Folks The MRC 780 is on back order. I have 2. I love them. IMO the TECH II isn't appropriate for N scale. It creates a buzzing noise, in he Locos. Anyone have and like the Tech 4, as I wait impatiently? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The MRC 780 may be on backorder at whichever dealer you checked with, but is currently available from a few other dealers. Here's a rather comprehensive review of the 780: http://www.sumidacrossing.org/Musings/files/140126_MRC_Tech_7_780.php
Thanks Point. I love the 780. They do get engines to crawl along. I'll try the 280 anyway. It supposed to have accutech. If I get one, I'll compare them side by side. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'm happy to see that quality DC throttles are still being developed. I still use my old Troller Autopulse Transamp 1 from 35+ Years ago.
Keep in mind that any 280 you get could well be a couple of decades old and any electrolytic capacitors inside will likely need to be replaced.
It's not that bad. Think of it as an older car eventually needing new belts and hoses. Don't let it deter you if you're really curious about the relative performance of the 280. If the circuit in the 280 is similar to that in the 780, then there are only two capacitors - one for each throttle. Worst case there might be half a dozen in total. Replacement parts can be bought from Digi-Key or Mouser and wouldn't cost more than $1 each. Only basic soldering skills are needed to do the exchange.
I have been using TECH IIs for twenty-five years. I still have the first one, a 2800 and it still works. I have had two TECH IIs go sour. The first one, a 2400, had the reverse switch go bad. It was an intermittent failure I continued to use it for another six months by jiggling the thing to get contact. Eventually, it became annoying enough that I replaced it. The other one was a 2500. One day, the throttle simply refused to respond. I have two 2800s, four 2400s and two 2500s, all of which still function. Those are in addition to the failed two. I do have a pair of 1300s and one 700. I do like the TECH 7 700. Of the two TECH IIs that did fail one was over fifteen years old, the other over twenty. If you consider that MRC has a five year warranty on them, I guess that no one or nothing cheated me. My favourite is the 2400, as it has the ON-OFF pulse switch. The buzzing to which Original Poster refers comes from the pulse. If you want to hear some really loud buzzing, use a 2500. The pulse on that one is quite strong. In fact, I have fried several TRIX and older Bachpersonn motors on it. On some of the newer B-manns, with the factory "smart" decoder, I have had funny responses on the 2500, including its running in the direction opposite to that of the directional switch or its suddenly changing direction without my throwing the directional switch. I do not have that problem with the other TECH IIs or the one TECH 7. The TECH IIs are very good, despite their being 1990s technology.
Good news. I'm not going to risk motors on the techII, having better alternatives. I'll see if the 280 needs work. I have multiple 1300s, that are great and a controller, from a Athearn set, that looks suspiciously like a rebranded MRC. It works great. I even added Atlas 210s to the 1300. They allow me to control direction independently, on 2 loops. Enough locos have similar throttle response, that on speed is fine. The only MRC deal breaker is the buzzing, which I think is related to the circuitry that puts the motors at risk. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Agreed! As with my Troller, my MRC Tech II 1500 is also a fine pack and still works exceptionally well. Both are as they were out of the box with no repairs ever needed.
I have never "fried" any N scale motor with any MRC pulse power pack. That includes the Rivarossi can motors (the early ones fried themselves), Minitrix motors, Mehano motors, Kato motors, Bachmann motors, etc. And it includes MRC 500N, Tech II 2400, Tech II 2500, and Controlmaster 20 power packs. The buzzing is locomotive/motor components vibrating in response to pulses. Older locomotives, with looser tolerances will buzz more than newer, tighter tolerance locos. You should hear my old Mantua/Tyco HO locos. It doesn't bother me. Just don't leave a motor stalled or under heavy load with pulses at maximum going through them. Common sense. In my opinion, the Tech II series are some of the best packs ever designed/manufactured. Doug
I never had a TECH 4. Model Railroader did pan them when they first appeared. I do not know if MRC made any changes to it or even if MR ever changed its mind on the TECH 4.
Speaking of power packs, has anyone information or an opinion on Kato's 22-014? It has an external power supply, so I'm guessing that it's of smaller size which appeals to me.
I have also never had a Tech 4. I remember hearing before that MR panned them but I never read the review or remember what, exactly, about them MR didn't like. Does anybody know? Doug
I am not familiar with the Kato packs (they look cool ) but here's another observation. Packs with no pulsed output at low voltages are fine for newer locomotive motors that start at lower voltages and don't cog like older motors. These packs don't work very well at low speeds for older locomotives, however. Jackrabbit starts. And actually, this stuff has been known for decades. The Controlmaster 20, I found, falls in this catagory. Although it does have a pulsed output available (the "Nudge" feature), it is nowhere near aggressive enough to be effective. Doug
Yeah, what he said, mostly. There is some newer power that does not respond well to the Kato. This is yet another reason why I prefer MRC 2400s. The pulse is discreet and you can turn it ON or OFF as needed. The Kato has no pulse. It is convenient, though, for working the Kato UNITRACK switch machines. It is also convenient if you want to run power feeds to UNITRACK sections. It is not a bad power supply, but if you want better DC, you can do better.
http://www.sumidacrossing.org/Musings/files/131222_Kato DC Power Pack.php http://www.sumidacrossing.org/LayoutElectricity/ModelTrainPower/PowerPackTesting/
