Hey guys I have been thinking of setting up a test strip of track to work on some issues I am having. I run HO so what would be the minimum amount of power to do this. I am going to the Train show in Maryland today so any info would be great.( like price or what too look for… Joseph
If you’re going to be testing one or two locomotives at a time on DC, any good used MRC will do. If you’re just looking to put power to the track to see if a loco will work and are not looking for performance, and HO toy train power pack would do the job.
Just got back from the tran show here in Baltimore, sure were alot of people there and of course we will be going back tomorrow. Looked for some used transformers and only found on and it was a Life Like and looked really cheap. I saw a few MRC used on ebay also about the same price with shipping so I will just pick one up there. Thanks Joseph
If you’re doing HO, the correct term is “power pack”. This designates a unit with a transformer (to reduce the AC wall voltage to something that won’t kill you), a rectifier to convert the AC to DC, and some means of varying the output voltage. Ask for a transformer, and someone will likely show you an old Lionel AC unit. That said, you can usually find old trainset power packs from Bachmann and Life Like in the $5-10 range. That should be enough to run one loco on a test track. Of course, I’m assuming that you’re not doing DCC.
Gary is correct:
A “TRANSFORMER” is a step down device and is AC only. It won’t run DC Trains.
A"POWER PACK" IS a DC device that coverts AC to DC, and uses a Rheostat or Variable Resistor to control speed. It is packaged to run DC (HO) trains.
TECHNICALLY (if you care) the Transformer limits the current and the Rectifier and Resistor control the Voltage.
NON-technically: the current determins ‘how’ many trains you can run, and the voltage the ‘speed’ they will run at.
My Test Track was 1 amp and replaced by a 3 amp supply, with meters. I heartedly reccomend the latter since some engines pull 2.5 amps to start.
http://www.modelrectifier.com/search/product-view.asp?ID=1265
THanks for the correction, I t is just for a test track as I am using DCC on my layout. Actually I am putting together the test track tonight along with a double coupler height guage test track I saw in on of my old RMC magazines.
Hi. wholesaletrains.com has the (Brand NEW) Model Rectifier Corp (MRC) Railpower 1300 powerpack #MRCAA300 that claims it can run up to three locos for $19.55. I do know for a fact it will run at least 2 trains on smaller loops.
They carry more that go up in ability. The railpower 1370 #MRCAA370 claiming to run 5 trains.It is $24.09.
From the homepage do a search for “powerpack” or pick HO trains. Then on the side blue menus pick"power and control".
I suppose I should make the declaration: I don’t work for/get from them anything. Just good stuff I buy!
-G
If you’re doing HO, the correct term is “power pack”. This designates a unit with a transformer (to reduce the AC wall voltage to something that won’t kill you), a rectifier to convert the AC to DC, and some means of varying the output voltage. Ask for a transformer, and someone will likely show you an old Lionel AC unit. That said, you can usually find old trainset power packs from Bachmann and Life Like in the $5-10 range. That should be enough to run one loco on a test track. Of course, I’m assuming that you’re not doing DCC.
The most important thing to look for is that the power pack works.
Bring a tester and test BEFORE you hand over the money.
Don’t buy anything if they won’t let you plug it in and test it. Remember you test for ohms with the power pack unplugged. Testers don’t like to be attached to active packs. It let’s the smoke out. 
After that you want to find pack with a few amps of power @ 12 or so vdc.
Don’t forget to check the aux outputs.
Eric