Best 12v power supply for powering Digitrax components?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm continuing to think through my BANTRAK TTRAK control box and I'm now onto "what's the best way to power everything".

I'd rather NOT have to include a huge power strip and a separate power supply for everything.

Here's what will need power:
- Digitrax Zephyr (I DO think this deserves its own plug, but if we can combine stuff, so much the better).
- Digitrax LNWI
- Digitrax UR92
- Digitrax UP7
- 2 Wireless DC Controlers (that take 12V DC in)

Ideally I'd be able to take something like this and just connect everything up.

https://www.dallee.com/12-Volt-3-33-Amp-AC-Wall-Transformer-692

But I have two concerns:
1. That seems way more expensive than I'd expect it to be.
2. What's the best way to go from those screw terminals to the plugs that the Digitrax  LNWI, UR92 and UP7 use?

I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts and experience.

[C855B]

I use power supplies from the ham radio/2-way communications market. More robust, less likely to burst into flames than a high-current wall wart.

Here's one you might consider: https://powerwerx.com/power-adapter-12v-5a

I have two 16-amp power supplies powering my RR. And yes, every tap is fused at an appropriate threshold.

[Maletrain]

Tam Valley has adaptors with wire screw terminals to the barrel power plugs used by Digitrax.  See https://www.tamvalleydepot.com/products/octopusservodriver.html 7 items down from the top.

 

[mmagliaro]

I'd avoid that particular wall wart at all costs - notice how it says it has an internal fuse that cannot be replaced.  So you
short that thing once and it becomes a door stop.  Also, for only 3.33 amps, $45 is outrageous, and it's just an AC wall-wart,
so it's basically just a transformer in a box with a plug on it.  No conversion to DC, no filtering, no smoothing no nothing.
You need a 13-15 VDC power supply for your Digitrax stuff.

BTW.... I've got a handful of those wall warts like the one you showed that are 2, 3, and 4 amp, and you can have one if you want it,
if you will pay the shipping.   Just PM me (that goes for anybody else reading this).  They are new in box.

I like the idea of the laptop-style switcher supply (like that powerwerx that C855B showed).  It's only 4 amp, but that's enough, isn't it?
If not, eBay (and online stores) are teeming with 12-15VDC laptop power supplies that have much higher capacity.  They come in 90W, 120W, and much more.  That's a lot of amps, and they are regulated and overload protected.   You just have to adapt the plug on them (or just cut the darn thing off and connect the wires to some sort of terminal block).

[Maletrain]

Getting from the power supply to the individual loads should include some over-current protection sized to each of the loads.  Not a good idea to be able to put 5 amps through a LNWI before a circuit opens in the main power supply.  On the other hand, the DCC command station may need something like 5 amps, depending on what is chosen for that.

I am thinking a good 13-15 VDC switching power supply could be wired to a multi-fuse block (with a protective cover), and wires ending in the plugs I posted above could then go to individual Digitrax loads.  Fuses would be sized for the individual loads, and should really never blow.  The only place that shorts should be expected is at the DCC output to the tracks, where you are planning to have other protection.  The fuse thing is there for the potential shorts that come from the portable box that might have some tool or loose part get jostled to where it can be an unintended conductor.

[peteski]

Yes, like others have mentioned, smart over-current protection (read: fuses) is absolutely required.  And the individual fuses should be physically next to the power source. A fuse block with a short heavy gauge lead from the supply to the block is a very good idea.

[mmyers]

Ed,
LNWI and UR92/93 require 14 volts DC minimum. Their firmware samples voltage and won't work properly with less.
Here's one that may work for you  https://tinyurl.com/2468mwya
This should power the DCS52, LNWI, UR92, and UP7

Martin

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ed,
LNWI and UR92/93 require 14 volts DC minimum. Their firmware samples voltage and won't work properly with less.
Here's one that may work for you  https://tinyurl.com/2468mwya
This should power the DCS52, LNWI, UR92, and UP7

Martin

Thank you. Perfect!

[Bill H]

Ed;
Slight aside, why the UR92? it has very limited range for duplex throttles compared to the UR93. I was having a number of range issues with the UR92 as I have a U shaped basement layout, and for a moment considered adding two more UR92s. Eventually, I was convinced by many on the Digitrax board and some other layout owners near me to try one UR93. It solved all my duplex range issues, it is a significant improvement from the UR92.

FWIW, if you are sort of stuck with the UR92, almost everyone I know who fiddled with them recommended putting them up near the ceiling to get better saturation.

Kind regards,
Bill

[John]

Ed .. Go to Salvation Army or similar stores and look for a laptop power supply .. you can probably get them for $5 bucks

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ed;
Slight aside, why the UR92? it has very limited range for duplex throttles compared to the UR93. I was having a number of range issues with the UR92 as I have a U shaped basement layout, and for a moment considered adding two more UR92s. Eventually, I was convinced by many on the Digitrax board and some other layout owners near me to try one UR93. It solved all my duplex range issues, it is a significant improvement from the UR92.

FWIW, if you are sort of stuck with the UR92, almost everyone I know who fiddled with them recommended putting them up near the ceiling to get better saturation.

Kind regards,
Bill

Lol, it's a UR93. I don't know why I said 92. Sorry for the confusion!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ed .. Go to Salvation Army or similar stores and look for a laptop power supply .. you can probably get them for $5 bucks

How would I know it'll do the job though?

[John]

How would I know it'll do the job though?

Dell power supplies are usually 19V  .. and you can get them at 4 amps

[mmagliaro]

Dell power supplies are usually 19V  .. and you can get them at 4 amps

RIGHT!   And laptop power bricks always have the voltage and current rating on the label, so you don't have to guess and it doesn't need to be a Dell.  If you look around, you can find them at 15v, 16v, 17v, etc, and all sorts of current ratings.  Funny thing - this is one of the reasons I changed over my home-made throttle design to work on a DC input  (making me generate my own sine pulses).  Laptop power bricks are cheap (used), available, sturdy, voltage regulated, and overload protected.  It was far cheaper and more reliable to use those than to use an old-fashioned monster AC transformer.

[John]

RIGHT!   And laptop power bricks always have the voltage and current rating on the label, so you don't have to guess and it doesn't need to be a Dell.  If you look around, you can find them at 15v, 16v, 17v, etc, and all sorts of current ratings.  Funny thing - this is one of the reasons I changed over my home-made throttle design to work on a DC input  (making me generate my own sine pulses).  Laptop power bricks are cheap (used), available, sturdy, voltage regulated, and overload protected.  It was far cheaper and more reliable to use those than to use an old-fashioned monster AC transformer.

I only mentioned dell because I have a dozen or so .. but when you combine them  with a buck converter - you have a pretty good range of voltages for layout use