Different power supply

[claycts]

Randy you probably have this answer. The neighbor is going to try and run has LGB system (DCC I think) on a 900 watt outdoor lighting transformer. I do not think that this is a good idea but it is his money. Will this work?
I am using the 600 watt unit to power my low voltahe lighting in the train room. (cheap power).

[rrinker]

I don't know - is he planning to use some sort of cab controls with this? Or drive a DCC system? What is the voltage of this thing? I was under the impression that most are 12 volts, which is a bit too low for LGB, and really is too low to power a DCC system in any scale - if you want 12v at the track with a DCC booster, you need to feed in a bit MORE than 12v. If he just wants to hook up some sort of throttle and run things on DC, it will work, but never at full speed. And if the large scale stuff I've seen is any indication, this is not like N scale where half voltage already exceeds scale speed, so it might be too slow for him.

--Randy

[claycts]

Randy, you where correct, it is (3) 300 watt 12 vdc out. I passed on the information.
Thank you.
Does work great for low voltage lights on the layout. I will use my 600 watt to power the track lights. Maybe I can get his 900 and use that for buildings and such, HMMM!

[cacole]

Most G-scale trains are made to operate from a power pack that puts out up to 20 Volts DC at full throttle, but these trains will run just fine on 12 Volts, albeit slower; and they draw a much heavier current than smaller scales due to their larger motors, on-board sound systems, and heavier loads. Most good power packs designed for G-scale users have an output of 20 Amps or more.

I run 1:20.3 scale narrow gauge steam engines from on-board 12 Volt batteries using the CVP Products' AirWire900 Wireless DCC System, and they run fast enough to represent narrow gauge equipment. The drive rods would probably fly off if I tried to run these locomotives at 19 or 20 Volts.

[Anonymous]

Maybe someone more familiar with DCC can inform me better, but:

12 VAC, when rectified, produces more than 12 VDC. 12 VAC X SQRT(2) - 1.2 volts (bridge rectifier) = 15.8 VDC.

Problems??

Mark in Utah

[nedthomas]

900 watts at 12 volts is 75 amps. Are you planning to weld with this?

[claycts]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nedthomas

900 watts at 12 volts is 75 amps. Are you planning to weld with this?

No just VERY BRIGT LITES. My neighbor is going to get the correct power supply. I told him to take back the "welder". I still have my 600 watts for track lights. Not rail road track but ceiling track lights.

[nedthomas]

Make sure your friend really has a 900 watt transformer. It would have to be very large and hard for one man to carry. Most garden lighting transformers are in the 75 to 150 watt range.

[claycts]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nedthomas

Make sure your friend really has a 900 watt transformer. It would have to be very large and hard for one man to carry. Most garden lighting transformers are in the 75 to 150 watt range.

Home Depot sells them I paid $69.00 for my 600 watt, it's weight is about 10#. The 900 was $129.00 I think

[rrinker]

Only 10 pounds? Bet it's a switching power supply then, no way is it a typical iron core transformer. A 12v secondary 50 amp regular wound transformer is going to weigh a LOT more than 10 pounds.
For the intended purposes, it's no big deal. But that's probably another good reason to NOT use it for running trains. It's probably poorly regulated, and probably requires a good deal of load to even stay near the inteded voltage - on the order of 10% or so. PC power supplies with too low a load on the 5V line tend to run high ont e 5V output but low on the 12V line. With only 1 output, I'd guess it will run higher then expected with insufficient load.

--Randy

[claycts]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

Only 10 pounds? Bet it's a switching power supply then, no way is it a typical iron core transformer. A 12v secondary 50 amp regular wound transformer is going to weigh a LOT more than 10 pounds.
For the intended purposes, it's no big deal. But that's probably another good reason to NOT use it for running trains. It's probably poorly regulated, and probably requires a good deal of load to even stay near the inteded voltage - on the order of 10% or so. PC power supplies with too low a load on the 5V line tend to run high ont e 5V output but low on the 12V line. With only 1 output, I'd guess it will run higher then expected with insufficient load.

--Randy

Thanks Randy, I am using mine for lighting the layout only. I found on sale, Liena track lights by Cooper get 8 4ft sections with 12 low voltage heads. using 10 and 20 watt halogen lights and the 600 watt welder. I am going to put a VOM on it and see what it does along with a digital amp meter for the draw.
Thanks again