Can someone help me figure out how much amperage I’ll need on a 80’ , single main with sidings, running 3 sound locos max at any one time? I may have 1 or 2 other sound locos idling on sidings. Ho scale. Layout is basically a rectangle 27’x13.5’x 27’x13.5’
At an Amp per locomotive your 3½ amp MRC Prodigy should be plenty.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Mel has a nice safe figure, and I would agree as far as he goes. In fact, modern drives and decoders, towing perhaps ten cars each, will need between 0.4 and 0.6 amps, with some necessary range for sticky axles, grades, sharp curves, etc. It might creep up another 0.1 amp if you don’t lower that factory-default shriek from the full volume setting of the sound.
Let’s put it this way - as a test, I once ran 10 locos, 5 sound and 5 non-sound, at the same time with the 2.5 amps of my original Zephyr. The only problem was trying to keep them all fron running in to one another. No overload indications on the Zephyr. So if you were worried you might neex extra power for the 3 locos - nope. Your basic system has PLENTY of power to run three locos.
–Randy
Thanks guys!!! That’s a relief, no extra booster to buy