Hi All, I have a question, do any of you have a RRampMeter? It's one of these... http://www.dccspecialties.com/products/rrampmeter.htm And if so and you are running N scale DCC, what is your track voltage, not the power coming out of your command station but at the track it self? I won't say why I am asking this yet as not to influence any answers. So what voltage are you getting? Cheers, -James
I get 13.3 volts. I'm using a Lenz LZV100 command station. The output voltage can be adjusted in 0.5 volt steps. Different command stations will yield different outputs.
The HO voltage I get at the track varies from 13 to 14.5 volts with the digitrax Empire Builder and the Super Chief. N scale voltage is 11 to 12.5 volts.
My Digitrax DB150 with a 13.8v 19amp power supply for input set to N scale gives me 10.4 on the tracks. If I use a 15v power supply(but only 3 amps) for input I get 10.8 volts. This is measured with a 1 amp load. Before you say it I understand Digitrax should have 15v input min for best results and I will shop around for a proper supply.
I have used only one system in my time in the hobby (no, it's only ten years now...), and that is the Digitrax Super Empire Builder with the DB150. I had to go back and purchase the 5 amp power supply since I didn't know better when I made the purchase. I have used the same digital volt meter since Day One. I think I got it at Home Depot, and it probably cost me about CDN$20 or so [about USD$3 these days ]. Whenever I get a good DCC reading around my mains, newest layout and the previous one, the reading is between 13.6 and 14.5 volts...usually settling at a reading of about 13.7. After that consistency, I don't look for an accurate assessment so much as a reliable indicator that my voltage is as robust as it can/should be anywhere else on my track system. If I wanted an accurate measurement, I would get the right tool for the job...a ramp meter or something like it.
John, that would be for HO. I forgot to complete my thought, sorry, but wanted to point out that I actually mistakenly ran three BLI locomotives, earlier Paragon engines, on my layout with the switch in the O position. I nearly had a heart attack when I happened to read the voltage one day and found it near an indicated 19.5 volts! It convinced me that, apart from amperage concerns, the HO decoders were able to handle the increased voltage to the track without an apparent problem.
Yoiu have been given some good numbers but remember, the track voltage will be the same everywhere without a load, loco. With a loco, there "might" be differences depending on how good the track joiners and feeder connections are. Rich
From my tests for NTRAK back in 2005: Using RRampmeter with Digitrax DB150 on N scale setting. 11.8 volts at the booster with no load. 10.8 volts at the booster with a pair of 8 ohm 20 watt resistors in parallel for load. RRampmeter displayed 2.37 amps. Martin Myers
Hi All, Thanks for the responses, its interesting to see the range of voltage. As to why I asked the question, in our group we all have different equipment at home, Digitrax, Hornby, Sprog etc which all give different voltages. At the club we run with several Digitrax DB150 boosters set to N scale powering sections of the layout. However these run into a PSX units and some also into auto reversers, all taking a pinch out of the power. The track voltage, measured by RRamp meter, in the yards with the auto reverser is coming out at 10.5v. With brand new locomotives this is fine but older ones, for example Con Cor Turbines fitted with digitrax DZ125s and Con Cor 2-10-2 could barley pull them selves along let alone a train. By the time the decoder has taken its voltage out the motors where simply not getting enough juice. My ER Models RF16 where creeping on full throttle. Also some sound equipped locomotives where having problems and sound terrible. New locos had no issue. We did some test on the weekend and switching the DB150 to HO scale which upped the voltage a little helped a lot. Reading up on this there is all sorts of advice on what voltage to use, the Zepher puts out 13v! The Hornby elite puts out 15v although this is aimed at British OO! Our aim is to tune up the DB150 boosters so they produces 12v at the track after passing through the PSX and AR. 12v seems to be sufficient, even for the old con-cor turbine! And we are reluctant to push it up any higher, some of our sound locos have tantalum capacitors which are 15v max and we don't want them to go pop!. I would be interested in your thoughts. -James
My DCS 100 set to N scale and doing the voltage reading according to Digitrax = 13.1 volts DC. I'm using a Digitrax PS 2012 regulated power supply set to (N) 13.7 volts DC.
Digitrax boosters set to N scale setting should be putting out 12 volts or darn close to it. Their outputs are regulated. Switching the output to HO setting will up the output depending on the Input power supply. My club's 12 volt Loys Toys supplies give us 13.6 volts when the booster is switched to HO. Remewber that Ohms Law applies. You use more volts, current capacity of the power supply will be reduced. I would have a long look at the voltage drop between your booster and the rails using a load. An 1156 lamp should be enough load but you might have to raise the trip current on your DCC breaker before taking any measurements. The measurements I mentioned in my earlier post were part of measurements taken at various distances of a 12 ga. bus. All measurements were taken using the same load. A huge difference was found using heavier bus wire. Another issue could be the actual power supply. With a load, the voltage could be decreasing if the power supply is going bad. A friend had a PS514 that was good up to about one amp draw. More then that and speed (voltage) dropped like a rock. Installed a new supply and everything was back to normal. Martin Myers
One thing James: The Digitrax Zephyr puts out over 14v, as you know by the massive increase in speed when a train enters the section powered by that compared with 12v from my Super Chief on the rest of my layout.
Bob, If your power supply is only putting 13.8 volts DC into your Zephyr, how are you getting over 14 volts DC out?
The power supply is producing 16vAC and the Zephyr is, at the track, producing 14.1vAC. I don't have the rrampmeter at the moment.
