RailPro > RailPro Specific Help & Discussion
Shorting out
Alan:
--- Quote from: mecmt on November 11, 2018, 08:01:56 PM ---Although I was wondering and still am if the PWR-56 could supply the power for O scale 2 rail.
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Yeah, the PWR56 is more well suited to HO. The larger scales tend to be more power hungry. I am guessing your lighted cars use incandescent light bulbs too. That really runs up the current demand. Other than the radio repeater function and, to a much lesser degree, the temp reporting to an HC the PWR56 is not stellar. Much more power for much less money is readily available.
Alan:
--- Quote from: TwinStar on November 11, 2018, 09:19:33 PM ---Alan, I have some of these not installed yet. What would you recommend to use to cover the L/N/Ground?
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Anything that has sufficient dielectric strength. Kapton tape? Good quality electrical tape? A piece of plexiglass affixed over the whole terminal end of the enclosure?
TwinStar:
--- Quote from: Alan on November 11, 2018, 09:37:16 PM ---
--- Quote from: TwinStar on November 11, 2018, 09:19:33 PM ---Alan, I have some of these not installed yet. What would you recommend to use to cover the L/N/Ground?
--- End quote ---
Anything that has sufficient dielectric strength. Kapton tape? Good quality electrical tape? A piece of plexiglass affixed over the whole terminal end of the enclosure?
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I was hoping it was that simple. Thanks!
G8B4Life:
--- Quote from: Alan on November 11, 2018, 09:37:16 PM ---A piece of plexiglass affixed over the whole terminal end of the enclosure?
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This is similar to what I did. I used one of these sorts SMPS to create a charging station at work (it works great, one SMPS with 16 charging leads instead of 16 individual plug packs!). The SMPS I bought (MeanWell) had a little plastic clip-cover for the terminals but being a workplace this was not enough so I found an old electrical enclosure and cut it up make a complete shroud for the terminal end of the SMPS. The same thing could be done with a plastic electronics project box. I'll get a photo when I'm at work tomorrow, I forgot to get one today.
I mention this as while tape or no cover at all might be fine for home, knowing Jacob is into Free-mo then if he's at a meet then I'd caution that the meet might becomes a workplace under some sort of law and the terminals would need to be covered properly.
Back to the OP and the PWR-56, I tend to agree the PWR-56 is not really designed for O scale. Infact the documentation for the LM-3S-G doesn't even mention it, only "Ring approved power supply" or battery power.
- Tim
Alan:
--- Quote from: G8B4Life on November 12, 2018, 07:43:43 AM ---I mention this as while tape or no cover at all might be fine for home, knowing Jacob is into Free-mo then if he's at a meet then I'd caution that the meet might becomes a workplace under some sort of law and the terminals would need to be covered properly.
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Very good point. Out in the public is very different than at home in your basement. Safety first!
Additional things to consider when enclosing a SMPS.
* Mount horizontal and provide ventilation. The holes in the factory enclosure are there for a reason. Until you get up into the higher output models, these units use convection cooling i.e. no fans. It is important for the convection air currents to work properly that the unit be mounted horizontally. If you build another enclosure make sure it has plenty of air holes arranged similar to the holes in the original enclosure. Power rating is reduced 50% if you mount a SMPS vertically or on its side. Not a good idea.
* SMPS generate radio frequency (RF) interference. That is why you always see them in metal enclosures or conductive plastic bricks (PWR56 and laptop supplies). This is why it is mandatory to use a grounded AC line cord. The case is connected to the 115V input ground screw connection. A grounded case suppresses RF emission. If you build another enclosure for the power supply make it out of metal as well. Ground it to the original enclosure. Double layer RF shielding will guarantee your SMPS isn't messing with other radio devices at the show.
* Hole diameter matters. Notice the case has a lot of little holes. Use the same size holes for your second outer enclosure. Do not drill big holes and do not cut open spaces. The relationship between the hole diameter and the RF wavelength is specific.
Factoid: The metal case of a SMPS is not 100% effective at blocking RF emission. For loco break-in I have a small SMPS powering a loop of track. Initially, the SMPS sat on the table next to the loop. I discovered that if I held the HC such that the SMPS was in the line-of-sight between the HC and the loco I would immediately lose connection to and control of the loco. The connection would not re-establish when the loco moved around the loop to where the SMPS was not in line-of-sight. The only way to regain control was power down and re-start. Moving the SMPS well below the table so it is never close to line-of-sight solved the problem.
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