Copied straight from the PBPro literature...

QUOTE For best performance a regulated aftermarket PSU with an absolute minimum of 8 Amps is needed, 10 Amps is better and 15 Amps or more ideal. Best value for money is a fixed 13.8 Volt PSU, most flexible is a 12 to 15 Volt Variable. If you are in the UK this one from Maplin is a good example of a medium current PSU which allows a small variation to the output voltage.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=227053

This one from Rapid Electronics has a high current capability and fully variable voltage.

http://www.rapidonline.com/Electrical-Powe...-supplies/65063

Hope that helps...

"Rapid" were out of stock last time i looked...

I'm no genius and await other suggestions for my own needs...

 

Sean,

I have this beastie .............. probably overkill ..... but ..... it never misses a beat.

Greg

 

This is puzzling me, (from my own question thread):
QUOTE (RikoRocket @ 17 Feb 2010, 14:47) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Current is not the issue with V1.5 as the most the PB will transmit is 3.5 Amps (even if your power supply is 100 Amps).
So what benefit does 20 Amps get me over 10?

I've been looking a bit (for US ones), and these two seem to be good value:
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.p...y-138V-10A-130W

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.p...t-138V-20A-260W

(I'm still puzzling over what 20 gets me over 10 though).

 

Well ....................... 20 is more than 10 ................... a Spinal Tap moment!

Seriously though, I can run up to 11 XLCs, 2 CLCs, 3 pit changers, Pit-Pro and 6 cars on tracks that are > 35m (114ft) with 50% of it with 4-lanes. No power surges, no track power taps and plenty of power.

In addition the extra outputs mean that I can also run my track lighting that is currently in production ....... all from one unit and no trailing, spaghetti wires

 

Those do seem to be good prices, if you're OK with a fixed-voltage supply. (There's nothing wrong with this, but a variable-voltage supply gives a little more flexibility.)

To answer your question: Without the "Simple-H" modification, it won't make any difference whether you have a 10A supply or 20A, because of that 3.5A limitation in the standard powerbase. The Simple-H modification using a fan increases this maximum to 16A. Now that may or may not be overkill for you, depending on how many cars you plan to run, whether you want to run "hot" motors, what track-powered accessories you may have, etc.

I suspect that (assuming you are planning on a Simple-H mod) the 10A supply would be plenty.

Cheers,
Jeremy

 

QUOTE (GregK @ 18 Feb 2010, 22:10) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I have this beastie .............. probably overkill ..... but ..... it never misses a beat.

That must be why my lights dim sometimes... its your scalextric!

QUOTE (Ichabod @ 18 Feb 2010, 22:18) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>So what benefit does 20 Amps get me over 10?

To quote a movie.... Its not the volts that kill you its the amps... how many amps in the third rail.... enough too push a train!

The amps that get to the track is limited by a standard V1.5... but the more amps your power supply has the more consistantly it is applied to the track even at peak moments... think of it as having "Nitrous" backup the only "restriction" is in the powerbase then..... The more amps you have up your sleve the more "smoothly" the power will arrive at the track in those "power hungry" moments...

Simple H allows more amps through... so more amps is better...

Beware of cheapies some power supplies though will say "X"amp "peak output " with a stardard rating for continuous operation lower than that... read the small print!

 

What Riko is saying is that with the standard 1.5 Powerbase there is no point in having more than the 5 Amps, which 2 x C7004 PSU will happily supply. This is because the most current that can be drawn from a standard Powerbase is 3.5 amps.

However if you have the S-H Power upgrade then up to 20 Amps continuous and 30 Amps peak can be supplied.

Even a standard 18000 RPM Scalextric car will try to take 1.5 Amps when pulling away from a standing start, so with 6 cars that is 9 amps. Higher RPM motors will try to take even more current, with an NSR 30K Shark taking 6 Amps.

So.... this is where greater than 10 Amps comes in handy.

Of course the running currents are much lower, which is why you can get away with much lower currents, howevr if you want that responsive analogue feel then S-H and a big PSU is the way to go.

Rich

 

Useful info. We run 4 lanes each powered by a seperate regulated PSU (0-16v 3.5 amp 5amp Peak). We use only 's' type motors but anything from Standard to the MB DoDo and NSR Shark 25k. Our PSU's seem to manage okay not getting too hot in their endevours. From what you are saying though, we could get a more 'punch'ie' response from a higher grade, amperes wise PSU. Cheers lads.

G.

 

Thanks guys I have now placed an order for the rapid as it is due in in 2 weeks. I had looked for other psu's and completely missed the thread so thanks Hankscorpio. Can,t wait to get all the cars powered up in race mode and show off to the boys