I currently use an MRC Prodigy squared DCC controller and power pack to run roughly 24' X 8' layout. I believe it puts out 3.5 amps. Is there any advantage to adding an MRC 8 amp booster that I had purchased in the past? I realize after browsing this forum that 3.5 is probably more then adequate for my layout. I never have more then 2-3 locos running at the same time at this point. Just wondering if having the extra power improves decoder and loco performance in any way. I know it increases the chances of a decoder damaging short but I do use a DCC circuit breaker between the main power bus and the controller.
No, you have enough power, assuming that you've got heavy enough track bus wires. I would connect the base unit at the middle of your 24-foot layout so the maximum bus distance is only 12 feet.
If your layout is configured as an around-the-walls layout, though, in a 24x8 room, then there might be some advantage to putting the booster on the opposite side of the layout from the base unit, just because the bus wires get long.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
If you are not coming close to loading down y9our system, adding the booster won;t do much if anything. Also I would not apply 8 amps directly to the track for HO layouts anyway, it's more than enough to melt things in the event of a derailment.
If your wiring is adequate and organized the right way, you should have very little if any voltage drops. Where extra boosters can help is with very long bus runs, you can put additinal boosters along the line so that any given section of bus is as short as possible. IE:
===<booster>======<booster>=== is much better than <booster>============
But even =====<booster>===== is much better than <booster>============
Your bes bet for the 8 amp booster would be to get more circuit breakers and divide the layout into multiple power zones, but really I don;t see the need unless you start running more trains simultaneously. 2-3 isn;t going to come close to even 3.5 amps, let alone 8.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
davidmbedard 8 amps? If you have a derailment, and your DCC system doesnt see it immedietly, you will melt or weld and axle. 3.5 is plenty. If you want to know what amperage you are drawing, get a RRampmeter. David B
8 amps? If you have a derailment, and your DCC system doesnt see it immedietly, you will melt or weld and axle. 3.5 is plenty.
If you want to know what amperage you are drawing, get a RRampmeter.
David B
And, as a good rule of thumb, 5 amps is max.
Rich
Alton Junction