I am in the process of wiring my layout that I rebuilt, I will be operating in DCC, but I will be installing some street lighting and spot lights in the yard areas of my layout, I was thinking of using a DC power pack, ( I have two of these that are new, never used) just for the lighting nothing else. Is this feasible or will I just be asking for trouble. My trains will be powered by Digitrax Zephyer extra, this is HO scale
WOODMAN,
A simple answer,,, Yes you can,, You can use the DC variable side the one that would control the trains,for incandescent bulbs,say,12volts and set the dial for 10volts,they last longer that way,you would need a meter to measure,where the dial would be set to do that,,, fixed,DC for LED's. and fixed AC for switch machines,, How many components you could power with the power pack,will be determined by the output of the pack,, For instance the Va rating of the pack,,, example,,, 14VA,18VA AND SO ON...
Hope that helps
Cheers,
Frank
The power pack will work fine, but be aware that many of these are fairly low-power devices. As your layout grows and you add more structures and street lights, so too will the demand for lighting power.
Use the power pack for a while, but take note when the lights start running a bit dimmer, or if you get an occasional dropout while the circuit breaker cuts out and resets itself. Once that happens, consider getting a more hefty power supply.
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zstripe You can use the DC variable side the one that would control the trains,for incandescent bulbs,say,12volts and set the dial for 10volts,they last longer that way...
You can use the DC variable side the one that would control the trains,for incandescent bulbs,say,12volts and set the dial for 10volts,they last longer that way...
I totally agree with Frank's suggestion. I use 1.7mm 12V incandescents for both interior and exterior lighting and use the knob on the power pack to dial them down to ~55-60%. They look more realistic at this setting and, as Frank stated, they'll last longer.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Yes,
If it gets hot, you may be over amping it. So check total amp draw of lights vs amps out. If it doesn't list the amps directly you can get close by figuring an 18VA output is about 1.5Amps at 12 volts nominal.
Richard
Rich, I appreciate the time you took to respond, but since I am a novice, I don't have a clue what you are talking about, you might as well have been talking a foreign language. If anything I believe you convince me not to even attempt to have any type of lighting on my layout as it is just to difficult and technical to do.
Using a DC power pack to control your accessories,lights and so forth,is no more, difficult,or technical,to wire,than your DCC system, you said you are wiring.. Let me know the brand name of your two new power packs and I'll tell you what the out put is.....
woodman Rich, I appreciate the time you took to respond, but since I am a novice, I don't have a clue what you are talking about, you might as well have been talking a foreign language. If anything I believe you convince me not to even attempt to have any type of lighting on my layout as it is just to difficult and technical to do.
It will work for your lights, very well. Look on the back of the unit, it should have as many as 3 types of output, 1Variable DC, 2Fixed DC and 3 Fixed AC. What you want for your lights is the later 2. Older transformers are normally capable of handling 1 to 1.5 amps with no problems. That means about 20 or so grain of wheat bulbs plus several LEDs. The LEDs will want the Fixed DC output.
How many lights of what type bulbs or LEDs do you want to use? Do you know the difference between wiring in parallel vs series? Don't wire them like the old Christmas tree lights, ie bulb to bulb.
woodman I am in the process of wiring my layout that I rebuilt, I will be operating in DCC, but I will be installing some street lighting and spot lights in the yard areas of my layout, I was thinking of using a DC power pack, ( I have two of these that are new, never used) just for the lighting nothing else. Is this feasible or will I just be asking for trouble. My trains will be powered by Digitrax Zephyer extra, this is HO scale
woodman, that is what I do. I power my layout with DCC and all of my Tortoises, signals and control panel LEDs with a DC power pack, actually six of them. Go ahead and do it.
Rich
Alton Junction
Joe Staten Island West
If you are concerned, below are a couple links for using inexpensive meters to check voltage and current when using the variable DC option. I have had three of these meters for some years and compare very well to an expensive meter. Even if they were off by say two tenths of a volt, with model railroading, that is not an issue. It is for only rivet counters.
http://www.trainelectronics.com/Meter_Workshop/index.htm
http://www.trainelectronics.com/Meter_HF/index.htm
You cannot measure AC current but most use the AC for turnout machines.
My meters show about 13.6 VAC for my NCE DCC system.
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