Model railroad power and electronics have always been among the most demanding and intimidating aspects of constructing these devices.
One should make certain that their skills are up to the task before attempting this and, if one has any doubt, it's always preferable to contact an experienced pro or to simply hang out at one's local hobby shop and get advice.
Though the currents used by the trains are low, they do operate off of house mains which have sufficient voltage to cause significant injury or death if safety is not attended to properly.
Model railroad power supplies should always be purchased from a hobby shop.
These devices are specialty equipment and using something which is cobbled together or pulled from another device can have very dangerous consequences.
The transformer used to cover the house main voltage will reduce the voltage to a safe level and turn it from alternating current to direct current.
If this device is compromised or broken, one may find themselves dealing with 110V AC current at the end designed to attach to the tracks which can be potentially fatal for the user.
Never use anything but a known good supply for model railroad purposes.
Some model railroad power supplies will require that one solders the wires to the track to provide the train with power.
Soldering is something of an art in and of itself.
The most important thing to remember is that, where solder is concerned, less is more.
Excess solder will create a weak joint and a poor connection.
"Tin" the soldering iron by covering it in solder before proceeding and only use enough solder to provide a firm connection.
One does not want a ball of solder connecting their wires to their tracks.
Make certain to use adequate ventilation; flux is toxic.
Model railroad power supplies need to be kept away from moisture and liquids for obvious reasons.
The contacts must also be kept clean to ensure that a smooth flow of current makes it from the transformer to the track.
One can clean off the contacts on their power supply with a fine grit sandpaper when the supply is unplugged.
Be sure to keep the power supply safe from shock and, if one happens to drop it, make certain that it is working correctly before hooking it back up to the tracks.
These devices can be fragile, in some cases.
A model railroad power supply can provide years of use if it is given proper care.
If one is interfacing their railroad control with a computer, which is often the case today, there may be additional connections needed.
Generally, the computer software will detail what is needed.
If one is using a manual control, make sure that all connections are properly insulated and that there are no cross-connections or short circuits present in the system.
These can easily ruin a power supply and render one's model railroad powerless and, of course, necessitate another purchase!
One should make certain that their skills are up to the task before attempting this and, if one has any doubt, it's always preferable to contact an experienced pro or to simply hang out at one's local hobby shop and get advice.
Though the currents used by the trains are low, they do operate off of house mains which have sufficient voltage to cause significant injury or death if safety is not attended to properly.
Model railroad power supplies should always be purchased from a hobby shop.
These devices are specialty equipment and using something which is cobbled together or pulled from another device can have very dangerous consequences.
The transformer used to cover the house main voltage will reduce the voltage to a safe level and turn it from alternating current to direct current.
If this device is compromised or broken, one may find themselves dealing with 110V AC current at the end designed to attach to the tracks which can be potentially fatal for the user.
Never use anything but a known good supply for model railroad purposes.
Some model railroad power supplies will require that one solders the wires to the track to provide the train with power.
Soldering is something of an art in and of itself.
The most important thing to remember is that, where solder is concerned, less is more.
Excess solder will create a weak joint and a poor connection.
"Tin" the soldering iron by covering it in solder before proceeding and only use enough solder to provide a firm connection.
One does not want a ball of solder connecting their wires to their tracks.
Make certain to use adequate ventilation; flux is toxic.
Model railroad power supplies need to be kept away from moisture and liquids for obvious reasons.
The contacts must also be kept clean to ensure that a smooth flow of current makes it from the transformer to the track.
One can clean off the contacts on their power supply with a fine grit sandpaper when the supply is unplugged.
Be sure to keep the power supply safe from shock and, if one happens to drop it, make certain that it is working correctly before hooking it back up to the tracks.
These devices can be fragile, in some cases.
A model railroad power supply can provide years of use if it is given proper care.
If one is interfacing their railroad control with a computer, which is often the case today, there may be additional connections needed.
Generally, the computer software will detail what is needed.
If one is using a manual control, make sure that all connections are properly insulated and that there are no cross-connections or short circuits present in the system.
These can easily ruin a power supply and render one's model railroad powerless and, of course, necessitate another purchase!