power

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PatsRailway1

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As said earlier I have the big set from lgb with standard controller. my layout could be 12 ft x 8 ft . Is the transformer powerful enough or should I get a bigger one. I might also run a second track inside it . will I need 2 transformers then. It will be christmas themed. Many thanks to you all
 
Longer track does not require more power, it is more powerful engines that need more power. So a starter set power pack with the original loco can run on hundreds of feet of track. 2 starter set locos with smoke on the 1 amp power pack will not work well on the 4 foot circle, and the LGB 7va power pack will be a joke, however this power pack can use the A/C portion to power the EPL switch drives!!
 
This power supply is quite limited. However it is fine for the loco of your starter set.
I burned mine very quickly as soon as I started to use it out of the basic circle, in fact I tried to power a USA trains GP38-2 having 2 trucks!

If you want to power two locos at the same time you will be close to max power or even higher. If you have two tracks that means 2 locos ?. If you use the second power pack from another starter set for sure no issue. With a single power pack your 2 locos will always run in the same direction.

I would recommend you to buy a 5Amp power pack to power your 2 tracks simultaneously.
This is what I did, I kept the small LGB transfo 32 W (LGB 51090) to power all my switches but I bought a more powerfull transfo (Piko 35000) suited with a 5Amp controller (Piko 35002)
 
ARIA31 said:
This power supply is quite limited. However it is fine for the loco of your starter set.
I burned mine very quickly as soon as I started to use it out of the basic circle, in fact I tried to power a USA trains GP38-2 having 2 trucks!

If you want to power two locos at the same time you will be close to max power or even higher. If you have two tracks that means 2 locos ?. If you use the second power pack from another starter set for sure no issue. With a single power pack your 2 locos will always run in the same direction.

I would recommend you to buy a 5Amp power pack to power your 2 tracks simultaneously.
This is what I did, I kept the small LGB transfo 32 W (LGB 51090) to power all my switches but I bought a more powerfull transfo (Piko 35000) suited with a 5Amp controller (Piko 35002)
Click to expand...
money a bit tight at moment are pico controllers good
 
Piko are good and acceptable pricing !! All my system control (:)) is Piko even part of it is Dcc.
There are other like Bachmann, USA trains,

I think you are starting as I did 10 years ago, don't worry with the budget you need , be patient with all birdays, Chrismas gifts , and other opportunities.
But what is important is having a long term strategy of your expectations, so that you buy in the best manner in the more efficient way.
 
zman50 said:
Can you hook up two 1 amp power packs to the same track? If possible would that give you 2 amps of power for a bigger loco?
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Everyone: please don't try this. If you (or a housemate) ever unplug one of the amps from the wall while both amps are still connected to the same track, touching the prongs could be lethal! Only ever use multiple amps if they are connected to separate track loops, or if you are sufficiently tech savvy to build in other safety measures.
 
Jasper said:
Everyone: please don't try this. If you (or a housemate) ever unplug one of the amps from the wall while both amps are still connected to the same track, touching the prongs could be lethal! Only ever use multiple amps if they are connected to separate track loops, or if you are sufficiently tech savvy to build in other safety measures.
Click to expand...
Yes I believe it is possible for a transformer to be operated in reverse so instead of reducing from mains to track the track power goes the other way upping the power. I have heard of stories where in ignorance playing about with a disassembled transformer wiring the wrong way round can turn the thing into a device to up the volts by the amount normally reduced thus mains attached to the low volt end multiplied by many times to extreme high power, as a rule this trashes the transformer but that high voltage is present for a short time. Even at low amps this could be fatal. This is why many transformers have notices to the effect ‘no home repaiable parts inside’.
 
dunnyrail said:
Yes I believe it is possible for a transformer to be operated in reverse so instead of reducing from mains to track the track power goes the other way upping the power. I have heard of stories where in ignorance playing about with a disassembled transformer wiring the wrong way round can turn the thing into a device to up the volts by the amount normally reduced thus mains attached to the low volt end multiplied by many times to extreme high power, as a rule this trashes the transformer but that high voltage is present for a short time. Even at low amps this could be fatal. This is why many transformers have notices to the effect ‘no home repaiable parts inside’.
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Yep two types of basic transformer "Step Up" and Step Down" or to put it another way one way ups the voltage, to other drops the voltage,
 
Jasper Jasper is correct, feeding voltage into the low voltage side from the one unit will power up the mains side of unit 2 now unplugged. Its called back feeding, you will get slightly less than the normal voltage , about 5-10 % so still more than enough to give you an electric shock. Plus any mains RCD will not not trip on a earth fault as you are getting shocked, as it will not see the fault as its in the windings not now electrically connected to the mains. No fault is happening as far as it can detect. VERY Dangerous indeed.

EDIT This only applies to low voltage AC circuits , NOT DC circuits.
 
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dunnyrail said:
Yes I believe it is possible for a transformer to be operated in reverse so instead of reducing from mains to track the track power goes the other way upping the power. I have heard of stories where in ignorance playing about with a disassembled transformer wiring the wrong way round can turn the thing into a device to up the volts by the amount normally reduced thus mains attached to the low volt end multiplied by many times to extreme high power, as a rule this trashes the transformer but that high voltage is present for a short time. Even at low amps this could be fatal. This is why many transformers have notices to the effect ‘no home repaiable parts inside’.
Click to expand...
You are right dunnyrail dunnyrail , the windings can not handle the higher voltage , the insulation in a step down transformer is not designed for reverse feeding.
 
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