Okay, my wife bought me the Built-Up Walthers 90' Turntable for Christmas. The instructions call for a 15 Volt AC or DC, 500mA power supply, though it also states that a minimum of 12 Volts is required and a maximum of 19 Volts.
I have a 12.6 Volt, 450mA supply that I was using. However the capacitor and circuits in the control unit became VERY hot after only a minute or so of use. I have been reluctant to use it now as I'm afraid of ruining it. Is this problem happening because the supply I have is only 450mA or is it that I'm using 12.6 Volt supply instead of the 15 Volts that would be ideal. Has anyone else had these problems?
Thanks!!!!
You definitely have a problem!
I didn't want to pay for, and send away for, a suitable power supply. I phoned a local electronics supply, a smaller independent, and the fellow said he had a used one that put out 16.5 volts and 0.50 amps. I told him what I needed it for, and that the manufacturers were generous in their range, but specificed that it had to be a maximum of half an amp. So, he offered to spec it out, and sure enough, it was at spec. I have used it for two years without incident.
I wonder if you should get your power supply verified. If it checks out, I don't see why it shouldn't be suitable in view of the accompanying literature. It suggests you have a problem in the controller. Walthers, when you contact them, are sure to ask you to return it, or send it in.
-Crandell
Crandell. I got to ask something since I also have a 130` turntable. Is their a problem if the amps are higher? I mean, doesn't it just mean that more power is available? As far as I've understood as long as their is enough volts available and at least 0,5 amps everything should be fine? I've been running mine on a 14,4 volt power supply and 1,1 amps. I haven't used it much though but I haven't had the slightest issues with it.
But I know VERY little of electrics so if anyone could explain I'll be mighty grateful.
Thanks,
Magnus
Hi Crandell,
Thanks for the info but I'm not up to speed on electrical knowledge yet. So are you saying the 450mA is the problem or the voltage or both?
The voltage you have is too small. Get a wall wart of the proper voltage and with a higher amperage rating than is called for in the instructions. It could conceivably be rated at ten amps and still work the turntable. Lillens description is absolutely correct.
Which capacitor are you referring to as getting hot? If it is one in your power supply, it is defective. If it is in the controller of the TT, it MAY also be the problem but I still think the voltage is too low.
73
Bruce in the Peg
Bruce,
The cap on the TT controller is what's getting hot. But I will definately go get a power supply with a higher voltage and amp rating.
Thanks for the info, maybe someday I will actually understand all this electrical knowledge we need to survive in this hobby.... lol... it's one of the few area I have yet to get a grasp on.
Ben
I can't agree with the advice to get a power supply that will provide more than what the manufacturer specifies, if for no other reason than if you still have to send it back, they will give you a lot of grief warranty-wise if you are honest (why wouldn't you be...?!) and admit that you hooked the controller to a power supply well above the limits specified. What would a car company say if you admitted you ran the engine at highway speeds using only 5 weight oil?
Instead, it wouldn't hurt to scope out your current power supply to verify that it is according to its design specs...it may be well out. Secondly, there could be a real problem supplying more than 0.5 amps to the controller because a short somewhere will do a lot of damage since the power supply will provide all the amps it is rated for based on the voltage. The system is designed to handle 0.5 amps and that should be all it gets.
My and your dollars.
Frankly, when a current capablity on a power supply for something is speced, that is a minimum needed. As long as there is nothing wrong in the device being supplied, it will draw the current needed, based on the Voltage, no matter what the capability of the power supply, be it a 500 ma supply or a 50 amp supply.
If a capacitor is getting hot on DC, it is either shorted or connected backward, or there is something else wrong in the controller. If you are providing anything lower than the maximum recommended Voltage, you can't draw excessive current unless there is a problem. I'd call Walther's about the situation.
I installed the same turntable last year and had the same question about a power supply. I gave Walther's a call and was told to use a standard DC type power supply, the kind used to control DC locomotives. I told the gentleman I had an MRC 1370
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=MRCAA370
and he said it would work fine, to wire the turntable to the AC terminals. He then said something I thought a little strange and that was Walther's didn't warranty the TT if wired any other way. Anyway, I did as instructed and the TT worked perfectly, first time... every time. The 1370 is a little pricey to just power the turntable but perhaps you have an old model power pack already on hand.
I highly recommend you give them a call.
Jarrell
P.S. I recently tried to locate a 15V 500mA wall wart to power a programming track booster and they're difficult to find. Yes, you can find them if you want to spend $8 to $10 (and up) plus $12 to $15 s&h. I did locate one like that and ordered it. When the package came it contained a 12V unit. When I called the company about it they said the website was in error, that it had now been corrected and to keep the unit for my inconvenience.
