Hi folks,
I'm building a small 00 shunting layout for my son's Christmas present (forward thinking!). It will have a single-track controller which needs a 16v AC source. I have a Gaguemaster transformer that supplies two of these. The other 16v AC I will convert to 12v DC to supply power to three Tortoise point motors.
My question is…
Can I have the point motors circuit in parallel with any LEDs that I use for building lighting running from the same 12v DC source, or will I need a separate transformer? I somehow cannot get my head around what maths to use to work it out!
Many thanks all.
Mike.

Hi Emmess.


sounds like one for Sol. I would think that it would be ok. The tortoise motors don't take a big surge to initiate the movement so there is no momentary " big drain " on the power supply likr what you would get from the peco motors. If you are only having a few LED's to light the odd building then I would think that you are fine.


I have a dedicated supply ( and bus wire ) for my motors ( cobalts ) but there again I have around 50 sets of points or so. I also have a separate supply for my lights but my layout will eventually include yard lights, building lights and a variety of other accessory items.


In short, I'd say yes but others may be better informed.


cheers


toto


PS you will obviously need to ensure that your lights are rated to handle the supply source that you are using.

emmess, Toto has answered it very well but I hope the Gaugemaster transformer has two secondary outputs independent of each other, that is, they each are separate secondary coils.

Hi Mike,

LED's run fine on AC or DC but as most of the ones we use on model railways are 3v or less they don't last very long (about 100 mS with an interesting flash) unless a resistor is wired in series. The polarity is important. Fine tuning the glow can be achieved using appropriate resistors. The power draw from 3 Tortoise's is negligible (48 mA as they are always on, being stall machines) and should not introduce any flicker. Run them in parallel or series, which ever is easiest. You can even run them off one of the Tortoises as they have 2 sets of SPDT's (although Cobalts are probably easier). Alternatively, just use a battery (with resistors), enough for several hundred hours of use. See http://ledcalc.com/# for resistor selection.

Nigel

Tortoises run at around 4 mA during operation, 15-16 mA at stall (which would be most of the time). Total draw is 48 mA maximum. Filtered current is best.

Nigel