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power supplies

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  • Member since
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  • From: florida
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power supplies
Posted by subman on Thursday, December 31, 2009 12:58 PM

Could you recommend a multi voltage filtered, regulated power supply . I was looking at the one that Jameco sells (Part #427928) but I don`t know if it is regulated. The DCCOD detectors call for a regulated power supply.      

                                                   thanks

Bob D As long as you surface as many times as you dive you`ll be alive to read these posts.

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Posted by jbinkley60 on Thursday, December 31, 2009 1:10 PM

subman

Could you recommend a multi voltage filtered, regulated power supply . I was looking at the one that Jameco sells (Part #427928) but I don`t know if it is regulated. The DCCOD detectors call for a regulated power supply.      

                                                   thanks

It is regulated.  From the spec sheet:  Load regulation +/- 5%  .  You do realize that this is a computer power supply designed for PC, right ?

 

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

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Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, December 31, 2009 1:40 PM

That is what is called a switcher power supply and usually want a minimum load of some kind. Some people modify these from an old PC and provide resistors for a minimum load. Below are details of this type of power supply. I strongly advise to to read All the details.

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.

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Posted by subman on Thursday, December 31, 2009 2:26 PM

Yes Jeff I realize that it is a computer power supply and that I would have to put a load (resistor/s) across the +5 volt output but this PS has all the output voltages I want and at large current outputs. The 3volt supply for leds, the 12 volts for tortoises, occupancy detectors and signals etc. I`m sure I will find a use for the 5 volt output. Could you recommend another PS? My layout is 14x5 to 6 feet in HO.

                                                                  Thanks

Bob D As long as you surface as many times as you dive you`ll be alive to read these posts.

  • Member since
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  • From: Gahanna, Ohio
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Posted by jbinkley60 on Thursday, December 31, 2009 3:29 PM

subman

Yes Jeff I realize that it is a computer power supply and that I would have to put a load (resistor/s) across the +5 volt output but this PS has all the output voltages I want and at large current outputs. The 3volt supply for leds, the 12 volts for tortoises, occupancy detectors and signals etc. I`m sure I will find a use for the 5 volt output. Could you recommend another PS? My layout is 14x5 to 6 feet in HO.

                                                                  Thanks

I can't make an informed recommendation without doing a bit of research, I build my own power supplies.  There are others here who use PC power supplies just for the reasons you describe.  I'll let one of them respond.

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

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Posted by cacole on Thursday, December 31, 2009 3:41 PM

 We use three 250 Watt PC power supplies on our large HO scale layout for buidling lights, signals, etc that require DC power, and I use one on my home HO scale layout.  None of these require connection to a computer motherboard to work.  If you get one that says it's for an AT or ATX PC motherboard, it will work without any special jumpers.  The Jameco 319994 250 Watt supply shown on page 175 of their November 2009 catalog, for example.  On these, the red output wire is +5 Volts and the yellow wire is +12 Volts.

 

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Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, December 31, 2009 4:09 PM

 Forgot to include the link about PC supplies.

http://web2.murraystate.edu/andy.batts/ps/powersupply.htm

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
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Posted by subman on Thursday, December 31, 2009 5:24 PM

Rich; great tutorial thanks. Monday il`l check with the town recycling center and try and find one. If that fails then il`l check the local computer shops.

Bob D As long as you surface as many times as you dive you`ll be alive to read these posts.

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Posted by subman on Friday, January 1, 2010 12:34 AM

What is an AT & an ATX type computer?

Bob D As long as you surface as many times as you dive you`ll be alive to read these posts.

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Posted by CSX Robert on Friday, January 1, 2010 12:54 AM
AT and ATX refer to the connector between the power supply and motherboard of the computer. With an ATX power supply there is a pin from the motherboard to turn the power supply on and off. You have to short this pin on the power supply to ground to turn the power supply on. This pin does not exist on the AT power supply connection. Any time the AC into an AT power supply is on, the power supply is on. Requiring a load is not a function of whether or not it is an AT or ATX power supply, but simply a function of the design of the power supply - some of them require it and some don't.
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Posted by cacole on Friday, January 1, 2010 10:01 AM

 In the narrative about modifying a PC power supply provided by richg1998, the author says he used a 10 Ohm, 10 Watt resistor, which gets very hot and required heat sinking.  A simple way around this problem is to use a resistor with a higher Wattage rating.   The higher the rating, the less heat generated.

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Saturday, January 2, 2010 12:09 PM

subman
The DCCOD detectors call for a regulated power supply.

 

Bob, please tell me more about what these are. As I have explained to you before, I use simple Pyramid 13.8 volt supplies for the Train Engineer and they seem to work well with most other 12 volt devices as well.

Dallee makes a power supply filter that works well for more sensitive stuff or as others have suggested they are easy to build yourself.

Sheldon

    

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