I am wiring a modest 6x9 layout with approximately 13 turnouts. The turnouts are powered by Atlas turnout controls and switches. I was wondering what rating of AC volts I need to run them off one transformer. I have a railpower 1370 and an Athearn transformer. Or should I buy an MRC Tech 2? I have DCC but do not want to run the turnouts with it at this time. Its a Digitrax Zephyr (sp?)set. Thank you all in advance. The help is appreciated. Sincerely Jaijef
Don't run the turnouts off the same power pack that you use for your track power. Get another power pack for JUST accessories, turnout motors, lighting, signals etc.etc. Have one pack for track power ONLY, and another for all else. If you are going to try to link turnout motors together, ie a diode matrix for yard control, I would get a separate power pack for just turnout motors and nothing else. Get a GOOD power pack for track/train power, but you can really use any CHEAP power pack for the turnout motors and such. All you are looking for is the constant power out put from power pack, not the varible out put from it.
I guess your turnouts have no motors, only relays. Then the turnout needs only current when it's thrown. This way you can have many turnouts with one power pack, 16 V AC are usual. But it's a good idea to have more power for light, turnout motors and more. Like porkypine52 wrote, don't use one power pack for running trains (DCC) AND auxiliaries. Wolfgang
If you are using a twin coil switch motor (snap switch) then I would highly reccomend a capaciter discharge unit (CDU). It will send a pulse of high voltage to the coils and then drop off sharply and not allow you to burn out your coils by holding the switch too long. You can buy one from Minitronics (i think) for about $36 or make one for a lot less. Search on CDU and you should find lots of diagrams. I am not an electronics person and built one with no trouble at all.
I have no powered switches on my present layout, as all switches are within easy reach. I agree that a CDU is the way to go with powered switches. A CDU is simply a resistor wired to one end of a capacitor in the circuit. Totally simple, and about $2 in parts from Radio Shack. I've forgotten what size capacitor and resistor, but it really doesn't matter much. You'll be really happy with the results.
I take this as meaning twin coil switch machines. You can run alot of these switch machines of a single AC power source, alot more than your 13. From the info I looked up on the 'net, the MRC Railpower 1370 should run them just fine using the AC output. -Mike
If you want a cheap ac power supply goto Radio Shack and buy a 15-20 ac transformer why pay all thay money for 15vac off the back of a transformer. If your worried about a transformer burnout overloading your switch machines, put in an inline fuse...I hope this helps, but I'm still in training.
On my first layout I used an old bachman train set power pack to run my turnouts(AC) and signals (DC). Even then though I noticed that the signals would flicker whenever I activated a turnout, better to have separate power supplies for everything imo.
