Basic power and control - 12 volt DC

2120 Views 5 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Brian Considine, Mar 14, 2007

Rail-Rider

Discussion Starter · Mar 12, 2007

It's fairly well accepted that the controllers supplied with train sets are as cheap as they possibly can be and, as a result, don't show off any loco's performance to advantage. Low speed control is usually dreadful. Reliability is often poor and they tend to have nasty reversing switches that permit crazy people to casually flick from full forwards to full reverse in a split second.

Without raking through 2nd hand items, or eulogising over ancient long gone manufacturers, what would the experts recommend in today's market, as a replacement for those nasty little things in train sets?
A basic transformer/controller for a single loco, HO/OO of average wattage
The sort of unit you can plug and play anywhere, any time
NO provision for 16V AC, (far better to buy a dedicated 16V AC transformer if that's what's needed)
Forward-reverse on one knob - no fwd/rev SWITCH!
No DIY projects.

Apart from controlling one loco with decent low speed control, such a unit would be ideal for bench powering a loco or a bare motor, bulb testing, etc. Cheap, good quality, decent control, no bells and whistles. Nice if you could rely on availability of identical matching units at a later date.

What would you recommend, where would you buy it and around how much should it cost?

Save

1 - 6 of 6 Posts

John Webb

· #2 · Mar 12, 2007

I bought an On-Track controller from All Components a couple of years ago when I returned to railway modelling. These seem to give good control of modern locos, and are a single knob, centre-off type. (I don't like switches for direction control either!) They are in solid metal cases and include versions which allow plug-in hand-held remote control as well.
See www.allcomponents.co.uk for more information. They give a good mail-order service as well and frequently turn out to exhibitions over much of England.

Regards,
John Webb

Save

pedromorgan

· #3 · Mar 13, 2007

I tend to go with gaugemaster. althought hey do go wrong now and then, they have a lifetime warrenty.

Peter

Save

Rail-Rider

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 14, 2007

Thanks for the suggestions, chaps - I'll look at these more closely

Any other suggestions also gratefully received.

See less See more

Save

Ravenser

· #5 · Mar 14, 2007

Gaugemaster would be the obvious recommendation - whether the cheap portable Combi, originally designed for trainset replacement but surprisingly effective, the E (which is limited to only 0.5A ) or the 100M (1 amp)

I think the 100M with full metal case, lifetime guarantee, 16AC output for point motors and socket for second, handheld controller, is only about £50-£55. I've got one and have been very satisfied

I've also got a Combi and it's a remarkably good unit for very little money

Gaugemaster are very widely available - most model shops stock them

Save

Brian Considine

· #6 · Mar 14, 2007

QUOTE (Ravenser @ 14 Mar 2007, 12:49) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Gaugemaster would be the obvious recommendation - whether the cheap portable Combi, originally designed for trainset replacement but surprisingly effective, the E (which is limited to only 0.5A ) or the 100M (1 amp)

I think the 100M with full metal case, lifetime guarantee, 16AC output for point motors and socket for second, handheld controller, is only about £50-£55. I've got one and have been very satisfied

I've also got a Combi and it's a remarkably good unit for very little money

Gaugemaster are very widely available - most model shops stock them

You cannot go far wrong with Gaugemaster, especially with the lifetime warranty.

The RRP of the 100M is £59.95, usually availble for around£50, the combi RRP is £32.95 (£28)

We use the 100M & the 10LGB as bench power supplies (we also have a LT OO/HO rolling road unit, excellent bit of kit but not cheap though.

See less See more

Save

1 - 6 of 6 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month