I am working on my ho layout. what would be a great power source to hook all my building light wires to? I know you can use the accessories hook up on my dc controller box. But I don’t know if something else can be used that would be a better thing for wiring my building lights to for better power. Can someone help answer this for me and where I can find this item to purchase it either a store or website.
I have couple of cheap, er, inexpensive train set power packs just for lighting. Another one for powering switch machines.
Surplus computer supplies work well. An AT supply is best but ATXs will work too. There are tutorials on the web and even (somewhere) here on the forums.
Karl
[#ditto] 3, 5 and 12v DC all in the same box.
I myself plan to use a “Hercules switching power supply” for a “ATX” computer. The power outputs are noted in volts dc @ maximum amp output, (+3.3v @ 28a) (+5v @ 38a) (+12v @ 17a) (-5v @ 0.5a) ( -12v @ 0.8a) (+5vsb @ 2a). While I will not be using -5vdc nor -12vdc or the +5vsb, but the rest of the outputs are more then capable of supplying my power needs. I’m however planning to install a changeable fuse housing in my current unit as it is brand new other then the fact that “I blow the fuse”.
Please note the power supply was ordered off the internet thru price watch and was bought, paid for and shipped to my door for $20.00 USD without the blow fuse.
Try Radio Shack
I’ve used old cellphone chargers in the past. They were giving a heap away at work once and I grabbed around a dozen. All 12 or 24 v, minimum 1 amp.
Assuming your building lights are incandescent lamps rather than LED’s you have several ways to go. Lamps work fine on AC, so all you need is a transformer. Radio Shack used to carry a 12 volt transformer. I mounted one inside the sheet metal box of a dead PC power supply. The box gave me a power switch and a line cord, and put the 120 VAC transformer connections under cover and away from fingers. It’s considered bad form to have hot wires out in the open where they can be touched.
Useful power transformers can be salvaged from dead stereo equipment or dead TV’s.
Then you can try for a working PC power supply. The 5 volt output has plenty of current. My town dump always has a pile of dead PC’s, from which a working power supply could be cannibalized. Most PC power supplies won’t work with no load. The electronic regulator circuits need an ampere or two drawn from the 5 volt output before they supply any juice. That’s 10 or 20 small 6 volt lamps.
Then there is the Christmas tree light string. They plug right into the wall, come in white, and can light quite a few buildings.
Do be careful working with hot circuits. Accidently touching a hot connection is hazardous to your health.
Yes they do, but they can also present a significant Hazard to anyone that isn’t knowledgeable about ins and outs of such a device. As Larak said read the tutorials first, and if you still aren’t comfortable enlist the help of your local Hardware tech.