It looks like that I'm going to be using 6 NCE Snap-it decoders for my layout to drive each Peco switch machine.
They use a capacitor to discharge the power, so I'm trying to decide where to get the power source for these from. I'm using the NCE power cab system, so they will have to be connected to the main bus wires to get their commands.
Are they a major power draw for the 2 seconds that they are regaining their power after a switch is thrown to become a detriment to running a pair of trains on my layout (about a 40 foot mainline run)?
I've been researching this a lot, but I haven't been able to find a more specific answer for this question.
Hold my beer... ya'll watch this!
The directions (I assume you read them) says that the power is obtained from the track. Further, they state that:
"The Snap-It draws the most current when the layout power is first turned on to charge the capacitors. It will never draw more than 65mA (.065 Amps) during this time. After the capacitors are charged the current drops to about 2 mA (.002 Amp). This means that 30 Snap-Its will draw about 2 Amps when the layout is first turned on, then the current will drop to about 60 mA which is about the amount of current drawn by 1 locomotive headlight. Most DCC systems can easily supply twice this much power."
It also appears that you can change the recharging time from 2 to 10 seconds. Four seconds seems to be the default.
None of this exactly answers your question regarding the current draw after you throw the turnout, but it seems to me that you have no choice but to accept whatever that value is if you want to use the Snap-It. I see no provision to use any other power source with this particular item.
Well, according to that information copied formt he instructions, they will draw a maximum of 65ma. So 6 of them will draw 390ma, or .39 amp - less than half an amp - at power up, and if you somehow managed to opeate all 6 of them simultaneously, they would draw .39 amp as they all recharged. Since it's more likely that you will operate one, then another, in sequence, you probably will never have more than two charging at once, worst case, except when initially turning on the layout. In other words - don;t worry about it.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Excellent! I had been reading reviews and such online, but it figures that I forgot to check the manual for them, haha.
Thanks for the input, yall! That also sets my mind at ease and simplifies things.
I have all Peco switches on my layout, using the Peco switch machines PL-10W, and also using the NCE snap-it stationary decoders. I have a total of 30 of these on my main layout, with an additional 20 more switches for my extension room layout.
I have the NCE PHP with 5 amps.
Everything works perfect, had the main switches in place for 1.5 yrs with no problems at all.
You will be very happy with how they perform.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989