27 - DC power supply for n-gauge model railway | Computer power supply for model railroad
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- In this video I re-purpose a ATX power supply from a computer to provide DC power for my n-gauge model railway. I add circuit breakers and combined volt/ammeters to each circuit and build a panel to mount these components and a switch into the frame of my n-scale model railway.
Using a computer power supply for model railroad is a cheap and easy way to power all the DC devices on any type of model railway.
The power supply provides me with 3.3 volt 5 volt and 12 volt circuits. I have also made use of the 5v standby supply in the PSU to power the meter displays even when the 3 circuits are not powered.
Great little project, looks very neat the way you made the fascia and incorporated it into the side frame of the layout. The board that you can just plug the power supply into is very handy.
Thanks. I am anticipating that eventually there will be a fascia to mark the edge of the scenery as distinct from the frame which is more of a structural foundation. When that goes in it will be in between the panel and the frame, so I hesitate to attach it too permanently.
ATX breakout board is amazing - and for less than 3 quid!
Good evening Phil,
Just started watching your videos and find them very interesting. They are pitched just right for my technical level of understanding. Hope you don't loose me later on more complex computer and electronic stuff. Essex Thameside is my first layout and have opted for N gauge DCC like you.
Brian
Thanks Brian. It is hard to know what to out into one of these videos. I try to just document the learning process, but you can never be sure how much use it will be to other people.
take care
What a really good explanation, didn’t know you could get those boards, very low cost solution - thanks
The break out boards are great.
Good solid content. Like the replacement option of the fuses! I have one of these and have pondered their use. Thanks!
Glad to help
Hello Phil, great video with a very useful power supply tutorial. Thanks for that, may build myself one for future projects..regards, Chris
Thanks Chris. Yes, it is really handy to have a good supply of regulated power :)
This is a really good idea, unfortunately I found the video hard to follow so I am thinking of using a simplified version. Thank you for posting
Glad it was helpful!
I've seen a few projects making a power supply from an old ATX or AT computer PSU. These are generally quite handy and they are usually pretty stable too. The other option is to use a fixed voltage power supply and buy little buck converters. These days with LED lighting the railway doesn't need as much power as they use to. That said, always better to have a little bit too much than not enough. All the wires are different voltages, except the Power Good signal (usually green) on the mainboard connector. Red is +5, Yellow is +12, Orange is 3.3, Usually purple is 5V standby power and if I recall blue is -12V. If you have a decent PSU they will run without load.
Hi phil just caught up with all your videos you have done some very interesting topics mainly for me the optical sensors you are the first person on youtube that i could find who explained how to get them working with the digijieks opto units great stuff , also before you commit to itrain there's a chap called ruud, he has done a massive tutorial on train controller worth a watch but as you say i bit expensive and the home made power supply with volt/amp meters is amazing keep coming with the good ideas...................tony
thanks for your kind words and encouragement Tony. It is great to know that some of my output is helping other modellers.
Great video."thumbs up from me".Hope there more
More to come!
Sweet project! I like it.
Thank you! Cheers!
Been thinking about doing this for a while - great demo, very useful, thanks.
Cheers John
Hi Phil! sorry I missed your premier! Wow! what a video! Loved it! Great use for an old pc psu, I will certainly be using that in the future, I didn't realise you could get those breakout boards for the atx socket, great find! and the jewel in the crown are those digital meters! I certainly have a few ideas regarding them! As my layouts are all portable I think I will use a old plastic tool box as an enclosure and put all the components inside so that I just have connections for the kettle lead and all the voltage outputs and I will also add a fan so that I get airflow through it. I won't be doing a video of the build, but I will show it when I get it complete! All the best Tony.
Cheers for your encouragement. The breakout board was certainly useful, however by the time I have removed the switch, and added circuit breakers, making the fuses un-necessary, and added the meters to provide another way of telling it it was turned on or not, and hacked in the 5v-standby feed, I did rather feel that it was not serving much of a purpose! I suppose it does at least house at ATX socket, but I was tempted to just buy an ATX socket and then mount that directly on the panel. But I suppose it gave me some comfort to know that it was not entirely a home made bodge-up.
The meters are awesome. I bought 5 of them for 12 quid I think, so I have two left over for other projects.... I am tempted to use on for metering a DC-DC converter that I have acquired so I can charge my laptop from my electric car!
