I am building HO scale custom buildings but do not have a train set yet. I purchased some Model Power Building Lights 12-16V No.491 as well as Model Power Street Lamps. I visited a local hobby store and asked for a power source for the lights; I explained to them that I needed the power source for scenery lighting and do not currently have a railroad track. They sold me the following: A Bachmann Model 6607 Hobby Transformer INPUT 120 V 50/60 HZ OUTPUT 17 VDC 20 VAC Max Output 7 VA Total (the transformer has 4 screws and has marking DC Track and AC Access) An MTH DCS 24 Port Terminal Block with a 4 rows of screws and markings A+ and B- I also purchased additional wiring. I should note that none of the three items (Model Power lights, Bachmann Transformer and MTH Terminal Block) come with any directions whatsoever. I am a complete novice at electrical wiring and would appreciate any tips on how to connect the lights. It doesn't help that the Model Power wiring for the lights is yellow/brown so I don't even have a clue which is positive or negative.
go to any electric store,, radio shack, anywhere. ask for an adapter for either ac, or dc, whatever your light requirements are. take it home, cut off the end, and connect it to a copper strip. add all lights you can to it!!! and your set!! dont be using your powerpacks, because it robs power from other areas to feed the lights,, PLUS it only a 12 buk item!! i currently have 19 connected to my layout, dc and ac, running absolutely everything, i dont even own a power pack,, o yes i do, its on my test track!!! canada mike
I don't own any of the lights in question but I would bet that they are incandescent bulbs and they will operate on either AC or DC. As to the color of the wire insulation it does not matter which is Pos or Neg, just use the same all the time. I agree with the other post about getting the wall wart (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_wart) and powering the lights from it. The transformer you purchased will burn out the lights if you use the AC since it is rated at 17 volts and the bulbs are rated up to 16 volts. Gary
Hi liltoot and maxairedale, Thanks for your replies. I am trying to set up the lighting using the items I already purchased. I am attaching pics for clarity... If you could provide instructions for dummies (i.e. me being the dummy as far as this is concerned) on how to set up the wiring i.e. take red wire and wrap it around this specific post...etc. Also, I don't currently have trains or track yet... so this power supply is only meant to power scenery for a diorama that I am working on (so no worries of it draining power from anything). Pics are attached. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Here is one way to do it... Take one wire (e.g. from one of your spools) and connect one screw of the DC Track output on the transformer to the "A" knob connector on the terminal block. Take a different wire and connect the other side of the DC Track output to the "B" knob connector. (Ignore the meaning of the word "track".) Using the first light you would install on the diorama as an example... you would connect one lead from the light to the A1 location on the terminal strip, and the other lead to the B1 location. For the second light, you could use the A2 and B2 connections, or indeed any of the numbered sets of connections up to 24 that you have on that terminal block. Plug in the transformer and turn the knob up until the lights have the desired brightness. Being able to adjust the brightness is an advantage of using the DC output on the transformer. (Also the AC output says 20 volts which might burn out your lights.) Probably you shouldn't turn the knob all the way up since your lights say 12-16 volts and the transformer says it goes to 17 volts.
Outstanding; this is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for your help Jagged Ben. I find it amazing that none of the train accessories to include lights and the above items come with any diagrams or instructions whatsoever. I also couldn't find anything online. Really shows the benefits of joining a forum or group for newbies like myself.
Wall wart I found myself an a/c adapter. input:120v 60hz 18w. Output:dc 12v 850ma. I cut off the end, and was hoping to find,..hmmm, how can i describe it,..some kind of male to female or vise versa, type of conncetor, the other end I want to hook to an on/off switch, then to two bus lines under my table. The bus lines I will run any 12 volt lights I have from.If I can achieve what is in my brain, then I will be able to plug in my wall wart then flick a switch for everything to come on.:ru-rolleyes:
