Hello, I’m trying to get this power pack to work.
All of the lights come on and I’m fairly confident I have the wires all the wires connected correctly.
But my locomotive won’t run.
Would appreciate any guidance or assistance.
Thank you.
I’m afraid this is the time you need to learn to use a multimeter. It will tell you what voltage is to be found on the output terminals of the 51070. If there is non, the problem is the 51070. If there is the usual 12-20V, then test the voltage across the rails using the multimeter.
If you don’t feel up to a multimeter, there are voltage testers that you can use to touch the rails or the output terminals to verify there is voltage. Or use an LED with a built-in resistor that will light if there is voltage.
Harbor Freight sells a multimeter for $3.99.
1 Like
my first question would be: are you in the US?
because anywhere else your 50111 transformer might not be the right choice.
second question: since when do the grey and the red power items work together?
Hello,
Yes, I am in the US. I bought them from a US ‘mail-order’, reputable train store about 15 years ago. Just getting back into the hobby and never used them then. Tryin to get them to work.
Are you wired like this?
If you happen to short the transformer, you need to push the reset.
The transformer must be unplugged from the 110V outlet when you push the reset.
Maybe I can’t see it, but the transformer should have the green light on when power up. As stated, a volt meter is your friend. Your track could also have a short somewhere.
apart from the 51070 having been sold normally together with the (red) 50110…
let’s get a step back.
is your locomotive for DCC? or for DC?
They work just fine together in the US. Red and red everywhere else.
I’m using analog locomotives. From the 1990s. My other power pack works just fine in the track. So I don’t think I have a short anywhere
This is what the 51070 looks like when I plug it in. And attach it to the track. I don’t think all of these lights should be on.
well, then i don’t know. 
are you sure, that your cables are connected as requiered?
Neither do I. You have it indicating leftward and rightward travel! Hit the STOP button!
What engine are you trying to run?
For my MIK build, I am using an LGB engine. When I first tried it out, it wasn’t running. I have to goose the voltage way up to get it to run.
When I opened it up, even though this is a simple engine that runs on track DC, there is a whole circuit board including four thermal devices (SCR, FETs, ???) attached to big lead heat sinks.
So why would a simple DC engine need all this? LGB has something in their circuitry that lets them run on their system at lower voltage, but work on regular track DC when it is high enough.
It’s is an LGB 2065:
Hi Wayne:
Thank you for your response. (I have a MRC power pack currently connected to my indoor layout and it works fine.)
Here is a photo of my 51070 & 50111 connected to power. There are green lights on both, but my loco will not move. I’m using a small Stainz loco.
Can you tell me what your lights look like when you are powered up? Thank you for your help.
Only 1 amber light on to indicate direction on the controller, no amber light when the controller is in neutral. So something is wrong.
Controller in neutral:
Direction selected:
Opposite direction:
Green light on the transformer when plugged in. Red light on transformer, overload and tripped.
On your picture, I can not tell, do you have the power wires from the transformer to the controller reversed? 3 to 3 and 4 to 4? The 50111 power pack will power up 2 separate controllers.
Thank you. I have 3 to 3 and 4 to 4.
I’m beginning to think the 51070 is the culprit.
I agree, the 51070 should not have a amber light on when in neutral.
something is off.
in the pic above, the connected cables to the 50111/50110 are different from the pic in the manual.
Before you do that try disconnecting all the wires on the transformers and then turn them on with no connections and see how they light up.
Just a thought.
Any word on this? Did you try what @Rooster suggested, disconnecting the controller wires to the track? @PeterT called out a great idea with a multimeter. You can check the the AC current from the power pack, then switch to DC and check the controller output.
A multimeter needs to be part of your tools if you don’t have one.So many more uses besides trains.