I’m new to model railroading and have a transformer question. I have a Tech 2 Railmatser 2400 transformer and am curious about the hook ups. The 3 hook ups I have are: Variable DC, Accessories AC, and Fixed DC. I have Variable DC going to the rail, but where do I hook the switches up to, Fixed DC? Or do I have these reversed? Obviously lights and such go to Accessories AC. And on that note, how do I hook up more than 1 accessory? Any help on these subjects is greatly appreciated. It’s nice to hear from experienced modelers!
Are you asking about where to connect your track switch machines (that throw the switches)? They go to Fixed DC. Be sure to use momentary contact (electrical) switches, so power doesn’t stay connected to the switch MACHINES constantly. (That will kill them).
You are correct in connecting Variable DC to the track.
Accessory AC goes to lights and such. You probably want each light run in parallel (2 wires from each, back to the Accessory terminals).
Solenoid type switch machines will work on either AC or DC current. They can be connected to either your Fixed DC or AC. Either way, they require momentary contact swtiches to avoid being burnt out. The slow-motion, or geared type machines should be connected to the fixed DC terminals thru standard dpdt switches since they are intended to be powered up all the time. The fixed DC terminals can be used to power almost any accessory or lighting. If you run it through a reostat, you can control the speed of the accessory or brightness of the light…
Keep in mind that the total power draw between all three terminals cannot exceed the maximum power output of the transformer. Also, if you are powering solenoid type switch machines, run them through a capacitor discharge circuit or on a dedicated transformer by themselves. Otherwise, when you activate a switch, even though there is only a momentary power draw, running trains powered by that same power pack will also slow down momentarily, until you release the button. The speed drop will be noticeable, even from a larger power pack.
To add a little to what Leon said…
Although it’s OK to start out using your transformer to power everything on a small layout, you should move to separate power supplies for all your accessories as soon as you start to add siginficant numbers of lights and switches. That way you don’t take away from the transformers real purpose - powering your trains.
And it doesn’t have to be expensive - just about everyone has some plug in electrical device that died, such as a drill, small appliance, etc. The “wall warts” that these ran off are usually in the 3- 12 V DC range, which is ideal for a variety of uses - lights, switch relays, etc. Simply cut off the plug they come with.
Or you can pick up an old Tyco or Atlas low-tech transformer at a train show for a few bucks and use it for your accessories.
In other words, save the High-Tech transformer for your trains. Lights and switches can run off the cheap, simple stuff.
Mike Tennent
Thanks guys, that’s exactly the kind of help I was looking for!
For hooking up more than one accessory, you should buy some terminal strips or barrier strips which are really just a long line of screws. The barrier strips have double screws so you can join the one set of terminals together and wire the accessories to the other side.
Any accessory that doesn’t have a motor in it can probably be hooked to either the fixed DC or the AC terminals.