Hello, on internettrains.com they have an MRC tech 4 controller w/Brake and Momentum for $47 bucks. I am looking for a good controller, but don't plan on needing DCC for quite some time yet. This controller ouputs 16VA, is that good for HO? What would be be too many VA's as I see some output up to 20VA. In short, is this a good controller, I have heard others talk about it and they seem to like it.
That sounds like a pretty good deal. Don't worry about VA's, that's just a measure of the output capacity of the power supply. You'll never have too much capacity in your power supply, unless you've truly bought a monster and only plan on running one locomotive at a time. Trust me, you'll want to run several locomotives at a time with one consist..... Your main concerns should be.... Does it have the features you want? Does it have enough capacity for what I want to run? One Athearn locomotive will pull up to 3/4 amp under full load, and will average drawing 1/2 amp or slightly less. 12 volts times 1/2 amps equals 6 volt-amps or 6 VA. Your 16 VA power supply should have no problem running 2 locomotives at a time, or even 3 if you don't load the motors down heavily. If you have better motors than the stock Athearn units, that draw less current, you may be able to run even more. Mark P.S. Remember to include in your "load budget" any lighted passenger cars, etc....
I had a Tech 4-250 that was a piece of junk. It had a step in the throttle and it's pulsed signal made my locos sound like they were ready to vibrate apart. I sold the Tech 4 at a swap meet and bought a Controlmaster 20. What a difference. Just my experience. You asked.
HermanZGerman, thanks for your opinion. I think the one I was looking into was a Tech4 220, but I am not sure now, I would have to look again. I don't know if what you are saying was a flaw in your controller, or if it had different features than the 220 that were making the difference, but the others that have used this powerpack that I have asked seem to like it...but I will definatly look into it more. Thanks,
I got my first MRC power pack a Tech 3 dual pack and i'm quite pleased with it! I can run multiple loco's and not have a voltage drain or even for the pack itself to heat up! So... If I run onto a MRC Tech4 I may end up spending money in it.. BTW, Does MRC Tech4 come in a dual pack by any chance? [ 02 November 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]</p>
I'm curious to know if the Tech4 line has a power pack with a separate plug-in controller. I have one of the TechII 2400 midels, and it's run like a Swiss watch since I've bought it back in 1987. However, with the expansion on my N scale layout, I need walkaround capability.
Frisco. That is the very reason that originally I bought the Tech 4 250. So I could have another handheld controller. I'm pretty sure that mine was a fluke but it sure was troublesome and for N scale the pulsed signal was truly hard on locos. I love my Controlmaster 20. It has everything I will ever need for my present layout. Even though we don't normally stock the Controlmaster 20 at the shop, I always tell customers about it and about half the time they will order it. One guy ordered 3.
If a 250 will do that to N scale engines, I'd just as soon pass (I'm in N scale). The Controlmaster 20 sounds about right. What's the going price for one, and does MRC have a Web site? Thanks for the info, Herman
Bob, the MRC website is at MRC I have and will use an old MRC TECH II railmaster 2400 which has always worked like a charm. I use it as a stationary cab B in the yard/roundhouse area of my MAT. I purchased a Contolmaster 20 about a year ago and it is fantastic. If your layout is designed for walk around the controlmaster 20 is ideal. Mine looks after cab A on the MAT. It is seldom I will ever run more than 2 trains at a time so the old cab A cab B system with block control is ideal for me. Not to say I haven't looked at DCC and its great abilities but I just don't have the money for it. The MRC controlmaster cost me just over $300 in Canadian dollars and I purchased it at a nearby hobby shop.
I've got two MRC controllers and I'm quite pleased with both of them. I'd recommend MRC to anyone. If the switching power supply is a problem, you could buy a large computer-grade capacitor to put across the output to smooth out one you already have. It'd be a fairly inexpensive band-aid. My next power supply I'll probably design and build from scratch. It'll be a good "train" project, and it'll have some features that most people would just dream about, plus enough "horsepower" to run darn near anyhing. I could even use it as an automotive battery charger! $200 or so should do it. 15 amps, fold-back current limiting on faults, remote voltage sensing, slave-able, adjustable current limiting, able to operate with a continuous short without damage, .... It'd weigh a ton. Being a power company guy, I'd design it "utility grade", which would mean indestructable. I'll need it for those times when I really want to put together a really large train.... Mark
