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Power for accessories

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  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Gardnerville Nevada
  • 2 posts
Power for accessories
Posted by chiefwilk on Monday, February 18, 2013 8:21 PM

I have quite a lot of lights, motors, on my n scale layout.  I now have five 12v transformers to run all  the lights etc, what do you recommend for accessory power supply that would be large enough to run all my lights?

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Monday, February 18, 2013 8:36 PM

Are all the items being operated right now?

Quite a few gives us no real details.

What voltage do the different ones require?

Are the transformers actual power packs or strictly a transformer, i.e, 110 vac in and low voltage ac out?

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Monday, February 18, 2013 8:43 PM

All Electronics has larger power supplies.  I think they have 5-amp, 12 volt supplies now.  If you order one, get a fuse holder and a package of 4-amp fuses, or a bit below the rating of whatever supply you get.  Install the fuse in series with the output of the supply.

These supplies do not have circuit breakers.  Instead, they have a 1-time fuse buried inside, to keep them from burning your house down.  Once that goes, you have a paperweight.  An exterior fuse that's easy to change is worth it.  Don't bother asking how I know.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 7:00 AM

An old computer power supply of 150 Watts or more should be sufficient for the number of lights and other items you have drawing power, and even new ones are not that expensive.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 8:06 AM

 One large power supply is fine, but I would still break it out into seperate circuits with fuses or circuit breakers to run a group of lights on each circuit - think your main electrical panel in the house.

        --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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