Ok fellas here we go. I have an older verision of the powerhouse pro from nce. It is a 5 amp smary base. I have 2 power cab controllers and the pro throttle that came with the powerhouse base unit.
Question is this. Layout is 25 ft long by 7 ft wide. I have (currrently) 7 sound engines with tsunami 2 decoders, and 12 dcc non sound engines, and one sound only no motor loco. I think this will be all that I will put on the layout. The sound decoders may go up by 2 that way I run one sound one non sound in a lashup.
Question is this. Does this need a booster wired in there some where and if so how many? I am still in the building process and have a little over half the benchwork done up to foam. I need 2 more sheets maybe 3 to finish off the bechwork. I am currently just pinning down track and arranging building to see how things will fit whilst I wait to purchase the last of the foam. So I started thinking about how much power I have and how much I will need and seeing as this is my first layout I dont know much about calculating the power consumption values. Also should I kill power on the tracks not being used? Example I have and engine house with 4 tracks going to it that holds 15-20 engines in that area. Should I wire in switches to turn off power to leads I am would not be using?
Thanks for the help
Mike
alco's forever!!!!! Majoring in HO scale Minorig in O scale:)
Seat of pants, to have plenty of power I would say - 7 sound * .5a = 3.5 amp, 12 non sound * .25a = 4 amp. so 7.5 amps. But that is only if all of them will be running simultaniously. Will they? Probably not.
But there are other reasons for having a booster rather than just more power. One might want to isolate parts of the layout so a short at one end of the 25 feet doesn't kill all the trains everywhere.
As for engine house, I would put in a kill switch just because I wouldn't always want the cacophony of noise all the time. Also why be powering a decoder clocking up hours on it as it does theoretically have a limited lifespan.
I have the similar question. Or another way I may want to ask is that what is the downside of adding a booster?
Jerry
Texas ZephyrBut there are other reasons for having a booster rather than just more power. One might want to isolate parts of the layout so a short at one end of the 25 feet doesn't kill all the trains everywhere.
there's no reason not to have 4 power districts limited to 3A even thought you don't have a booster to supply 12A
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
hjQi I have the similar question. Or another way I may want to ask is that what is the downside of adding a booster? Jerry
Jerry.
Cost. Not only a booster, you also need a power supply, wire, and connectors.
Pete.
gregc Texas Zephyr But there are other reasons for having a booster rather than just more power. One might want to isolate parts of the layout so a short at one end of the 25 feet doesn't kill all the trains everywhere. that could easily and more safely be accomplished by dividing the layout into power districts protected by circuit breakers that limit the current to 2-3A instead of relying on a booster that only shuts down at 5A. there's no reason not to have 4 power districts limited to 3A even thought you don't have a booster to supply 12A
Texas Zephyr But there are other reasons for having a booster rather than just more power. One might want to isolate parts of the layout so a short at one end of the 25 feet doesn't kill all the trains everywhere.
that could easily and more safely be accomplished by dividing the layout into power districts protected by circuit breakers that limit the current to 2-3A instead of relying on a booster that only shuts down at 5A.
I fully concur.
Hi Mike,
All good answers so far to your question.
I also have an NCE PH-Pro wireless 5 amp system with two Pro Cab throttles. A few years back, I added a second booster and divided my layout into 7 power districts, each protected by a PSX circuit breaker or PSX-AR. I actually did not need a second booster for power requirements, but I added it to gain more control over my large layout.
From the description of your layout, I would stick with just the booster that is integral to the command station. Time will tell if you need a second booster as you operate your layout.
Rich
Alton Junction
Here's a rough rule of thumb I use:
For each moving engine with sound: .6 amps (average)
For each standing engine with sound: .2 amps
For each moving engine without sound: .4 amps (average)
For each standing engine without sound: .1 amp
Assumes:No open frame motors. Assumes no stalling. Assumes no more than 3 amps/district. (Maximum recommended)Assumes appropriate wire gauge and feeders
So assume you run all 7 sound decoders + 12 non sound....Assuming HALF are running (club layout)
4 sound moving * .6 = 2.4
6 non sound moving * .4 = 2.4
3 sound non moving * .2 = .6
6 non sound non moving * .1 = .6
2.4 + 2.4 + .6 + .6 = 6.0 amps
For long life of electronic components, I try not to run them past 80% of their design limit for long. So while you can run 5 amps, I wouldn't recommend more than 5 * .8 = 4 amps
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
As others also recommended, I would break it into districts. You could get an NCE Smart Booster: SB5 - Smartbooster for the Power Cab – Welcome to the NCE Information Station (zendesk.com)
But if you do this, I would get some DCC Specialities PSX-4. (4 breakers) and set them each to 3 amps, and break the layout into 4 blocks. They are pricey, but the best for sound decoders. Use two breakers for booster 1 and two breakers for booster 2.
