paul 27 Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 I have read mixed reviews, is it good for really slow running, any noticeable noise from controller and locos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithMacdonald Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 I've used HM2000's for something like 15 years, with mixed results. For slow running, I've found the quality of the track and the locos were much more significant factors (especially over points). Maybe it depends what we are comparing it to. Another 12V DC controller, or a 15V AC DCC controller? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul 27 Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share Posted January 7, 2020 (edited) I was referring to the title How Slow Can You Go, the other topic shown on here, I get excellent results with my DC feedback controllers but with the loud buzzing from motors, I believe the HM2000 has a reduced power output no good for fast running, I run only the latest Hornby and Bachmann Locos. Edited January 7, 2020 by paul 27 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldgunner Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 Use it for my DC O gauge loco's and its been pretty solid. Picked mine up used many years ago. Was better than the bog standard Bachmann controller. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cessna152towser Posted February 7, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 7, 2021 I used an HM2000 on my layout for a few years. Eventually I had an issue with one of the reversing witches making intermittent contact and laid it aside and bought a replacement HM2000 around two years ago, Now one of the rotary speed dials is similarly making intermittent contact. Probably a simple matter of a worn, loose or dirty contact inside the control unit. Is there any way of opening these units up for repair? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 There was a good thread on this subject on the Hornby forum ... still transferring across to the new site over 2 weeks after they started ... Al. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 It’s beginning to look like the Hornby Forum has been quietly ditched? Usually, controllers have either rivets/ eyelets that need drilling out, and replacing with suitable fastenings when reassembling, or some “tamper proof” fastenings, with quirky tools required...or the drill again! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Hi RT, I was thinking the same wrt the forum from last week. We'll see. Hope we're wrong. Al. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAF96 Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 (edited) I am assured the developers have been concentrating on getting the main website fixed and that the forum will be pursued at the end of this week. With regard to the HM2000, there are two distinct types, the early one with the big mains lead has variable resistance electrics and can suffer from worn potentiometers, whereas the later variant with the smaller mains lead circa 2013 has an SCR electronic system and smoother control. The earlier variant is stripped down here. http://www.halton96th.org.uk/page15.html Edited February 10, 2021 by RAF96 Added detail 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 Didn't take long for the potentiometers on both sides to wear on mine either .... !! Thanks for the supporting information RAF. Al. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cessna152towser Posted February 10, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 10, 2021 1 hour ago, RAF96 said: With regard to the HM2000, there are two distinct types, the early one with the big mains lead has variable resistance electrics and can suffer from worn potentiometers, whereas the later variant with the smaller mains lead circa 2013 has an SCR electronic system and smoother control. The earlier variant is stripped down here. Thanks. For now I have ordered a replacement HM2000 from Hattons, but I will now have two laid aside so I have bookmarked your link which could come in very helpful in fixing them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAF96 Posted February 12, 2021 Share Posted February 12, 2021 (edited) On 10/02/2021 at 12:23, cessna152towser said: Thanks. For now I have ordered a replacement HM2000 from Hattons, but I will now have two laid aside so I have bookmarked your link which could come in very helpful in fixing them. I do have more information about the HM2000 variants but cannot post it in the public domain due to an NDA with Hornby but I can provide ‘snippets’ when required by PM. Edited February 12, 2021 by RAF96 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhydgaled Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 A word of warning in case anyone is looking for reviews on Google and comes across this topic... I have read elsewhere (see below) that the HM2000 is not compatible with some modern Ready To Run rolling stock. Specifically, it has the potential to kill coreless motors. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
009 micro modeller Posted January 5, 2023 Share Posted January 5, 2023 On 18/02/2021 at 12:08, Rhydgaled said: A word of warning in case anyone is looking for reviews on Google and comes across this topic... I have read elsewhere (see below) that the HM2000 is not compatible with some modern Ready To Run rolling stock. Specifically, it has the potential to kill coreless motors. Sorry to reawaken an old thread but this is exactly the information I was looking for. I have one of these controllers - if this is the case I’m not sure what I should do with my Bachmann Wickham Trolley, which I haven’t run yet for exactly this reason, but which I understand has a coreless motor. It’s the first motorised 00 standard gauge item I’ve bought for several years. My other controller is a Minitrains one, which is also not good for this as it’s a PWM controller (designed to work with their locos, which are modern but not coreless). The Kato chassis used under some of my 009 locos may become an issue as well as I think the new design for these (11-109 etc.) is also fitted with a coreless motor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cessna152towser Posted January 5, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 5, 2023 21 minutes ago, 009 micro modeller said: Sorry to reawaken an old thread but this is exactly the information I was looking for. I have one of these controllers - if this is the case I’m not sure what I should do with my Bachmann Wickham Trolley On the back of the claim that the HM2000 was incompatible with coreless motors I almost cancelled my Bachmann Caledonian 812 which has a coreless motor. Then I discovered that I already had a coreless motor in my Wickman Trolley which runs perfectly happily with the HM2000. As I understand it, the problem with the HM2000 is the pulse power tends to heat up electric motors, and in a coreless motor there is nowhere for the heat to dissipate so the motor will overheat and burn out. I only have a short end to end layout on which my 812 and Wickham both run perfectly happily on the HM2000, but they are never run at full power and only run for short periods as my layout is not a continuous circuit. In my opinion it is OK to run a coreless motor on the HM2000 so long as you don't give it full power or run it continuously for several minutes. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
009 micro modeller Posted January 5, 2023 Share Posted January 5, 2023 29 minutes ago, cessna152towser said: In my opinion it is OK to run a coreless motor on the HM2000 so long as you don't give it full power or run it continuously for several minutes. Indeed, but the layout I often run my 009 Kato-powered vehicles on is a short end-to-end automatic shuttle (i.e. with diodes and a timer, so they will draw power at about half to three quarters of the full voltage (never the full 12V as it’s just not needed), run to the end of the track, stop for a few seconds and then run back and repeat, but will do this continually for a long time, especially at exhibitions). I plan to build a similar sort of arrangement in 00 for the Wickham. 33 minutes ago, cessna152towser said: As I understand it, the problem with the HM2000 is the pulse power tends to heat up electric motors, and in a coreless motor there is nowhere for the heat to dissipate so the motor will overheat and burn out. I understand also that the frequency of the pulses is relevant here, although I can’t remember whether high or low frequency is meant to be better for coreless motors. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Kaput Posted January 5, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 5, 2023 High frequency is safer, thats why DCC isn't an issue with coreless motors while DC PWM style controllers can be. The PWM frequency for DC controllers is very low in comparison with DCC. IIRC the main issue with the HM2000 and coreless motors is that it has feedback, if the feedback can be turned off it'll be fine with coreless. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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