Accessory decoder current draw

[macman44]

Are there any engineering guidelines for the number of Accessory Decoders (R8247) that can be connected to the track controlled by a single Hornby Select DCC Controller? Put another way, how much current does a R8247 draw when quiescent and when operating?

 

All the current used by the R8247 has to be supplied by the DCC Controller, so the more decoders that are connected to the track the fewer trains that can be run.

 

Of course the number of Accessory Decoders will depend on the transformer that is used

 

for the Select, but there must also be an overall limit somewhere. Which is why engineering guidelines would be useful. Then it could be determined whether to break up the layout into separate power blocks with multiple DCC units, or whatever is needed to

 

feed current to all the decoders.

[96RAF]

macman44 said:

Are there any engineering guidelines for the number of Accessory Decoders (R8247) that can be connected to the track controlled by a single Hornby Select DCC Controller? Put another way, how much current does a R8247 draw when

quiescent and when operating? All the current used by the R8247 has to be supplied by the DCC Controller, so the more decoders that are connected to the track the fewer trains that can be run.

Of course the number of Accessory Decoders will depend on

the transformer that is used for the Select, but there must also be an overall limit somewhere. Which is why engineering guidelines would be useful. Then it could be determined whether to break up the layout into separate power blocks with multiple DCC units,

or whatever is needed to feed current to all the decoders.

Good Q's MM44.
Would that Hornby was more open to publishing specs for its kit, ala Lenz website and other manufs...