DC: Multiple units vs amp draw

William Jackson · Sep 7, 2015

Well, one good item, on this thread, for folks who know nothing of electronics like me, it make's good reading with the talent we have on the site.

trainchaser007 (Brandon Adams RIP 9/22/2017) · Sep 7, 2015

Even thought I knew it was a long shot, after being given that laptop power supply, I had to ask if using it was possible. Based on the replies to this thread, I'm giving up on the idea of using old external DC power supplies to run trains. (I can already hear someone say, "Thank God!" ) Still, it seems like it shouldn't be as difficult as it is. I have installed rheostats (dimmer switches) to AC voltage for lighting, but I can't simply wire in a potentiometer into DC voltage. Due to my limited knowledge, that makes about as much sense to me as a model railroad track with 3 rails or running a diesel powered excursion for children while having a fully restored steam engine on the roster with a full head of steam built up. Even though the 5 amp output would be awesome, to me, re-using an external power supply just isn't worth the time, money, and study it would take for me to make it work. With that said, this thread is headed back to the vault again as far as I am concerned. I guess I may as well get some cheap, dead units, gut them out, and put them behind a powered unit for looks. Besides, the sidings on my new layout won't hold a train longer than about 5 1/2 feet long so I probably won't run many trains any longer than that anyway. Therefore, I probably won't need the added power of multiple units.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytCEuuW2_A

- Brandon

Joe Lovett · Sep 7, 2015

Would the power supplies that Brandon has been working with be good for structure lighting? It's a problem that I have been troubled with a long time in finding a power supply with enough amperage to light several mini-bulbs.

Joe

klrwhizkid · Sep 8, 2015

Joe, those power supplies would be very sufficient to power the readily available 12v LED lighting. With LEDs, I don't think Brandon could add enough lights on the layout to tax the 5A one.