Team,
What would happen if I install 2-3 of the same DC packs on my DC layout. Do I increase the amps rating on it and keep the voltage the same? As this is not a common practice what do you all think?
I own 12 (10 working and 2 as spare parts) of the old Athearns DD40s each with 2 motors; they did not come with flywheels but I later upgrade the motor and added flywheels
Reason why I ask is that I run my constants with 2-3 of DD40AX. I preffer not to use dummies....
One single power pack has a hard time running them smoothly. I found that if I use 2 powerpacks of the same manufacture and throuttle them up at the same time, i get better results.
I maintain a voltage indicator on each powerpack to approximate each voltage output.
I dont plan to upgrade to DCC. I am happy with using DC at this time.
Or are there DC powerpacks with more power build in?
UPDATE: based on below guidance, I think I may need to repower the units to use a single motor and get an upgraded power supply; thanks for the input
CPT Luna - Welcome to trains.com!
Darren (BLHS & CRRM Lifetime Member)
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (DHVM), Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures)
My Blog
NOT a good idea, the loads don;t balance well when you to that. You're better off getting a higher current power pack than trying to join multiples.
If those are old Athearn Blue Box DD40's, you cna improve the motor performance and reuce the current load with some basic AThearn motor tune-up tips you cn find posted in various places. Or remotor them with higher wuality motors. A 5 amp power pack should easily handle 2-3 of them, even unmodified. ANd no fooling aroudn trying to evenly match the speeds on multiple apcks connected in parallel.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
There are high wattage DC powerpacks available. I found mine at a train show for $20 and it's 10 amp.
Also, a lot of times those smaller packs you are trying to combine don't have great speed control capability.
BTW, you may find after a while that one of those two packs you are using is getting a lot hotter than the other one? Just watch that too.
Richard
CPT Luna Team, One single power pack has a hard time running them smoothly. I found that if I use 2 powerpacks of the same manufacture and throuttle them up at the same time, i get better results. I maintain a voltage indicator on each powerpack to approximate each voltage output. ....Or are there DC powerpacks with more power build in?
....Or are there DC powerpacks with more power build in?
Using more than one power pack in parallel will likely eventually damage the power packs (but not your locomotives). No matter how carefully you match the voltages, there will be a slight difference between the two power packs. The slight difference in voltage creates a "fault" current - oftne considerable amperage - through your nice low resistance copper wire between the two power packs. The power pack circuit breaker or overload protection may not protect against this fault current.
Fault currents have historically damaged Lionel transformers over time. Even though the transformers were wired to separate sections of track, when the train bridged these sections, the fault current would flow from one transformer to the other. Over time, this created burned spots where the wipers rubbed against the transformer coils.
Fault currents inherently exist in section control where separate power packs/transformers control a train as it sequences from one section to another. Block control, where a single power pack controls the train where ever it goes, was/is a much better solution.
As the others have written, get a single power pack with a large enough current/power rating to run all 3 DD-40s at once. Then, have fun and enjoy your spectacular sight.
my thoughts and experiences, your choices
Fred W