Peco Capacitive Discharge unit and power adapter

Stephane Savard Nov 1, 2018

  1. Stephane Savard

    Stephane Savard TrainBoard Member

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    I have a Peco Capacitive Discharge unit that I plan to use with my layout's planned 17 remote turnouts (Atlas n scale remotes)

    The instructions say to power it using a 16v power source. I want to buy a 16v power adapter for this but I just don't know how much output current is needed.

    Can I use 1A, or maybe less? I don't plan on throwing more than two turnouts at the same time, and maybe 3 or 4 in quick succession (the remote turnouts are located on the mainline, the yard and industries use manual ground throws).
     
  2. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    1 Amp should be fine. I used a capacitive discharge machine for 30 years on my previous railroad It worked really well and also prevented coil burnout.
     
  3. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    Should be way more than enough.

    A capacitor is electricity storage somewhat like a battery, but without so much capacity. But unlike a battery, a capacitor can release the power very quickly. AA batteries, for example, can't release electricity fast enough to fire a strobe camera flash. A capacitor can, so camera strobes have them to take power out of the battery slowly and feed it to the strobe quickly. That's why you have to, or used to have to, wait between flash pics.

    So, no, you certainly don't need more than an amp, and probably not that much.
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  4. Stephane Savard

    Stephane Savard TrainBoard Member

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    Perfect, thank you both! I know what to order now.
     

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