LocoWelshMan Posted June 30, 2016 Share Posted June 30, 2016 Ive brought my old late 1970s stuff out of storage but before setting it all up i thought i'd test my old Hornby R915 controller. Ive tested with a multimeter across the 2 output points and i'm getting a reading of 16v, howeber on the label it says it has 12v 6va output. Is this correct and to be expected from old equipment or is it faulty. Any help would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted June 30, 2016 Share Posted June 30, 2016 Welcome WelshMan to the forum..Your measurements are probably being taken with the output open circuit i.e no load applied. In the 1970's the technology used was very basic. A modern controller would probably give an accurate output voltage reading whether on or off load, not so in the 1970s..Apply a load to your R915 and measure again. I feel sure that the voltage measured will reduce. Maybe not to 12v but close to. I would expect about 13 volts. I'm also assuming that your 16 volt reading is with the output knob fully rotated to give maximum output..In case you are unaware, the 6VA rating on the R915 label means a maximum output of 0.5 Amps at 12 volts. If the applied load is at about the max 0.5 Amps, then I would expect the voltage measured to be 12 volts..At 12 volts and 0.5 Amps you would need a load of 24 ohms rated at 6 watts. Easier to just connect the R915 to a loco of the same 1970s vintage and then take a voltage reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordonvale Posted June 30, 2016 Share Posted June 30, 2016 I've got one from the early 80s Intercity 125 set. Also newer controllers from the Hornby 2012 Eurostar and Virgin Pendolino sets, plus a couple from recent Bachmann sets sold on the Aussie market. I don't use any of them, they're in a box under the layout, I have at some time run trains with them all. Several months ago I did a voltmeter test on them all. I don't remember individual results but all had a full on rating between 15V & 18V. At the off end, some didn't get down to 0V. Your R915 sounds ready to go IMHO. My layout is powered by a DC lab supply, which can be set in the range 0-15V. When I first started out with it, I had it set at 12V. I found train running to be unsatisfactory. Hence the test on the unused controllers. The supply is now set at 15V, and trains run really nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2e0dtoeric Posted July 1, 2016 Share Posted July 1, 2016 I'm surprised that Chrissaf didn't mention it, but with all these old - ex-retired - controllers that have 240v (or whatever the local supply is) going in, they really should be tested by a qualified electrician before use, as components and insulation deteriorates over time, especially if the storage conditons have not been ideal.You really do not want high voltage going via you (or your loco's, cats, or whatever else happens to touch the track) to ground! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.