Oddly enough, that model went off the market about a month later, and hasn’t been seen since. I’ve had a problem with MRC since then. As to SPfoamer, sorry you wasted 50 bucks or more by listening to a retailer rather than asking people who have used them - that’s what these forums are for.
Thanks everybody!!
John
I’m starting to get buyers remorse for picking up a Troller last weekend from a train-show. Can you draw out this as a wiring diagram so I can attempt it? (Newby here).