Power transformer question

[Morar]

I've been putting together a layout over the last few months that has grown from an LGB starter set oval to about 150' of track round part of my garden all being fed from a 1amp LGB transformer and throttle.

Running a small LGB loco has been fine but I bought a USA trains GP-9 and I just don't have enough power to even move this new engine.

My dream is to move towards MTS control, but in the mean time can I safely upgrade from a 1amp transfomer toa 6 amp transformer and keep the same throttle? Or am I likely to melt it?

Many thanks

A

[kstrong]

It depends on what the rating of the throttle itself is. If it's only rated at 1 amp, then you do risk damage when hooking it up to a power supply that puts out more. If it's rated at 5 amps, then you're in much better shape.

Personally, I'd just go ahead and upgrade both to something that's more than up to the task. There aren't many mid or upper-end power supplies that I wouldn't recommend, so use whatever you can get fairly affordably. When you finally gravitate towards MTS, you'll need a really beefy (i.e. 15 amp) power supply anyway, since you'll likely be running multiple locos. Spend the money on the right tool for the job. It'll always be worth it.

Later,

K

[John Busby]

Hi Morar
Regardless of if you end up with analogue or one of the new fangled makes life too complicated things.
Do not go any less than ten amps If you need something bigger for your dream railroad get it now in fact a week ago would be much better [:D].
As Ken has stated the transformer and controler should be a matched pair.
Good quality though the LGB 1 amp transformer controler's are (Biased LGB fan Mode)
They are just good quality carp trainset controlers that are not much good for anything else other than the trainset chuck a lighted caboose on the back of your train set train
and it struggles and will probably trip the inbuilt heat breaker.
regards John

[Anonymous]

The real question about power is how a transformer/power controller are rated.

You need to know the total VA output of a transformer in order to know if it will have enough power for your needs. VA is simply a measure of Volts & Amps. It tells at what voltage will you get what amperage. For instance a 120VA rating will only provide 10 Amps at 12 Volts.

If you use John Busby's advise of minimum 10 Amps then you really should look for a power supply with a minimum VA rating of 240VA (10 Amps at 24 Volts).

I am biased toward the Bridgewerks power supplise (www.bridgewerks.com) They are a fantacstic company that offers a 5 year warranty and offer models up to 600VA more powre then any other controller maker on the market.

Other ways to get more power out of any transformer is to run multiple connection points to the track (be careful to keep the proper polarity at all points) using thick wire (10 -12 gauge is best) This will help minimize voltage loss in the wire and smooth out power fluctuations in the track itself (the farther the train is from a connecting point the lower the voltage will be due to resitance in the track).

Also remember that a locomotive will only draw as much current (amperage) as it needs. Kstrong's post is correct only when it comes to Voltae. You can apply to much voltage to an engine but you can not apply to much current (amps).

A final word - clean tracks make for better connections so be sure to clean your track periodically as well. This will help keep your trains running more smoothly.

[Anonymous]

Basically what has been written above is mostly quite wrong.

Lets work out the difference between a power supply and a transformer. A transformer is just that a device for transforming AC from one voltage to another. A power supply may or may not contain a transformer and is also just that a device to suply the correct type and quantity of power required for the job.

If you are going toward MTS, you are going the wrong way mate.

MTS has its own transformer ( not power supply) and it is an LGB unit which supplies about 24 V at 6 amps RMS.and nothing else will do if you wi***o do it properly and have your warranties honoured.

You can only use LGB locos on MTS or more correctly Locos fitted with an LGB MTS decoder. Again you can modify other brands but forget about warranties and smooth running.

I would point out that i have had MTS now for more than 2 years and run 6 locos on 160 m of track. I laso sold transformers for 20 years before I retired.


Rgds Ian

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

Basically what has been written above is mostly quite wrong.

...........................................................

If you are going toward MTS, you are going the wrong way mate.

MTS has its own transformer ( not power supply) and it is an LGB unit which supplies about 24 V at 6 amps RMS.and nothing else will do if you wi***o do it properly and have your warranties honoured.

You can only use LGB locos on MTS or more correctly Locos fitted with an LGB MTS decoder. Again you can modify other brands but forget about warranties and smooth running.

I would point out that i have had MTS now for more than 2 years and run 6 locos on 160 m of track. I laso sold transformers for 20 years before I retired.


Rgds Ian

Hi Ian,

If one goes DCC, regardless which variety/make, one does best with a switchable powersupply which delivers 10A @ 24VDC.

You can run any decoder with a MTS system provided you are prepared for the shortcomings of MTS.

As far as warranties are concerned: anyone who uses a well regulated switchable power supply as a source for "whatever controller" running whatever trains will have no warranty problems. Reason: Electrons are not cognizant of which make of equipment they come from!
Unless some "expert" can tell me otherwise![}:)][;)][;)]

Basically what you wrote above

QUOTE: is mostly quite wrong.

[Anonymous]

Sorry - I misread the original post and realize now that he wants to keep the LGB throttle. The answer is best gained from looking at the throttle that LGB places in the starter set. If I am not mistaken the throttle is a 1 Amp throttle. You do run the risk of supplying too much current to the throttle itself - this depends on how the throttle is constructed electronically inside.

Morar notes that his goal is to one day go to MTS not that he is there already. He does note that he has a USA Trains GP-9 which is a 2 motor locomotive and USA trains motors can draw upwards of 1 amp each which is why he can not move the thing with his current transformer.

My statements about power supplies are otherwise correct.

I would make one more statement as well. A switchable power supply is not as good as a linear power supply when it comes to providing raw power. In the long term the switching power supply will not hold up. While they are less expensive a linear power supply is designed to better handle the demands of heavy workloads. Switching power supplies have plenty of other good uses but I would not recommend them for running your trains.

[Anonymous]

I disagree with much of whta HJ has to say but you can make up your own mind

Rgds Ian

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

I disagree with much of whta HJ has to say but you can make up your own mind

Rgds Ian

Really[?][?][}:)][:D]

[Ray Dunakin]

I've heard of linear power, but what is a "switchable" power supply?

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Shanek



I would make one more statement as well. A switchable power supply is not as good as a linear power supply when it comes to providing raw power. In the long term the switching power supply will not hold up. While they are less expensive a linear power supply is designed to better handle the demands of heavy workloads. Switching power supplies have plenty of other good uses but I would not recommend them for running your trains.

Industrial units are the cat's meow for DCC applications. One mfg is http://www.meanwell.com/

The units are rated in Watts, an S-240-24 will provide 10A at 24VDC

These units are very tightly regulated (+/- 1%), come complete with a built-in fan etc.
And they provide all the specs http://www.meanwell.com/search/S-240/S-240-spec.pdf

They are especially recommended for DCC systems which do not have built-in voltage regulation. Yes, there are quite a few of those on the market and fried decoders can be the sorry result.
No, I haven't been there, done that!
My ZIMO system is fully regulated and has adjustable voltage to boot ( good for N scale to Large Scale without any problems).[;)][:)][;)]

As a rule I always look for the most cost effective solution for any given application.