I have 10 locomotives within a district that is powered by a Digitrax DB150 5 amp booster. I'm debating weather to upgrade to an 8 amp booster (Digitrax DB200+) When I run a locomotive with my DCC throttle I notice that the lights in my passenger coaches gets a littl dimmer an I don't like that. Giving the amount of locomotives I have I assume I may need more power 5 amps may not be enough for 10 locomotives within a district. What will you people recommend?
alloboardI have 10 locomotives within a district that is powered by a Digitrax DB150 5 amp booster. I'm debating weather to upgrade to an 8 amp booster (Digitrax DB200+) When I run a locomotive with my DCC throttle I notice that the lights in my passenger coaches gets a littl dimmer an I don't like that. Giving the amount of locomotives I have I assume I may need more power 5 amps may not be enough for 10 locomotives within a district.
I am surprised that the lights dim with only one locomotive running. Locomotives at rest usually do not draw nearly their max power. 10 x 500ma = 5A but that would be only if they were all running full blast. Modern locomotives unless they have sound usually draw much less.
How are the coaches lit? Could be a non regulated supply to bulbs that is dimming to a very slight fluctuation. How is the layout wired? It may be you are getting voltage drops due to inadequate wiring.
An 8A booster is a costly option as you need an expensive power supply to get the benefit. If you do decide to add another power disrict you will have to devide your layout and power bus into 2 isolated sections. If I were you I would read up on this and do some research before doing this.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
I would think that your 5-amp system would have plenty of power for that load. What size wire are you using for your track bus and feeders? Do you have enough feeders, or are you depending on rail joiners to conduct power?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Are your bus wires and feeders soldered?
Hi,
I built my 11x15 two level layout with 8 power districts. Operation is handled by a Digitrax 5 amp Superchief with a second 5 amp booster and with two 5 amp power supplies. I had split up the layout into the 8 districts trying to keep expected power demand equal. Oh, and each power district runs thru a Digital Specialties PSX (2 - PSX4s) circuit breaker.
Everything worked extremely well until recently. As time went by I was adding more and more power units and 13 sound units. In the last month or so, I would experience a short upon start up. Thanks to the good folks on this forum, it was determined that the sound/power units did a surge draw upon startup, and overcame the particular circuit breaker. Thankfully, the fix was an easy jumper installation in the circuit boards.
In hindsight, what looked to be equal distribution of power needs turned out to be not quite so. My diesel terminal tracks are the big users, and I should have split that into two districts.
I would try to work with the 5 amps you have, as opposed to getting an 8 amp, and breaking up your layout into power districts - each going thru a separate breaker.
Just my experience and "solution" - but there may be better ones out there.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I'm a Lenz guy, so I didn't catch this right away. The DB150 does not have its own power supply, so what are you driving it with? If you are using less than a 5-amp power supply, that could be your problem.
One more item that may be part of your problem.................. How far apart are your feeders? I followed the general advice and placed them 3-4 feet apart and on every siding. If yours are much further apart, that could contribute to your "dim bulbs" - perhaps.
Hey, no one here ever complained about having too many feeders, so "twer I were you", I would check it out.
ENJOY,