Power Supply for Kadee Electro-magnet?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

According the the instructions, they recommend a DC power supply whether straight from the source or converted from AC with their supplied rectifier, say around 16 volts and about 3 amps unless I use the supplied capacitor . I will probably have about 6 of these magnets under the track hooked up on the same circuit but not all in operation at the same time. I have two clusters that are about 10 feet apart. (In most cases I am going to use manual uncoupling but these six are just a few locations that are out of reach. I have already installed one.)

A look at Digikey and Mouser online, reveals that these are technically transformers as they convert the 110-115AC household power outlet to the low voltage DC. I can cut and splice the DC wiring end and probably don’t need a desk top model. Any recommendations and links are greatly appreciated. I have a few spare model train transformers, but they are too shy on the amps.

I went to Radio Shack and their power supplies on the shelf are only about half that voltage with a max of 2.5 amps. If I go the route with the capacitor, will I need one for each magnet or just one and if so, will it have enough snap for that distance on the same circuit?

Thanks in advance

2

Kadee markets the appropriate transformer:

http://kadee.com/htmbord/page166.htm

However, they charge $24.95 plus shipping. I got exactly the same unit from Mouser:

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/AMSECO/XR-1650LED/?qs=00vfGyTk8cXtdIK9ryH1aw%3D%3D

for $13.05. I’ve got this one wired up to two electromagnets, so far, and they work fine.

I’ve looked around a lot, and tried a couple of other supplies that didn’t do the job. There isn’t much demand for this much current at 16 volts, I guess.

3

Hi “Wabash,”

Try Parts Express, www.parts-express.com, a good source for ready-to use power supplies. You’re right, you’ll only need to power one magnet at a time, so there’s no need to overdo it. A 16VAC transformer with a rectifier is going to give you between 12 and 14VDC, and that’s really enough for the Kadee 309.

So long,

Andy

4

Thanks guys. I went ahead and ordered the AC one from Mouser and will hook it up with the rectifier that Kadee provides with the uncoupler. So fortunately, I don’t have to see a proctoligist to wire up the rectifier. .