I have three homemade dc power supplies that I use for general lighting on my ho scale layout. The diagram for the power supply is attached. The power supply is fed from a lionel 1033, which allows me to set the voltage. I use 8 volts for interior lighting, and 12 volts and 15 volts for exterior lighting. The problem is that as I add load, the voltage drops a small but noticeable amount. My question is, can I add a voltage regulator to these power supplies to keep the voltage constant.
The other responders are both correct, and you obviously have the skills to construct a voltage regulator. Just remember that the regulator’s maximum output will usually be about 1.5 volts lower than the input. In other words, to get, say, 12v from your regulator, you need to be feeding it 13.5 or even 14v. Your ultimate power source is still going to be delivering lower voltage as the load increases, so your maximum full-load regulated voltage will be 1.5 or even 2 volts less than the voltage delivered from your power source at full load.
I was wondering on how long it would take for someone to notice that issue. Apparently the OP is gone. We never heard anymore from him on any kind of success but I see that fairly often which usually marks a lone wolf.
