Power to a Walthers Turntable

[mtwede]

I recently purchased the Walthers 90' DCC Turntable and want to know if it is a problem wiring both the Bridge track, and more important the turntable motor, from my DCC power system. I use a Digitrax PS2012 power supply connected to Digitrax DB150 and DB100 boosters (and manged by PM42s). I want to power both from this output but the Turntable Specs say that power should be no more than 18v DC and the PS2012 (with HO setting) puts out 18v DC. Has anyone used this combination without any problems? In theory it should be ok but since it is pushing the power limit I wanted to be sure before I tried it.

 

[fcwilt]

Check the wiring instructions again.

In mine it shows for a DCC system that the power for both sets of inputs comes from the DCC system.

 

[mtwede]

Thanks for the reply Fredrick. I do plan on wiring both inputs to the DCC system but my question was with regard to the specific voltage from the DCC system applied to the turntable motor. As I am using the Digitrax PS2012 and its output for HO is 18 DC volts AND the maximum voltage allowed on the Walthers turntable motor is also 18 volts I was wondering if anybody is using that same setup without incident. I assume it should be safe to apply that maximum voltage to the turntable and I assume the PS2012 is accurate in its output voltage (no higher spikes etc.) but don't want to burn up the motor with my assumptions not verified.

 

[fcwilt]

OK I'm still confused.

You say you are going to wire the TT according to the instructions (power from the DB150) but you keep talking about the PS2012.

What has the output voltage of the PS2012 have to do with the output voltage of the DB150?

If you set the DB150 for HO then it is spec'ed to output a max of 15 volts.

 

[mtwede]

I guess i am the one who is confused but you straightened me out now. I did not realize that the DB150 booster output was 15 volts. The first thing I did was to look through all the DB150 spec documentation and could never find what the output of the DB150 was so I assumed it just took the PS2012 18 volts and did its "DCC stuff" but didn't know it changed the voltage. That makes it simple. Thanks.

 

[fcwilt]

Well the DB150 document I have is rev 2.1 dated 12/2009 and in that document, section 7 (pages 35-38) deals with the DB150 control panel.

On page 36 there is a little table listing the nominal voltages for each switch position.

This section also discusses how to calibrate the output voltage if it is not as desired.

 

[Selector]

I have always understood that the motors in turntables are to be controlled separately. While the rails on the bridge get the same feed as the rest of the rails on the layout, the bridge turning mechanism is powered by a separate power supply. Unless the newest DCC version of the Walthers turntables are meant to be run entirely by one's DCC system. I have the older indexed version from 2006 which required a separate bridge turning power supply. The controller box for that model has two slots for small wires for DCC power which the structure routes internally up to the bridge rails via wipers in the base of the pivot/bearing for the bridge. That keeps the trains moving on the bridge rails. The actual turning drive has, in my case, a servo powered by a wall wart and wires from it into two additional slots in the controller box.

Note that the stated outputs and the real outputs, especially under load, are not always the same for modern/Chinese power supplies. I would be wary of using a power supply near 18 volts in HO. I would be much happier with about 15 volts, 16 tops.

 

[fcwilt]

From the Walthers DCC Turntable (933-2850 HO 130') documentation:

 

[Lynnb]

On my last layout I had the 90 ft TT installed and I'm pretty sure I powered it off a dc power pack and it worked fine. In fact I power all my ds64 stationary decoders on the present layout with a dc power pack. I think I used the power pack for the TT because I had read somewhere that it is just better not to connect it to my dcs200. I think back then I was also looking into somehow running it off a dcc decoder and using the dcc hand controller to operate it, will have to check back in my notes. Look forward to following along to see how you make out with this.

 

[jfb]

I am using a atlas switch in between the points on off etc plus movement, check there site for more info though. I am using a 1370 power pack from mrc for the total amount of power needed for all operations and trains, I like to as precise as possible and well armed with info and I do my homework and the homework is highly recommended plus cost effective.