System suitable for Atlas 0-scale

[Willy]

What system would you recommend for a layout with several sound fitted Atlas 0-scale locos. They are each double motor and although I don’t know what sort of current they draw, I think they may be too much for my Powercab even with this booster.

 

Thank you.

[Willy]

I was hoping by now that someone who runs Atlas 0-scale locos on DCC would have seen this post and been able to offer some advice!

 

Cheers

 

Willy

[10000]

Ok i'm not actually making a recommendation but  suggest you look at the SB range of Smart and dumb boosters for the Powercab which are 5amp each. I know they are not as cheap as the one you show but they are meant as an expandable solution for the Powercab.

 

If you believe 5amp in each power district is not enough then look at 10amp systems like the NCE Procab

[brossard]

I plan to run all sound equipped locos on my 0 gauge layout.  Having read a number of threads and opinions I got this:  https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/NCE-SB5-5-Amp-Smart-Booster-with-Power-Supply-p/nce-524027.htm

 

I haven't actually connected it yet, I'm at the board building stage.

 

John

[Willy]

Thank you both.

 

I like the Powercab and I use it with the DAB002 for my British 0 gauge, including Heljan diesels, and I have had no problems. I would like continue using the Powercab but I wasn’t sure if it could cope with the Atlas US locos and I asked the question just in case there was a US modeller who used the same combination.

 

I had seen the NCE 5 Amp Smart Booster and I would be very interested in how you get on with it.

 

Anyway, I will start with the DAB002 for now and the worst that can happen is the thermal cut-out will operate and it will shut down and if that keeps happening I will have to upgrade to a 5A system.

 

Willy

[Stevelewis]

I  used  Massoth digital  systems  on  my  garden  line,  these  are  powerful  but  expensive  Massoth have  a  website,  and  are  obtainable  in  the  UK  from  such  as   Dragon  G  Scale,, Garden  Railway  Specialists,,   Glendale  Junction ,,  Garden  Railway  Centres Ltd  etc

 

  I  also  successfully  used  Gaugemaster  prodigy  on  an 0  gauge  layout  which  used  mostly  Heljan  Twin Motored  locos  some  with    Howes  sound

 

Hope  this  helps

[F-UnitMad]

I was hoping by now that someone who runs Atlas 0-scale locos on DCC would have seen this post and been able to offer some advice!

 

Cheers

 

Willy

Sorry Willy, maybe it'd have been picked up quicker in the US/Canadian Modelling section.

 

Anyway, I use a Powercab with NCE 5 amp booster with Atlas O locos, no problems at all, but there are a few caveats:-

I haven't run more than 3 locos at once; my layout isn't big enough, & the noise can get on your nerves!

My locos are wired with motors in series, rather than in parallel, as from the factory. This improves slow speed control, & reduces the amps drawn - typically less than 1/2 amp at a decent speed.

My locos weren't factory-fitted DCC. I have used Soundtrax Tsunami (yuk!! never again!!) ESU Loksound L (fantastic!!) & even a TCS WowSound HO decoder (also excellent!). In the non-sound locos I have even used 1amp NCE DA-SR decoders, albeit as noted with motors wired in series.

 

If your system can cope with Heljans, I don't envisage any problems with Atlas.

[Willy]

I was going too post on US/Canadian Modelling section but, as it was a DCC issue, I chose here but on reflection, you are probably right. 

 

Anyway, thank you for your reply and you have raised an issue that I hadn’t considered, namely series v parallel wiring of the motors. Mine do need a bit of a ‘kick’ to get going but the GP7 and RS-1, which are factory fitted sound, run very smooth once on the move so perhaps a rewire would help. I have a GP35 with aftermarket sound and I am not sure what it is but it is awful and I suspect Soundtrax Tsunami! 

 

I was heavily into US 0-scale some years ago but I gave it up and sold everything about 20 years ago. Then a few months ago I got the opportunity to acquire 20 plus freight cars and a couple of locos and it would have been rude to refuse! It is effectively all new to me because this ’new’ Atlas wasn’t around back then and the only plastic RTR was the old Atlas?Roco. I am thoroughly enjoying it and I have started to sell some of my British 0 Gauge to finance a project. I had started a layout using Peco track and points and that will have to be lifted and replaced with spiked track!

 

Here is a photo of the old Atlas-F unit that I tarted up for the Reading Railroad. The GP35 in the background was a brass import that I painted myself but unfortunately I haven’t got a photo of it. That was before digital photography! My layout was just a small yard and I used Marcway code 125 flat-bottom track spiked to wood ties. I was lazy though and I think I only spiked every 4th tie!

 

Willy

[F-UnitMad]

Mmmmm... F-Unit.... *dribble dribble*

 

Actually in some ways the old Atlas/Roco F-Unit was better than the current models - the truck sideframes with brake blocks right on the wheel treads in particular, and even more awesome considering when they were made, and what the average Hornby diesel sideframe looked like back then!! Today's Atlas truck frames are designed to fit (pauses to spit) 3-Rail (pauses to wash mouth out) wheelsets, so look pretty awful with scale wheels, really

[Willy]

No DCC in those days but I seem to remember it running very well. Another favourite of mine was the All-Nation NW2. Although not so well detailed, it was a reliable runner and a good workhorse.