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Marshall 111 DC Train Controller
Kenneth asks:
“What is the purpose of the slide controller in the top left-hand corner of the Marshall 111 DC Train Controller unit housing which is marked with F on the left end and P on the right hand end? Hornby has advised that due to the age of the unit they cannot assist.”
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I don’t have one to check with but my guess is switching from Full to Pulsed power. What this might mean is that on Full, the normal voltage is continuously delivered to the track. In Pulsed mode, a higher voltage is supplied in fast pulses rather than a steady supply. The idea is that the higher voltage pulses help the locomotive power through dirty track or pickup drivers while the average voltage on the track is still within specification. Note that a pulse mode is ultimately not good for the equipment so should be used sparingly.
Of course, I may be totally wrong.
Thanks dale for the prompt reply and detail.
That switch gives you “pulse power”, according to the instruction manual I found on an old meccano manual site
https://www.meccanoindex.co.uk/Cats/Hornby/H_Control-Marsh-60-09-50.pdf
Pulse power is intended to give really good slow speed running. But I have read that with some motors it can cause overheating. This is especially true of the newer coreless motors, which apparently can overheat so much that the plastic body melts!!!
Thanks Geoff for the prompt reply and detail including the Marshall instruction sheet.