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Power supply for 130 ft. turntable.

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  • Member since
    August 2009
  • 44 posts
Power supply for 130 ft. turntable.
Posted by Kay.Div. on Saturday, January 18, 2014 2:18 PM

Hi folks,

              I have just bought the Walthers 130 ft. turntable with DCC and would like to know what you would recommend as a power supply which would be seperate from my layout track supply.

Thanks

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Saturday, January 18, 2014 3:34 PM

What do the instructions say?

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
    August 2009
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Posted by Kay.Div. on Saturday, January 18, 2014 6:55 PM

The instructions indicate that it operates best at 16v either AC or DC. but will operate on 12v. voltage not to exceed 18v. AC. (RMS) and 500 mA.

I understand the requirements but there is no recommendation as to any specific make of power supply and I was wondering what other people have used. i.e a 16v. 500mA AC transformer made by ???????

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • 533 posts
Posted by CascadeBob on Saturday, January 18, 2014 9:24 PM

I have one of the Walthers N-scale turntables with the same power requirements.  I bought a Miniatronics WT-16 16 VAC, 800 mA plug-in transformer from TrainTek in Waltham, MA. for $11.95 plus S & H.  Their phone number is: 1-888-339-8724.  The turntable appears to be operating fine with this power source.

Hope this helps,

Bob

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Posted by dante on Saturday, January 18, 2014 10:47 PM

Why not power off the layout bus? It's not as though the turntable will be running almost constantly.

Dante

 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Saturday, January 18, 2014 11:29 PM

Dante, I can't be sure, but my guess would be that the drive is not designed to operate on a digital current, or what DCC is with its zero-stretching.

Try Radio Shack or a local electronics supply store.  Transformers are needed for all sorts of applications.  I got my TT's power supply that way.  The guy checked it out for me to verify it was performing to the stated specs and I got it for about half price...albeit used.

I read discussions about four years ago that some guys who opted to use DC power supplies had problems.  When they were counselled to get AC power supplies, their problems went away.  I use an AC version and have never had an issue with mine.  Touch wood...it has been on the shelf for three years waiting installation on my new layout.

-Crandell

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Posted by Kay.Div. on Sunday, January 19, 2014 7:13 AM

Many thanks to all who replied, the info is most helpful.

Kay.Div.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Utica, OH
  • 4,000 posts
Posted by jecorbett on Sunday, January 19, 2014 8:42 AM

A big word of caution. The voltage on many power supplies is not always what is stated. Sometimes the voltage actually in excess of the stated voltage. I found this out the hard way when I powered the original 130 ft TT from an old DC power pack I had. I believe it said it was 12V but the actual number turned out to be well above that which was too much for the circuit board and I fried it. I found this out when I contacted Walthers. They replaced it free of charge but recommended I get a Miniatronics power supply which had a reliable voltage. I recommend you do that and/or get a voltage meter to find out just how much voltage is actually going to the TT. Too much voltage will fry your circuitry.

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Posted by dante on Sunday, January 19, 2014 10:05 PM

selector

Dante, I can't be sure, but my guess would be that the drive is not designed to operate on a digital current, or what DCC is with its zero-stretching.

I have the 90' DCC tuntable and powering off the bus is exactly what Walthers recommends and what I do. And I run a couple of DC locos-one at a time-even on and off the TT. I doubt that the 130' table would be any different.

Dante

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Monday, January 20, 2014 12:57 AM

Actually, now that I go back and read the original post, he mentions the new DCC version, so your suggestion makes perfect sense.  My bad for not noticing that earlier.

-Crandell

  • Member since
    April 2002
  • 921 posts
Posted by dante on Monday, January 20, 2014 9:43 PM

Crandell, No "bad" about it1 :-) Just glad we can offer the OP an easy solution. Dante

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    April 2002
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Posted by dante on Monday, January 20, 2014 9:45 PM

Crandell,

No "bad" about it! Big Smile Just glad we can offer the OP an easy solution.

Dante

P.S. Sorry that I posted it twice-my bad!Embarrassed

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 34 posts
Posted by Mark565 on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 7:55 PM

I have the 130' TT and it is power by the bus per Walthers instructions.

 

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