Power Pack Transformers - Need some help

[ole6768]

First off, I will admit that electrical engineering is not this civil engineer's area of expertise. I thought that N power packs were for N scale, HO packs for HO layouts, you get the idea. Now I have test run my On30 purchases with both a N pack and a HO pack; I got better control with the N unit. But now I have seen a Bachmann transformer for G, HO and N scales! How can this be? I know Bachmann isn't a great power unit and I use MRCs. So what ratings do I look for in a power pack to run a G engine? I always thought heat would be an issue --- some thing would burn up and that would be it! Help me understand these things. And remember, I still don't understand how one can run 2 identical engines --- one forward facing and one reverse facing at the same time. Thanks for the help, Lee in Tucson

[snookie_54_69]

Hello i am new here i got a set of tech II locomotion 2500 power pack and the sound genarator 8000 i have hooked the sound genarator to the locomotion ac termanals hooked the track up on the sound genarator to tracks termanals hooked up aspeaker duhh and went to run train it will not move ... i see a varible DC and fixed DC on the locomotion transformer which to hook up track??? thank for your time

[crazyd37]

Welcome Snookie!

[flaretired]

Welcome Snookie. You should be hooked up to the variable DC terminals. This is what controls the speed of the train. Hopes this helps. Chuck from Daytona Beach, FL.

[snookie_54_69]

Hi yes i figured that one out ... now as far as the sound genarator goes does it also need to hook up to the track???

[ginzokid]

Snookie, I'm not familiar with the sound unit you are talking about. Who makes it? Usually, sound generators go between the power pack and the track so they can be syncronized with the throttle setting automatically. The instructions that should have come with the sound unit should tell you which wires go to where. If you do not have the instructions, give us the make and model of the sound unit and we will try to help you figure it out. I will tell you one thing I know for sure. The MRC Tech II 2500 power packs are not very compatible with the newer sound units. The 2500 uses a built-in pulse power they called "proportional tracking" instead of a flat line DC. This pulse confuses most sound units and all you get is a hum or static instead of syncronized sound. Ask me how I know. I had to go out and buy new Tech 4 units for my sound generators to work. Hope that isn't bad news for you. What you have may just work with the Tech II units. I'm using mine now for structure lighting. Give us a little more info so we can help you more. B-) -- Edited by ginzokid at 10/26/2007 3:58 AM

[ginzokid]

PS: I just did some searching and found out that what you have is an MRC Tech II 8000 Sound unit. Since both units are TechII, you should have no trouble with the hook up. My guess is that you will find two connections for power input and two for power output as well as speaker connections. These should be marked on the back of the unit. You would take the variable out put (track output) from the TecH II 2500 and connect those two wires to the 8000 input terminals. Then you take two wires from the 8000 output and connect those to the track. The speaker wires are self explanatory. I assume you have 8ohm speakers that came with the sound unit. This unit has the option for steam or diesel and also controlable sounds on it that you can adjust to your desire. I emailed MRC and asked them if they could email me the hook-up diagram or written instructions for the 8000 unit. This is no longer made you realize. I hope they send me something that I can pass on to you. What I wrote above is just my guess without actually seeing the unit. If you can post a picture of the back of the sound unit to show us the terminals, I'm sure we can advise you properly. B-)

[ginzokid]

Snookie, I'm close but not entirely right. Send me your email using the moderator link at the left and I'll send you a pdf file of the entire instructions and wiring diagram. B-)

[ginzokid]

Snookie, where are you? I got the info and instruction manual from Frank at MRC. Don't you want it? B-)

[snookie_54_69]

Hi yes i would love the manuel.. by the way frank at MRC told me this morning that the 2500 power pack and 8000 sound will not work together.. please send me the instuctions anyway sent to jd_332000@yahoo i purchsed this as aset here on ebay was really hoping it worked together as i like the momentum and brake funtions on the 2500 as well as the sound unit.. any ideas on other units that would work with the sound?? thanks for your time! James "snookie_54_69"

[ginzokid]

Frank ought to know. I had the same problem with another MRC sound unit. The problem seems to be that the TechII stuff is a pulse wave output which messes up the modulation of the sound units. Any of the new Tech4 units will work with the 8000 sound generator. I was forced to but a new Tech4 when I wanted to use sound. I use the TechII DC side for layout lighting and the AC side for powering switch motors etc. You might be forced to do the same thing. The new units have momentum as far as I know. Braking might be over-rated in some people's estimation. Check out Walthers for the MRC specifications. The instructions are in the email....... B-)