On my ho scale layout I use the 90’s tech II controller. They work well and they are affordable.
I had one as well and I agree, it was great for the HO, N and On30 trains I ran. For anything larger though you need a DC pack designed for G scale. I have some DC powered O scale locomotives who’s motors were just too big for the Tech II. I found the AristoCraft TP 7000 didn’t overload running heavy diecast locos.
Remember digital command control was relatively new in the O gauge world when MRC entered that market segment and in their defense neither MTH or QSI were exactly cooperative about sharing important details about how ProtoSounds functioned. Not even with reputable companies like MRC (or so I’ve been told by several hobby shop owners and repair techs who took MTH’s classes to become certified). Plus I’ve always suspected that neither MTH or QSI people were actually aware of the type of issue I was having (and thousands of others according to those same repair techs who sought answers from Mike Wolf at York). Fortunately for me at least the MRC DP O27 was a gift and I got the AristoCraft unit MIB for an excellent price. 
[…neither MTH or QSI were exactly cooperative about sharing important details about how ProtoSounds functioned.
[/quote]
Not TOO surprising with companies that have proprietary programming, components and circuitry in their electronics. I suspected as much when I had a blown board package in a MTH engine I bought used. Long story short ordering a new board package from MTH would have involved sending the bad one back to them. “Aha!” I said to myself, “Just like the copier companies, there’s things in those boards they don’t want others to know about!” So I ordered a drop-in board from Dallee electronics and restored conventional operation, which is all I do anyway.
MTH and QSI should have made an exception with MRC but that’s all water under the bridge now.
Yeah, but that would have made sense
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Hi, first post to the forum. I am using two ZWs and a KW to power my around the wall layout on two levels. Room size is 13 X 20 feet. I guess that answers the question, but I have a comment/question for the forum. I split the first level into two L shaped power districts and am feeding one from the AU side of the ZW and the other from the DU side. Running TMCC and have the common tied together. Opinions on this approach? I am running a bus under the track and have feeders from each piece of Gargrave’s track to the bus.
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Sounds good
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FWIW, with the discussion here of MRC transformers-it’s worth mentioning that the AH601, AKA the “Pure Power Dual” is a totally different beast from the MRC “Dual Power O27”
The AH601 is more or less what you took a postwar ZW and updated the design-it has a big toroidal transformer, and each handle directly controls a wiper to tap the core. In other words, it’s a true variable tap transformer just like old Lionel transformers. Nearly every other “transformer” on the market used a fixed voltage step down transformer to supply something in the range of 18-20 volts, then uses a an electronic controller to vary the output(the vast majority of them give the dreaded “chopped sine wave” doing this, although not all chopped waves are created equal, and even the MTH Z-controller outputs one). MTH’s Z4000 synthesizes a more or less pure sine wave output.
The other kind of oddball out there(actually it’s not really an oddball-it’s a brilliant design I think) is the massive 400W Right of Way Industries transformer(and the near clone of it that Davis Electronics had made), which uses fixed 24V transformers, but puts a variac on the front end of them for output voltage control.
For me, I rarely need variable power, so I use Lionel PowerHouse bricks. In a pinch I’ve turned those into variable transformers by using a variac, but it’s not something I’d do routinely. If I truly need variable power, I’ll feed them into a TPC.
For the times I want to grab the handles, I have both a Z4000 and an MRC AH601. The MRC breaker is a bit too slow for my liking, so I typically use external fast acting breakers with it(Airpax magnetic-hydraulics). I like the Z4000 and it is a beast of a transformer, but it’s also physically a lot larger and heavier than the MRC. I don’t currently have any MTH PS1 locomotives(all have been upgraded to either PS3 or TMCC), but I really don’t think there’s a better transformer for running them than the Z4000. A TPC or a TIU variable channel do work well for them, especially for programming.
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For my conventional temporary layouts I use MRC AH101 transformers. I run Legacy, TMCC, and conventional engines using the tethered hand held controllers. These work great and have may features. They include adjustable starting voltage, adjustable momentum and braking rates, whistle and bell buttons that activate many of the Legacy features in conventional mode. I have used these for more than two decades with no issues. They run any engine in conventional better than my original Gilbert pure sine wave transformers do.
My permanent layout uses two ZW-L transformers for track power. they supply eight Power Districts. All operation is with Legacy Cab 2 handheld controllers, all layout control is with the LCS app on iPads.
The feature I like best about the ZW-L’s is the foldback circuit. In 10 years I have never had an engine derailment. There are frequent operator errors where the engine runs into an open turnout, the frogs are powered, so that looks like a short. The foldback circuit limits the current to less than 10A for 2 to 3 seconds, usually enough time for me to pull the engine off the frog, so no breaker trip.
I am an S gauge person so there is no need for DCS. Good thing, because we needed to put the Legacy signal on both rails. That is done by jumpering the rails in each block with a .01mfd capacitor. These look like a short circuit to the DCS track signal. PowerMasters and bricks can be used in place of a ZW-L if desired. They have faster breakers but no foldback circuits.
I used to enjoy running postwar to modern trains (with digital sound) on a CW-80. But after building a small layout with multiple loops, I bought some old Lionel 40 Watt transformers to replace it and they work great. I don’t miss the sounds for 2 reasons; the sounds quit working on the few that had it (replaced electronics with a generic e-unit) and I put external horn and whistle sounds on the layout. My Lionel hobby is kept low-end; easy and inexpensive. I mostly run MPC and a little later. I hear there is more advanced expensive stuff, but my thin wallet and I are not interested.
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I guess all that stuff is neat, but it’s not for me either
I have a Type V which is refurbished with whistle and stop buttons. Use the V for Prewar trains.
Postwar and MPC era, I use a ZW. For D.C. running on O27 I like the MRC power packs.
You know, I can kind of take-or-leave the sounds, whistle and bell are good enough for me and I can even live without the bell. And I’ve found that with two or more trains with full sound effects running on a layout I can’t distinguish one from the others anyway.
And welcome back P-A-F!
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I would like to see pics of how that was done.
Lionel Type V
Refurbished and Upgraded with 2 whistle controls and 2 reverse controls.
New circuit breakers are installed and push button resets are on the back.
Your welcome!
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Now that’s a super-slick job! And I love the Art Deco styling of that Type V, classic!
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I use a Type V on my layout because I like how the “throttles” range all the way from near zero to high, so I can go between running Marx locos and Lionel postwar without any effort.
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