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Large Scale Power

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TJMac:
I'm currently running DC 2-rail O scale and looking to incorporate RailPro, but I have a question/concern before I spend the money.

POWER

Looking at the PWR-56 spec page - "The PWR-56 has enough power for 1 - 2 G scale locomotives with LM-3S-G modules installed". 1-2 locos at a time isn't enough, and I simply can't justify multiple $100 power supplies if there are other options available.

Any recommendations?

Thank you

Tom

Dean:
I would think any quality power supply would work. I have Ho but use a power supply I bought off of E-Bay.

Similar to this https://www.ebay.com/itm/30V-5A-DC-Power-Supply-Adjustable-Variable-Dual-Digital-Lab-Test/152857635607?epid=25012678214&hash=item2397066b17:g:zfwAAOSwO~VaUtii

Alan:
Dean is correct, virtually any DC regulated power supply will work. Estimate the total amperage you will need and then buy a power supply with that rating. Dean is using a lab supply. That's great but it is overkill. Lab power supplies are designed to have extremely low noise, now ripple output. Those fine specifications go unused as there is no need for or benefit from such a precision waveform on a model railroad.

Here is my collection of power supplies. Two 12V @ 30A units for upper deck lighting, a 12V @ 40A unit for lower deck lighting, a 12V @ 20A for accessories, and a little 15V @ 7A unit to run the trains. All were bought on eBay.



And to make sure the supplies are behaving:

Dean:
I found a 12v 20A power supply on eBay for $21.89 and free shipping.  https://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-12V-3-5-10-15-20-25-30-50A-Switching-Power-Supply-Driver-for-LED-Strip/122480488771?hash=item1c8467f143%3Am%3AmbHRn4DA1ANr7tBMGw1d2iA&var=422931826547

Yes my power supply ( 30v-5A ) is over kill. But priced under $30.00 and free shipping, I couldn't pass it up. I bought two so I had a spare.

Alan:
Certainly nothing wrong with using a lab supply and yours was priced right. I mentioned it only so the OP knows he doesn't need to have a lab supply (which are more expensive than general purpose supplies) just to run trains.

I too have a lab supply but it is used at my workbench when I am building electronic do-dads. The variable voltage is essential when building stuff and the clean output doesn't cause odd operation of electronic circuits that have been breadboarded without all the usual protection and filtering that goes into the final assembly.

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