I have the 130 foot unit and originally had trouble with the unit not turning very far (before programming, I couldn't even get it to zero) and it was hooked up to a very stable old computer power supply that put out exactly 12 VDC. Since this is the low end of the range, I changed the hookup to an old Aurora Model Motoring power pack that puts out 18 VDC and the thing works fine.
I'd be concerned that components in the control unit are getting hot. This is a function of the amount of current being drawn through them. This, I would definately call Walthers before doing anything else.
Although a different topic, for small power supplies like wall warts, or something to power lighting on your layout, look at yard sales or even at work for old chargers for cordless power tools or laptops. After the item bites the dust, the charger still works as advertised, and make good, free (or cheap) power supplies.
I have the N scale 130', I just wired it into an old MRC Tech II that had a blown throttle. The accessory output works just fine, no overheating. Plus the added benefit of an on/off switch!
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
Okay so where in the name of God am I suppose to find a 15v, 500mA power supply?????????
Radio Shack doesn't have one with that exact spec, and I can't seem to find any one else that does. Would it really kill walthers to include one with the turntable.
bmvernilOkay so where in the name of God am I suppose to find a 15v, 500mA power supply?????????
Please, if you ever find one... let me know also. I've been looking, on and off, for a couple of months for one. Like I said earlier, they can be had online if you're willing to fork over $25 to $30 for the product and s&H. Do a google search and you'll get some hits. Especially search on Ebay if you trust the place... and millions do.
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
It looks like there are several choices available from Amazon.com. And a Google search turned up many sources.
Do what I did. I live in a community of about 40K. I called Roscoe's* electronics supply store and they had what I needed. First place I called!
*Okay, it was actually called Valley Electronics. Some place like that near you has what you need. It may be $40 new, or it may be used, as mine was, for much less. No shipping and handling.
Okay on to the next chapter to this never ending story. I tried a different power supply, a 12v 500mA one to be exact. Perfectly within the specs laid out in Walthers directions. Turned the power and the lights on the panel came on, so far so good. Turned the unit over so I could touch the capacitor to see if it was getting hot and much to my suprise not only was it getting hot but I was getting that cool little wisp of spoke. Now the *** thing wont work at all.
I'll let you all know how Walthers treats me when I ask for a replacement. Anyone else had to do this?
bmvernil Turned the unit over so I could touch the capacitor to see if it was getting hot and much to my suprise not only was it getting hot but I was getting that cool little wisp of spoke. Now the *** thing wont work at all.
Turned the unit over so I could touch the capacitor to see if it was getting hot and much to my suprise not only was it getting hot but I was getting that cool little wisp of spoke. Now the *** thing wont work at all.
Remember, electronic components are made of smoke. As long as the smoke stays inside, they're OK. If you let the smoke out (like you did) they're no good anymore.
jacon12 bmvernilOkay so where in the name of God am I suppose to find a 15v, 500mA power supply????????? Please, if you ever find one... let me know also. I've been looking, on and off, for a couple of months for one. Like I said earlier, they can be had online if you're willing to fork over $25 to $30 for the product and s&H. Do a google search and you'll get some hits. Especially search on Ebay if you trust the place... and millions do. Jarrell
As I've said before, don't be afraid to be a scrounge. Keep your eyes open and your wallet closed. I have a charger from a defunct HP laptop computer. The output is 18 Volts at 2.23 Amps (there's a label right on the power supply section), and will easily provide power for the turntable. If you're worried about the higher Amps rating, you can easily install a fuse or circuit breaker between the power supply and turntable controller.
Yard sales, the IT section at work, people that use rechargable power tools, use your imagination.
TA462 I've got a question that I hope someone can answer. I have two of the 130' Walthers TT's and I was thinking I could use a MRC Tech 4 200 that I have laying around collecting dust to power both of them. I was thinking I could have a toggle switch that would direct the power to what TT I wanted to use at the time. Is this a good idea or should I power both with a seperate power supply? I believe the Tech 4 200 puts out 17 volts, I'm not sure of its amp rating.
I've got a question that I hope someone can answer. I have two of the 130' Walthers TT's and I was thinking I could use a MRC Tech 4 200 that I have laying around collecting dust to power both of them. I was thinking I could have a toggle switch that would direct the power to what TT I wanted to use at the time. Is this a good idea or should I power both with a seperate power supply? I believe the Tech 4 200 puts out 17 volts, I'm not sure of its amp rating.
The output rating of the Tech 4 Model 200 is 15.5 VDC, 18.5 VAC, Total power 17 VA. "VA" is volt-amps, the same as watts. To find watts, you multiply volts times amps (where the term "volt-amps" comes from) If you're not drawing anthing on the DC side, you have a little less than 1 Amp (1000mA) available. If there's no time you'll be running both turntables at the same time, you should be able to hook up both to the same power supply. I'd recommend using the switch anyway, simply to prevent any power dips or surges to the inactive turntable when running the other one. I'm not sure how sensitive the control unit would be to this.