Mag Mate Features
• Connecons:
On the rear of the Mag Mate there are two
pairs of connectors—one is labelled ‘To is a
pair of connectors labelled ‘TO TRACK’ and the
other is for the connecon to your power
supply. The power source can be any 18-
26VDC power supply, such as a Bridgewerks
power controller, or a Mag-15 power supply.
Your Mag Mate came with a short cable with
‘banana plugs’ on either end—plug one end of
this cable into the back of the Mag Mate, and
the other into the accessory power output of
your power controller. When doing this be
careful to match red to red, and black to black.
The second pair of terminals is to connect the
Mag Mate to your track. If the track is con-
nected with the red on the right rail, and the
black on the le rail, then the train will move
forward when power is applied. If it goes
backwards, you can just ip the banana con-
nector over to reverse the polarity.
• Speed Governor:
Bridgewerks’ exclusive “speed-stop” can be used as a safety device to limit the maximum speed of your
trains. The speed stop consists of a metal plate which is held in place with a thumb screw. To adjust the
• Wire:
Use heavy gauge wire to connect your power controller to the track. For distances of up to 15 feet,
you should use 12 gauge wire. For distances over 15 , you use 10 gauge wire. Although the track
itself is similar to a very heavy gauge wire, in larger layouts, signicant loss can occur from the
connecons between secons of track. To improve this, run mulple power connecons to the
track from the controller and/or use track clamps rather than slider type couplers. In outdoor
layouts which are exposed to extreme temperatures, the track will expand and contract as the
temperature changes, and slider type couplers may have to be used.
• Outdoor operaon
Garden railways are oen installed outdoors and Bridgewerks controllers are built to be used with
outdoor railroad layouts. However, they are not waterproof, and as with any electronic equipment,
they should not be le outdoors when not in use. To make this easy, the connecons are all made so
that they can simply be unplugged and the controller can be carried indoors.
• Momentum:
The Mag Mate features an adjustable momentum control which will limit the acceleraon and decelera-
on of the trains. When momentum is at maximum and you move the throle from the minimum to the
maximum, the train will slowly accelerate from a stop to the maximum speed. Similarly if the throle is
moved quickly from maximum to 0, the train will slowly decelerate to a stop. Momentum adds another
dimension of realism to your model railroad. In addion, the combinaon of speed governor and mo-
mentum makes it easier to limit derailments when younger engineers are at the controls.
• Direcon Control:
The Mag Mate has a direcon control switch which will change the direcon of the locomove. If the
locomove runs backwards when the switch is in the forward posion, reverse the connecons going to
the track.
• Overload Protecon:
In the event of an overload, the Mag Mate has an automac thermal cuto inside the controller, which
will be acvated in the event of an overload. This will reset itself automacally in 2-3 minutes aer the
cause of the overload is removed.
