More Power for Elite?

[YattonPete]

I have an Elite/Railmaster set-up with 5amp power. This was fine for many years, but with more and more sound fitted locos, and some older power-hungry engines, the power is sometimes not enough. I don't want to re-wire to create sections with a booster, so can the Elite be used with a 6 - 8 amp power source?

[ColinB]

I must admit to not knowing the internal circuitry of an Elite, but generally if you design a device to work with a 4 amp power supply, all the output drivers within the device will have a maximum rating of 4 amps. So basically you will either blow up the Elite or it will limit its output current to 4 amps. I will let 96RAF comment a bit more, he knows the circuitry a bit better than I do.

[Rog RJ]

Two thoughts,

1. If you do use a higher ampage power supply and the Elite doesn't burn out, is your track and wiring able to handle the extra power?

2. I don't think a higher current power supply will work because the Elite should activate the built in overload cutout when too much current flows.

[96RAF]

As Rog says the Elite circuitry will self protect via an internal self resetting ‘fuse’, so you can connect whatever power supply to it you like, but that extra oomph it will never reach the tracks.

You are unlikely to find a high amp supply with the correct 6.3mm output plug either. The only known example of an alternative to the Hornby brick with such a plug is a Toshiba laptop brick.

Splitting the layout into power districts only works if your fleet is evenly distributed across the districts. If you have a mega fiddle yard or shed/depot with countless sound locos idling with lights on, but only run a few around the layout then that won’t work either.

[ColinB]

Why don't you do what I and Jenny Kirk do, create switchable isolating sections. I doubt you will be running all the locos at the same time so create switchable isolating sections, that you can switch on an off when you need the loco. All my points have an isolating section so if the points are set wrong the loco stops. Unless you have a mega layout generally the most you can have running at a time is 4 or 5. Then there is the point that if the loco is stationary it will not be absorbing that much power. I suppose with sound it will take current but not as much as if it running.

[YattonPete]

Thanks for all the sound advice. I only get a problem when running 5 or 6 power-hungry old Lima engines, or those with sound, so will just have to limit their number or stick to more modern economical engines. Shouldn't be too ambitious!

[ColinB]

I suppose what you really want is a buffering circuit, basically something like a DCC controller with its own supply that takes the existing DCC, buffers if and feeds it to another part of your layout. So basically you split you layout into isolated sections and feed it with the buffer signals. I don't think anyone makes such a thing. So basically you have several DCC controllers that are a slave to one master. Perhaps something for the future. My DigiKeijs only has a 3 amp supply, fortunately I got rid of all my old Lima locos.

[96RAF]

@colin

What you are describing is exactly what a power district booster does. It takes the DCC signal from the master-controller and passes it to an isolated power district fed by its own power supply.

Incorporating these is fairly easy as it involves cutting the track at the isolation locations and also cutting the bus to match.

Each thus isolated section is connected to a separate booster and power supply, but take heed of my previous note about spreading the actual track load of locos in each section.

[Fishmanoz]

But also note Pete told you he doesn’t want to rewire to do that, even if it is relatively simple to do.

[ColinB]

Thanks 96RAF, I didn't know they made them. My layout already has isolated sections dating back to its old DC days so easy to add. At the moment though, the 3 Amp power supply seems adequate. The maximum number of loco I can have running and not waiting at points is 3.

[Flashbang]

There are a number of Boosters rated 5 to 10Amp that do not need sectioning of the track as they take the DCC output of the master unit (Elite in this case) and input the DCC to the Booster, the booster then amplifies the signal/power and outputs this to the rails as per a normal DCC system. So whatever the master controller outputs the Booster simply "boosts" it.

However, a word of caution needs to be used now, as 5 or more Amperes at around 16 volts can easily cause high resistance joints to heat and melt plastic or point blades fuse together. IMO having up to 10 Amps available to the rails is OTT and the 4.0Amp from the Elite should usually be sufficient. If older locos are drawing high Amps. then they need servicing and possibly their magnets replacing or remagnetising. grinning

[ColinB]

Lima and Hornby ringfield motors drew reasonably large currents even when they were new when compared to the modern motors.

[Flashbang]

Lima and Hornby ringfield motors drew reasonably large currents even when they were new when compared to the modern motors.

I agree they do indeed draw more than a modern motor, but none should consume more than around 500-600 milliamp each (0.5A to 0.6A). If they do, then they need a full service and possibly the magnets re magnetised or replaced! Poor magnetism equals higher current and poor performance! All of these older locos motors can have new magnets fitted or their existing ones re magnetised by specialists with suitable equipment to undertake re magnetising.

[ColinB]

I think when I measured the current on my Limas it was between 600 and 800 mA, these also have circular magnet strips so I don't think so easy to magnetise. Now if it was an old Triang or early Hornby X03/X04 then yes you could.

[ColinB]

I downloaded the manual for my new DCC controller it appears that I can add 4 of these power drivers on different isolated sections giving about 12 amps capability. I won't say which make it is, but I think you all know.

[Fishmanoz]

No reason not to say Colin.