Hello All,
Check out this thread...
how do you know if you need to add a booster?
With the embedded discussion...
How many DCC boosters are needed for HO scale layout?
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
ok so the majority of the engines are atlas engines. I have 2 bachmann, one a 45 ton switcher and one a steam engine. I have a couple walthers engines, a bl2 and a h10-44 and one stewart engine. So no open frame motors, all newer lower draw motors.
the atlas engines are,
black box classics
4 rs 11
2 rs3
1 rs 1
4 mp15
1 rs 32/36
2 kato sd45
gonna have to read up and do some more research on wiring these up. Any good spots to grab that info from? youtube link or a website that explains this for the layman?
rs2mike gonna have to read up and do some more research on wiring these up. Any good spots to grab that info from? youtube link or a website that explains this for the layman?
https://www.ncedcc.com/
When you click on this link, you will be on the Home page. As you scan down the page, you will see product information divided by category. Each category has an Information link and a Buy Now link with pricing information. As you click on these links, you will be directed to different sections of the NCE website containing discussion and diagrams.
Here is an example from the DB5 booster manual. It shows the division of a layout into two booster districts and a further division into power districts.
On my layout, I use a second booster, a DB5 and a P514 power supply. This would fit your layout plan nicely. In that diagram, each booster district is further divided into two separate power districts, each of which is protected by an EB1 circuit breaker.
jjdamnit uses EB1s and has made reference to these units in his reply. I use PSX circuit breakers and PSX-AR auto-reversers on my layout. It is all a matter of preference.
Since you are considering a second booster, I am going to recommend the DB5 booster and an NCE power supply. I would also encourage you to create separate power districts for each booster.
Whether or not you "need" a second booster is debatable, but if you are willing to spend the funds, that second booster (and maybe separate power districts protected by circuit breakers) will teach you all about the use and wiring of a complete power system for your layout.
Just type the model of your train and "DCC install"
like "Athearn P40 DCC install" Conversion is simple enough however once you do one or two.
DigitalGriffin Here's a rough rule of thumb I use: For each moving engine with sound: .6 amps (average) For each standing engine with sound: .2 amps For each moving engine without sound: .4 amps (average) For each standing engine without sound: .1 amp Assumes:No open frame motors. Assumes no stalling. Assumes no more than 3 amps/district. (Maximum recommended)Assumes appropriate wire gauge and feeders So assume you run all 7 sound decoders + 12 non sound....Assuming HALF are running (club layout) 4 sound moving * .6 = 2.4 6 non sound moving * .4 = 2.4 3 sound non moving * .2 = .6 6 non sound non moving * .1 = .6 2.4 + 2.4 + .6 + .6 = 6.0 amps For long life of electronic components, I try not to run them past 80% of their design limit for long. So while you can run 5 amps, I wouldn't recommend more than 5 * .8 = 4 amps
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I would start by installing the power supply and booster in the middle of the layout. That way the feeders will only be ~12' long. Use #12 or #10 AWG wire. If after running your layout for a while you decide you need more power, it is easy to add another booster next to the one you have. Just make sure the two sections of track are isolated from each other.
I have an NCE Power Pro 5 amp system and have run 8 engines in a MU setup without any problems. One problem that I caused was not using heavy enough feeders to the far reaches of my layout. On occasion, I get a 1.5V drop at the track farthest from the booster.
wrench567Cost. Not only a booster, you also need a power supply, wire, and connectors. Pete.
I see. Thanks, Pete.
DigitalGriffinHere's a rough rule of thumb I use:
This is a great sum! Thanks!
DigitalGriffin Just type the model of your train and "DCC install" like "Athearn P40 DCC install" Conversion is simple enough however once you do one or two.
All my engines are decoder equipped, installed by me.
We like to say that if you think you need more than 5 Amps, then you need more power districts, not more current.
Did you guys mention things like the DM42?
Fred
DCC-EX