@@naivegauge well your video led to me surfing through ebay, and I have also found some AC digital meters, they are more expensive but should do the trick so eventually I should end up with a tool box psu with a 12v dc, 5vdc and 2 x 16v ac outputs which will cover all my external power needs for any of my layouts. Just a case of gathering some parts and getting some time to make it! but for now I will concentrate on my little layout! I really want to get it finished! (I can see light at the end of the tunnel😁.) All the best Tony
One wonders if you can use the AC meters to measure the power being on the DCC track bus. DCC is not a sine wave so perhaps it would not give an accurate reading. Just a thought. I know DCC concepts produce a power meter for DCC, but it is not cheap.
@@naivegauge @Naive Gauge I understand your logic, but not sure if it would work as you say the wave is square. would make for an interesting experiment. I think more research is required 😁
Hi there Fab video
Can you tell me are the V-A meters 0-100v 10A rated?
And what circuit breakers did you use?
How hard can that be?
Thanks John
Just subbed. Can you do a vid about the Volt and Av stuff. What is it ? how is it usefull ? etc...
Can you explain more of what you mean about "volt and Av stuff"?
I am currently using the 5v supply for IR proximity detectors. I expect I will also use it for scenic lighting in due course. 12v will probably be useful animating scenery as we as magnetic decouples.
green to black
thanks
hi if you connect the green and the grey wire together it will work i have done the same and it works derek
OK. I am not sure if that is its intended use though.
Grey wire is a logic signal that goes "high" (greater than 2.8v) once the voltage outputs on the yellow, orange and red wires have stabilised. It is supposed to be used to prevent the system using the power outputs until they are at the correct level.
Did you solder the circuit breakers into the fuse poles?
I am not sure if I understand your question.
Hi Phil. A very neat solution to providing DC power for accessories, etc. I'm a bit of a nitpicker, so I have to ask why the power switch is upsidedown (USA style)?
Wow - is that a thing? I had no idea!! I just thought it would be a good idea to label on and off - I did not know there was a standard. Learn something everyday!
Thanks for you encouragement.
@@naivegauge I always think back to light switches.
Hi again Phil. Working my way through your videos but cannot see anything earlier than number 22. Have you removed them or are they located somewhere else?
Brian
they should all be there. starts at number 2. number 1 was not worth publishing!!
@@naivegauge Good morning Phil, That's very strange as I can see them all on my Android phone but nothing earlier than 22 on my ipad. Just have to wear my essential N gauge headgear (Magnifier) when looking at the fiddly bits of your videos on the smaller screen 😊.
Brian Essex Thameside in N
Be careful to make sure that your wires are rated for at least the maximum amount of current that the power supply can put out without tripping any breakers or fuses that you have installed, or else this will be a fire hazard in fault conditions.
As to software, I prefer TrainController, as this allows the use of variables, although the purchasing system is bizarre and archaic (requiring a USB key to be sent by post, which you have to have inserted at all times while running it).
Thanks for the warning.
The software protection and general approach to business is the big put of for me for Train Controller.
However, I am interested to hear about the concept of variables - what can they be used for?
@@naivegauge Variables are extremely powerful - do you know computer programming at all?
Of course. I am a software developer by profession (though not working in that field at the moment).
@@naivegauge In which case, you already know the power of variables: in TrainController, you can assign global variables, local variables for particular objects or private variables in macros.
You can essentially write arbitrary code in macros to control your layout. In iTrain, you can create "actions", which are like TrainController macros, but because you cannot use variables, these can only be very basic.
If you have a look at my video on Peertube (the diode.zone instance) called "Timetabled working", you will see an example of variables in action, where I create an entire virtual extension to my layout and keep track of the trains on it.
Hello, i am still a bit confused, could you please draw a wiring diagram???
I am not sure I can really post an image in a UA-cam comment. send me an email if you are really interested - possibly there is on somewhere in the channel description.
@@naivegauge I was confused by your statement "that the zero ground were not the same anymore," although all the black wires come from the same spot in the PSU. But after a good night sleep and a bit of study on the meters wiring diagram, I have seen the light!!! So i can finish my installation. many thanks
I have to say I thought the way you use a pencil was weird until I saw you hold the Stanley knife that’s crazy can you not hold it properly
It is interesting you mention that. I have never considered how I hold the knife, but I supposed there is a safety aspect to it, so I should take it seriously.
The reason I hold a pen strangely is that I injured my hand when I was a child and so can not bend my index finger. I had to learn a who different method in school to that being taught to the other kids. I will put some thought into how J use a knife though - it would hate to have a accident.