.................................. Return to Sumner's Home Page....
Return to N Scale RR Main Menu........... Return to Building UP's Canyon Division Menu
=========================================
...............Previous Page.............................Next Page If There Is One
=========================================
…................... .--- Boosters & Circuit Breakers Pt. 3 ---
============================================
This is the page/part of the build I've been looking on as I finally have DCC power to the hidden staging area where I have the cork down but wanted to wait on laying track until I could also test it with a few different locos as it went down.
In review there are going to be 8 power districts on the layout. 4 boosters with 2 circuit breakers on each one. 4 12v/5 amp power supplies. One for each booster. I had some time back bought two 'brick' style Tam Valley power supplies for about $15 through a distributor but needed two more power supplies. I ordered the two generic power supplies shown in the next image and wired them up.
In hind sight I should of bought two more of the Tam Valley 'brick' style power supplies like the other two I had ( HERE ). I probably only saved a dollar or so going with these supplies and had an hour into wiring them.
These are nice little power supplies though and I have another 12v one with higher amperage and a couple 5v ones I will use for the servos and LEDs. They are easy to find and you can adjust the voltage on them over about a 10% range. I adjusted the two I used to be right between the voltage of the two Tam Valley ones I was using which were close to each other.
I used extension cord for some of the power runs and use it for the run between the DCC-EX Command Station which I can roll under the layout or quite a ways from it. The cords are relatively inexpensive, flexible, have nice outer insulation and I've wired the lights and brakes on a number of my trailers using them. The outdoor ones can hold up to the conditions a trailer sees quite well. I cut the ends off a little long and have used them on power tools that have worn out power cords and other applications like above where I used an end for a power supply's AC input.
These connectors are not cheap but you can't find a better connector in my opinion (there are a few manufactures for these to choose from). I used them for all my boat wiring jobs (almost all).
They make a great connection and the heat shrink grabs the wire insulation for a connection that can take stress on it and seals out moisture (not as important for us). You can find them at locations in the link ( HERE ).
It was nice to see all the lights come on when they were suppose to and managed to get this far without destroying anything yet.
I think the test track/DCC Command Station on rollers is going to work out well. I can bring it out a ways if I want to test/break-in a loco on it or program a decoder. I won't have a program track on the main layout as the one on the test track will be more convenient. I can sit on a chair there and use the keyboard, mouse and screen with DecoderPro to do any decoder programming that is needed. Also the test track can be switched between a DC throttle and DCC easily with a toggle switch if I want to run a DC loco before installing a decoder. Most all my locos were bought used and DC and need to be DCC for the layout. I've converted quite a few but have more than quite a few to go.
Above the test track/DCC Command Station are just out of the way under the layout but I can easily switch a power strip on and the command station and JMRI start up and the DCC signal heads off to the boosters and circuit breakers and the track. The Wi-Fi on the Raspberry Pi and/or the DCC-EX Command Station's own Wi-Fi also starts and I'm ready to use my phone throttle anywhere on the layout. If you are looking for a DCC Command Station and don't mind doing a little bit (and I mean just a 'little bit') of sourcing parts and putting them together you can have what you see above for around $100 (when Pi's are readily available again) see the link ( HERE ).
Connected Booster #3/circuit breaker 'A') to the track buss above and now have track power for the hidden staging are.
Connected a loco up. It ran first time. Sometimes that's not the case for me. Now I can start laying track in this area and test it as I go along.
If you came into the build here you can find the main index for the build ( HERE ).
=========================================
...........................On..............e.........Next Page If There Is One
