Hi, Just purchased a ALCO FA-1 Diesel Locomotive. It did not come with a power supply. I need a power supply with PWC. I would like to use our present DC supply transformer. The booklet mentions a ART-5401 Control PAck Adapter. I have not been able to find one. Arist-Craft told me to do a search. I did to no avail. Does anyone know where I could find the ART-5401? Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Nick
IF you are referencing the Model 55401 “DC Train Power Controller” i.e. Aristo’s speed/direction controller running off a power supply, I use four of them on my layout. The “extra” 5 in the model listing does not surprise me.
The power supply running to each controller is the Aristo 10 amp. variable power supply I bought three years ago. My guess is you could use any power supply. That’s a guess. Each of the controllers has its own fan and rheostat including direction control. My understanding is these controllers will take up to 10 amps. I have heard no more than 5 amps from other users. They work fine. I paid about $50 for each as a package deal with the power supply.
Using the combined controllers and Aristo power supply does mean PWC at the track. Big deal. All of my LGB and USA engines work fine with this pulse-width power. I find it somewhat disconserting that shutting off the power at the controller still means power in the track.
NOTE!
Be sure to have a continual power drain to prevent the 22 volts running through the track and administering an anoying shock if you use an Aristo variable power supply. I use a light bulb to continually draw power on those tracks whereby there is no locomotive absorbing the power. Apparently, the power to the track starts at the 22 volts until there is a drain. Keeping a bulb on at the power supply creates that drain and drops the voltage with no effect on the locomotive’s performance. The shock is disconcerting – especially to the unsuspecting.
Wendell
Nick Reitter said:You don't need PWC
Hi, Just purchased a ALCO FA-1 Diesel Locomotive. It did not come with a power supply. I need a power supply with PWC.? Thanks, Nick
David is accurate re: any real need for pulse width control. Some like to slow starts and the slow stops. IF that is a feature you want, my caution is to add the light bulb to nulify the full 22 volts going to the track.
Wendell
I have one of those. Works slick. Now I use the TE radio control version.
A big Thank You everyone for the help. The locomotive does work fine on DC as was mentioned. I will wait until we have many cars connected to see if we need the PWC for smooth operation.
Your Aristo FA1 will work fine on regular DC. Lewis Polk has added PWC so that the smoker and the lights will think that there is full power to the track, but the motor will not think that way.
Frankly, it is all PFM to me. I’ve run my Aristo locos with and without PWC and cannot see much difference.
Is it “I’ve ran or I’ve run?” Either way grates on my nerves, like fingernails on a blackboard.
Steve Featherkile said:I've run. "I've ran" would once have earned you a rap across the knuckles from Mrs McGillicuddy; these days, they don't seem to teach grammar.
[i]Is it "I've ran or I've run?" Either way grates on my nerves, like fingernails on a blackboard.[/i]
People seem to contract the contraction “I’ve” to “I” these days.