Hi Rachel, The power and scale business is a potential can of worms. In general you are on the right path and Pieter's response about code 110 (scale) wheels also go with the scale side. You seem to have some knowledge of what's going on in the model train world; do you know of or have you considered DCC (digital command and control)?
DC is simple to understand and set up and requires your standard off-the-shelf model train transformer. It has its limitations. It's very hard to independently control more than one locomotive on the same track without extensive and complicated track wiring. DCC is somewhat more complicated to install, requires additional somewhat expensive equipment including a constant volt AC power supply, a command station, a throttle, mobile decoder(s) for locomotive(s) and some additional control wiring. And you can independently control more locomotives than you can count or possibly keep track of on the same track without modifying your simple DC power wiring at all. Depending upon your ambition, grandiose or modest, DCC or DC may be the correct choice for you. If you are going for grandiose (and DCC) you will probably want to choose a DC locomotive because you may not have to pay the possible premium for the AF (AC) compatible reversing unit inside the locomotive. American Models DC locomotives are less expensive than their AC locomotives. But you will have to install a DCC decoder in the locomotive. If your interests are modest, ignore my ramblings and go with the DC. You can always step up from there to DCC and hardly have to backtrack. Ben Trousdale --- In [email protected], "rcovington92" <rcovington92@...> wrote: > > Good morning all. This is my first post, and I got a question for you all. I > am looking at picking up an engine and I have a choice between it being AC or > DC. Now I know the electrical difference between the two, but I don't > understand why there is a choice. N, HO, Z, G (that's not battery operated) > are all DC to my albeit limited knowledge. O scale comes in three rail and is > AC...makes sense I guess. Not sure if O scale 2 rail comes in DC or not... > So back to S scale, historically I think American Flyer was made AC, but > is it still that way? (ie so you can still run today's remakes with original > Flyer products)However American Flyer is still considered a toy train like > tinplate's and some O scale stuff....correct? Sn3 is DC if I remember right, > so if I am planning on doing scale modeling as opposed to toy train running, > I would be wanting to get a DC engine ...is that right? > Basically toy train approach would use AC, scale modelling approach would > use DC?? > Hope this question somehow makes sense :) > > Thanks, Rachel Covington > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
