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I should know this but.....

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  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Winnipeg Canada
  • 1,637 posts
I should know this but.....
Posted by Blind Bruce on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 3:58 PM
I have a brand new Walthers 90' RTR indexing turntable. The instructions say "connect motor leads to AC terminals on the power pack". I have no power pack as I run DCC. Two calls in two days to Walthers tech support with no answer back. Question, can I determine if the motor is AC or DC by ohmmeter measurements? It is totally enclosed under the bridge track and has no markings. I have only DC wall warts for this voltage. ( 12-19V acording to general forum)

73

Bruce in the Peg

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Central Georgia
  • 921 posts
Posted by Johnnny_reb on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:46 PM
 Blind Bruce wrote:
Question, can I determine if the motor is AC or DC by ohmmeter measurements?
No. But you could just pickup an old "toy train" transformer from a yard sale and use that for power.

Johnnny_reb Once a word is spoken it can not be unspoken!

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  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 419 posts
Posted by UpNorth on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:48 PM

The drive operates best at  15 Volts AC or DC, 500mA; a minimum of 12 Volts is required, but total output must not exceed 19 Volts AC (RMS) or DC.

This is from the instruction sheet.  A diode bridge, built in,  converts the AC to DC.  So you can use either AC or DC power pack. 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Overland Park, KS
  • 343 posts
Posted by dadret on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 8:11 AM
You can use a wall wart if you want - just make sure its within the parameters mentioned above.  I use an old Atlas power pack left over from my earlier days on my 130' TT.
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Westchester NY
  • 1,747 posts
Posted by retsignalmtr on Saturday, March 22, 2008 9:04 PM
if your dcc base station has a separate power supply you can tap into it before it goes into the base station which will be ac. i'm doing that with my switches instead of using another power supply for them. doesn't affect train operation so far. or you could use a wall wart but it must be powerful enough to run the turntable and be putting out ac. 

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