Large Scale Central

Fact or Fantasy: Aristo's power packs harmful to LGB/USA/B'mann

General Discussion
#1

OK, I now have in place the Aristo “switching power supply” and three 10 amp controllers.
Whoa! The power control delay is interesting. More interesting was the verbal caution I got from one enthusiast that use of this control means “bye-bye” to LGB motors and the motor in my most coveted USA GP 30 (with the elegant Sierra sound ystem installed by friend TOC).

What is anyone’s actual experience? Speculation in this hobby abounds and I would appreciate any experiencial responses that tell me I’m slowing destroying my loco stable or the entire concern is based on “MODEL RR LEGEND?”

Many thanks.

Wendell

#2

All I can recall is the White Kitty with a howling set of GP-9 motors using a PW supply from the same manufacturer.
And, certain PW will fry maybe not LGB motors, but if that LGB has the built-in MTS, watch for smoke.
Seen it.

And it isn’t covered by warranty, and will cost you $150 to fix.

#3

Wendell,

I have never had any first hand experience of motor failures using pwm. Even (so called) coreless motors, provided the pwm frequency is above 5 Khz.
The motor “noise” suppression fitted to many Bachmann locos is best removed as pwm controllers do not like capacitance across the motor leads.

As a general rule I do not recommend using a pwm DC controller to power a DCC decoder equipped loco.
I know of instances where the DCC decoder has become “confused” by the pwm signal and spat the dummy.
I have also heard of the (so called) “Magic Smoke” escaping from both DCC decoders and sound systems which can be very expensive to fix.

To be on the safe side ask the power supply manufacturer and speed controller manufacturer if they are prepared to guarantee that their products will not harm any of your locos and the on board electronics the locos may contain. Preferably in writing.

If they will guarantee no harm, you are covered.

If they will not guarantee no harm, then; Caveat Emptor.

#4

I have the Aristo trackside TE running my track powered locos in linear mode and I have never had a problem with either of my Bachman 4-6-0’s nor my 20 tonner USA, or any of my LGB some with MTS, some with sound, Chloe, F7B, mogul with digital sound. I have run the climax and shay for short time periods.

I did have an issue with my Aristo reverser with engines emmiting a ‘ping’ upon startup and I solved this by placing a 15 microfarad non-polarized capacitr on the reverser output.

I also placed the HOTE in the LGB rail truck (fits very nicely in the box in the truck bed) and I have run this on several layouts and I have approx 10 problem free hours on this combination. I did install kadee coupler on the rail truck and it pulls 2 cars for me.

#5

Cn w hv lss f ths abbrvtns ,thn prhps vryn wll bnfit .Thnks
Mk

#6

Mike,
You just kill me! :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

The only problem I had with my LGB lokies was the sound didn’t work properly when the “TE” was set to “pulse” mode. If it was set to Linear, every thing worked fine. (While visiting other layouts–I don’t and won’t own any Aristo.)
To be honest, I’m afraid to use any fancy termed power supply to power my LGB locos.
I prefer pure, filtered, straight line DC.
jb

#7

I run a Track side T/E in PWC mode. I have Aristo, USA and Bachman locos. No LGB.

Never had a problem with any of them. Your mileage may vary.

According to Aristo’s website “In P.W.C. mode, pulses occur about 40 microseconds apart, or at about 25,000 pulses per second”

Tony - I’m I correctly translating that when I get 25 KHz?

JR

#8

K y skd fr t ,Wtf s HOTE Mk

#9

I’ve been running LGB, HLW, USA, Bachmann and Aristo engines on Aristo 10 amp power supplies with Train Engineers since 1997. Never on PWC. Never have had a problem, but we are still in the testing phase and your results may vary.

#10

I have the Aristo trackside TE running my track powered locos in linear mode for 8 years , and I have never had a problem with maybe 60 motorized units of all the large scale trains mfrs , or the sound systems in them , or my live steamers either . based on my limited experience .

#11

Dennis-
You have any of the LGB factory MTS equipped locos?

I’ve seen several fried on PW, and had phone calls about others.

My understanding is that is one of the reasons they went back to non-factory-equipped…

#12

I have to confess , the question of pulse width modulation (pwm) had not occured to me , I have such controllers , but more by accident than design have never used them on my LGB stuff , mainly because I got newer ,beefier supplies which happened to be non pwm .
Now , armed with the implied threat of LGB Fries , with its attendant salad of greens ,I shall mark all of my power units except LGB ones "not to be used for cooking LGB "
I generally use lab power units ,which is a stroke of luck really , they are filtered something powerful . I use them because they are cheap ( I stole them ) and have current and voltage monitoring and limit setting ,very useful when testing new stuff .
Mike

#13

mike… knock off the crap… or i ain’ gonna send ya no more strangs… some of us less than skilled typists… miss letters… sentences… etc… :wink:

#14

I ain’t had strangs fer a week now , what ya doin’ Moreese , tryin’ta hurt mah libido ? Sheesh , man , where’s
mah weekly ration ?
Mahk .

#15

Huh?

My CO wasn’t sure he wanted to trust me with a light switch, s o t a l k r e a l s l o w l y p l e a s e , s o I c a n
f o l l o w t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n. tango yankee.

I have an Aristo Elite, puts out 20 or so volts and 10 amps, has a selector switch for pwc or pwm (I forget which). So far, I haven’t fried any USA or Bachmann, but I tend to select linear when I run those. Sometimes I forget, but have yet to see any “Magic smoke.”

#16

Youse guys r a regukar riot and that’s 4 shur. Where is my defictonry ?

Cheers, burp, pass me another bottle of Guinness PLEASE, cold the only way.

#17

Samuel Smith’s “Imperal” Stout is far superior to that stuff…made at “The old brewery, Tadcaster”

…yes cool, and chill the glass please…

#18
Curmudgeon said:
Dennis- You have any of the LGB factory MTS equipped locos?

I’ve seen several fried on PW, and had phone calls about others.

My understanding is that is one of the reasons they went back to non-factory-equipped…


Dave , I think I may , am not sure really , as I have no MTS operation .
I started out useing the pwc for the fine slow speed ops . I had no problems with any , includeing sound …then I got a new LGB that acted real strange with the lights and other things going on . And read that the pwc will mess them up , so based on the strange things I saw here , switched to linear ops , and have not had any problems with linear power for any brand of locos .

in a unrelated subject , over at mls …you were credited with helping a person with their shay problems , they thanked you and wondered where you were .

#19
Fred Mills said:
Samuel Smith's "Imperal" Stout is far superior to that stuff......made at "The old brewery, Tadcaster"

…yes cool, and chill the glass please…


Monsignor Fred

Is that thick and at the first taste seem awful? Then it might be worth a try.

Cheers and bottoms up,

#20

'tis an awful taste to some, but rich and very full bodied to most. It also has a great “Nose”. After trying “Imperial Stout”, or it’s “Whole Wheat Stout” partner; you will find that Guinness leaves the same impression as too much water added to concentrated Orange juice. In fact you might feel that the Irish are “Watering” the Stout…!!

Of course; everyones' taste is different....we must go through life seeking what each of us can call perfection........that is why I carry this burden, of "Holy Water Taster", for the Branch Railroadian Fellowship of the World.