Hello and a Question

[GLRailroader]

Hi everyone,
I'm new here and I am a model railroader. interested in European (especially German railroads) ever since I spent a month in Germany and then spent four and a half months wandering through 11 countries.
And I came with a big question that I anticipate will spark many headaches.
While I was in England I bought a couple train sets. Because they were ridiculously cheap.
And then I bought a Fleishmann (German) train set with a Z21 (DCC ) system. Again, because it was ridiculously cheap.

I did not consider the difference in our electricity or plug system at the time.

What would I need to do or buy to SAFELY operate the Z21 system here in North America without burning everything out?!

.... Has anyone out there already done what I'm proposing to do? (I can't be the first to voice this question...)

G

 

[ctclibby]

Welcome!

1st thought is 'What are the specs of the Z21'? Input power requirements is what you are looking for. In the USofA you might see '50-60Hz @ 90 to 120VAC' or something like that. Means that the thing will run at those specs. I take it you are back in the States? If the above are the specs; or something very close to that, all you might need to do is change the wall power plug to US style. Please mind our AC's Line and Neutral and Earth Ground wires/connections and be careful and not work on powered stuff!

If the specs are 50Hz only, big headache. You would need a 60Hz to 50Hz converter; $$$$. They basically change the 60Hz to DC, then change the DC to 50Hz. You can get them the other way too, ifn that matters.

L8r

 

[RhB Michael]

Micro Macro Mundo in Florida has the N- American power supply in stock. It's pricey though and you might be able to do better. I've ordered from this store in the past. Their search engine is a mess, but they usually have decent prices and ship quickly.

Roco Z21 N. American P/S Unit

If yours is a power brick with the thin power cord for the Z21 and a socket on the other end for the mains power, all you need is an IEC type AC plug/cord, like the kind for computers and dozens of other items. It will function on multiple voltages and is 50/60 Hz.

Pictures of the labeling on the P/S unit would help along with the AC mains socket.

Are you modeling in N scale?

 

[GLRailroader]

Welcome!

1st thought is 'What are the specs of the Z21'? Input power requirements is what you are looking for. In the USofA you might see '50-60Hz @ 90 to 120VAC' or something like that. Means that the thing will run at those specs. I take it you are back in the States? If the above are the specs; or something very close to that, all you might need to do is change the wall power plug to US style. Please mind our AC's Line and Neutral and Earth Ground wires/connections and be careful and not work on powered stuff!

If the specs are 50Hz only, big headache. You would need a 60Hz to 50Hz converter; $$$$. They basically change the 60Hz to DC, then change the DC to 50Hz. You can get them the other way too, ifn that matters.

L8r

I didn't expect to get an answer so quickly to such a specific question. I'm actually to the north, in Canada. But I believe our power system is pretty much the same as that in the US. And I've gotta confess my brain glazes over whenever I see electrical lingo - which is why I've never quite understood the difference between European and New World power. Give me stuff related to pH and water quality - aquarium fish is my other bobby - and I can navigate it. Electrical stuff, however, just doesn't stick with me. So I am going to have to dig out the Z21 system. It came with a Fleischmann set. I will check the specifics and come back. I should have done that before posting here, but I was so surprised to find the opportunity that I thought I'd better post while I had the moment. Thanks for the response!

 

[GLRailroader]

Micro Macro Mundo in Florida has the N- American power supply in stock. It's pricey though and you might be able to do better. I've ordered from this store in the past. Their search engine is a mess, but they usually have decent prices and ship quickly.

Roco Z21 N. American P/S Unit

If yours is a power brick with the thin power cord for the Z21 and a socket on the other end for the mains power, all you need is an IEC type AC plug/cord, like the kind for computers and dozens of other items. It will function on multiple voltages and is 50/60 Hz.

Pictures of the labeling on the P/S unit would help along with the AC mains socket.

Are you modeling in N scale?

First off, I'm modelling in HO and I'm glad I chose that many years ago because my eye sight now would not be able to handle N! Certainly not for building and figure assembly and painting, which I hope to do more of. Tomorrow, when I have more time, I am going to dig out my set with the Z21 in it and check the specs. If Roco has such a unit, like you suggest, I wonder if there might be a .... "generic" equivalent of that unit somewhere for sale. For years I bought only Canadian railroad stuff. Until 2013. My father came from Germany in the early 50s. And the summer of 2013, I spent a month visiting seven cities, including Nurembourg, his home town. Being a train lover, the DB was my means of linking the points of my trip together. There's nothing like riding the curve on a high-speed ICE! It seemed like everywhere I went - there were trains. I spent several days visiting Miniatur Wunderland - a former munitions factory turned into multiple layouts on public display. (Check their site!) And by the time I left Nurembourg to come home, I had thrown out all my old clothes to make room in my case for not ONE but TWO German trainsets. And since then, each of the times I've visited Germany, I've returned with more locos. Some day soon I'd like to start running them. Hence the question! Thanks for writing with that lead.

 

[RhB Michael]

Nürnberg is a beautiful city. Especially the Christkindlemarkt in December. I lived in Wiesbaden for slightly more than two years and traveled all over Germany and the rest of Western Europe. I re-visited in 1986 for a couple of weeks to visit my sister who was also stationed at Wiesbaden.

I've been modeling DB, ÖBB, SBB, and RhB railroads for eight years this month.

 

[Jim at BSME]

Lots of power supplies today are universal taking input voltages of 100V-240V AC at 50/60Hz. Once you dig out the controller and read the AC input specs on the power supply label you will know for certain.

Some power bricks use a standard IEC input connector so you can simple replace the cord with a spare one from your friendly IT department. Worse comes to worse you might cut off the Euro style plug at that end and replace with a North American style plug.

If you have to cut the plug off you might have to translate the European colors in the cord to North American. Neutral Blue to White (Nickel/Silver color screw terminal of a new plug), Hot/Line Brown to Black (Brass color screw terminal on new plug)