The Owl Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 Hi,I have a large layout and need to increase the power for my DCC Select controller.I have a laptop charger rated at 19vdc @ 4amps does anyone know is this suitable as the current charger supplies at 15vdc @ 1 amp? Just concerned that the voltage will go up by 4 volts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rog RJ Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 Don't do it! You are likely to cause the Select to fail and if or when it fails, it could possibly damage any locos and accessories (such as point decoders) connected to it or the rails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 To boost power across a large layout you must divide the layout into separate and isolated power districts and provide each district with a device that will pass along the DCC signal from the prime district and only DCC controller, whilst providing separate power to that/those isolated districts. The hornby device is both a signal amplifier and power booster R8239. Normally a Select will run a large layout if powered by the Hornby 4-amp power supply unit rather than its own 1-amp unit. Using the laptop supply to boost a layout is fraught with disaster and as stated could destroy your Select and loco decoders.Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 Just about every question that is ever asked has been asked before. In this case more than once. Have a look at this previous thread. Note that the eLink (featured in this previous question), shares the same power supplies as the Select..https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/forum/cost-effective-dc-adapter-for-hornby-e-link/?p=1/#post-214923 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Owl Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 Thanks for all the advise. Definately will not plug in my laptop charger.It all turns out that what I thought was a power issue-ie the locos kept resetting the controller whenever it passed over a certain sections of track-after removing the track pins all now works fine! Could not see any fault with the pins or track-all a bit strange Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rog RJ Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 Stalling on points is usually due to bad contacts between the wheels and the track but when the controller resets or shows overload (especially frequent with the Select) it's a sign of a short circuit, even a very brief one caused by the wheels bridging between two rails at opposite polarity, or phase on DCC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 With the 1 amp supply when the Select experiences a short or overload the PSU will pick up the fault and reduce its voltage, causing the Select to reboot until the fault is cleared. With the 4 amp supply the Select inbuilt overload protection comes into play and it shuts down until the fault clears.Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin the Drummer Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 To boost power across a large layout you must divide the layout into separate and isolated power districts and provide each district with a device that will pass along the DCC signal from the prime district and only DCC controller, whilst providing separate power to that/those isolated districts. refRef above, how do you do that ? Is there a circuit diagram I could follow ? Not sure how I get the dcc signal from my e link without also the power from my e link ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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