Grant,
I use a number of controllers.
A CDA Twin pack controller including power unit. Cost $189 new. (Australian made) Good variable control with 17 V AC 1.6 AMP accessories output I use for turnouts.
A PWM (Pulse Wave Modulated) controller that I built from a kit. (Cost $10). This needs a 12 v DC input source. ($5 from the hock shop). Good smooth control using contant 12 V DC with "pulses" of 12 V DC at a varaible rates for speed control. Very good for low speed operation. However I now use this for variable control of the lighting on the layout. Apparently PWM is much better and gives longer globe life.
A 2nd hand Power Mite Code SMS - PM single controller 240 V AC input (No AC output) with fwd/rev on a single control knob. Great for yard work. Cost $15. I note my Power Mite controller does not seem to have any "short out" protection in it. It just get's awful hot, and wont work. Just turn it off for a while, and let it cool, and it seems OK. My Power Mite (with .36 AMP output) is really only sufficient for a single loco.
So I think it's up to you which controller you get. Controllers are VERY difficult to "burn out" I would also look for the cause of burnout as well. Overloading may do it (running multiple loco's from the same controller). If this is the case, then a more powerfull controller than the Power Mite would be needed.
TOOT!
All $ values are $AUS. $/2 for $US.
[This message has been edited by Woodie (edited 07-22-2001).]
I use a number of controllers.
A CDA Twin pack controller including power unit. Cost $189 new. (Australian made) Good variable control with 17 V AC 1.6 AMP accessories output I use for turnouts.
A PWM (Pulse Wave Modulated) controller that I built from a kit. (Cost $10). This needs a 12 v DC input source. ($5 from the hock shop). Good smooth control using contant 12 V DC with "pulses" of 12 V DC at a varaible rates for speed control. Very good for low speed operation. However I now use this for variable control of the lighting on the layout. Apparently PWM is much better and gives longer globe life.
A 2nd hand Power Mite Code SMS - PM single controller 240 V AC input (No AC output) with fwd/rev on a single control knob. Great for yard work. Cost $15. I note my Power Mite controller does not seem to have any "short out" protection in it. It just get's awful hot, and wont work. Just turn it off for a while, and let it cool, and it seems OK. My Power Mite (with .36 AMP output) is really only sufficient for a single loco.
So I think it's up to you which controller you get. Controllers are VERY difficult to "burn out" I would also look for the cause of burnout as well. Overloading may do it (running multiple loco's from the same controller). If this is the case, then a more powerfull controller than the Power Mite would be needed.
TOOT!
All $ values are $AUS. $/2 for $US.
[This message has been edited by Woodie (edited 07-22-2001).]