Mrc Prodigy Express Questions.

[mike8693]

I looked over the net and couldn't find the answers (belive me 10 topics of the same thing annoys me too ) So the layout is 17 feet by 5 feet, I want to run about 4 engines. I dont have a huge budget and would like to keep it around 250. I like the Digitrax (what everyone round here uses) but I need walk around and Digi is out of price range above zephyr . So I think that the Mrc Prodigy Express is a good fit. With the layout being so long (for me anyways) I'd figured Id put 2 panel extensions on each side (4 total). So onto the questions. Most of my engines are Proto 1000's, Atlas Silver Series, and Athearn RTR, what is a ballpark of typical no sound engine will draw? What about idling? Just to clarify the Express throttle can be unpluged and moved around without everything shutting down, right? I guess If I had to I could go with the Prodigy Advance 2 but I just want to move trains and turn the lights on and off, I dont need to throw switches, and setup routes, have sound and all that. Thanks for your help.

 

[wvg_ca]

I have the Express, and for me it works well..
at most I will run two loco's around on the loops, lights on, pulling 4 to 6 cars, a mrc sound equipped loco back and forth, or maybe a switcher, max 3 running locos at one time..
I like the recall button for switching back and forth between loco's, don't have to enter the loco number every time, and like the fact of having a choice of either rotating knob throttle or push button single step up / down throttle [two different buttons though]..
I would like CV readback, this one doesn't support it, but I use small index cards to record loco / car addons or other things [like cv tables]

still waiting for a Digitrax PR3 USB Decoder Programmer / Interface, ordered from Model Railcraft Supply Depot October 9th, nothing as of yet..

 

[lmackattack]

you are correct that the throttel can be unplugged and moved without the trains stoping. I have the MRC advanced 2 and am very happy with it. I run 3 trains max at anyone time. all have sound and the MRC has been flawless for the last 2 years I have owned it.

 

[UP2CSX]

Mike, a general rule is modern locomotives like the Proto 1000 will draw about .6 amps and a well tuned Athearn BB engine will draw about .8 amps, both at normal track speed. The Athearn RTR has a little less draw than a BB but not much less. An idling engine with just the headlight on will draw between .1 and .2 amps. Your MRC Prodidgy Express is rated at 1.6 amps so it should handle two engines easily and probably three. If you need more power, you can upgrade the power supply to 6 amps with the Magna Force MF615 for less than $40.

 

[mike8693]

So how would I go about swapping the power supply? It looks like in the picture it has like a jack and not individual wires. Thanks for the help everyone. The best thing is I already have a MF615 I used to power an Command 2000. =)

 

[CSX Robert]

...Your MRC Prodidgy Express is rated at 1.6 amps so it should handle two engines easily and probably three. If you need more power, you can upgrade the power supply to 6 amps with the Magna Force MF615 for less than $40.

Adding a more powerful power supply will not increase the amperage rating of the Prodigy Express. The command station itself is rated at 1.6 amps and will shutdown if you try to draw more than 1.6 amps through it. If you need more power, you have to add a booster.

... I dont have a huge budget and would like to keep it around 250. I like the Digitrax (what everyone round here uses) but I need walk around and Digi is out of price range above zephyr...

You can get a Zephyr and a UT4 throttle for around $225.

One thing to consider with MRC, if you ever want to hook it up to a computer(for easier programming of decoders, dispatching, signal logic...) the announced interface(it's not available yet) for MRC is expensive and will only work with MRC's software(unless they have a change of heart). That being said, I do think the MRC systems are good systems and if you don't care about the computer interface situation then you would probably be happy with one.

It's hard to say if the 1.6 amps of the Express will be enough for you. Locomotives vary greatly in the amount of current they draw, so 1.6 amps could be enough for as few as 2 or as many as 10 or more (some examples: according to Model Railroader, an Athearn Ready-to-Roll GP60M reviewed in 2004 drew .7 amps when slipping, but a Ready-to-Roll GP40X from 2007 only drew .15 amps when slippping).

Personnally, I would skip the Express and reconsider the Zephyr or the Prodigy Advanced 2. Either one would be more money up front, but if you end up having to get a booster, you'll probably save money in the long run. Also, even if 1.6 amps is enough power, you would probably be close to the limit, and I don't like running electronics close to their power limit for extended periods because they tend to run hotter and are more likely to fail. Something to note - your Command 2000 is rated at 2.5 amps, so if you replace it with a Prodigy Express, you might be able to run fewer locos than you can right now.

Another option you may want to look at is a Lenz Set-90. These are 5 amp systems that run right around $250(not including the power supply, but you could use your MF615).

 

[wvg_ca]

at the time I bought my MRC express, I had some minor issues with it, in that it would occasionally error out when my autoreverse [also mrc AD520] would trip..
so unplug,and plug back in, and go again..
at that time I asked tech support [frank] at mrc, and they had a low cost upgrade that includes a new wall wart, and reprogrammed the firmware inside the controller, it wasn't much money, upgraded to 2.5a, but at that time they were out of the larger wall warts...
it still does error out once in a while, but very seldom, maybe once per operating hour now...got kinda used to it...