HO Slot Car Track Power Hack
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- Опубликовано: 9 сен 2015
- The biggest problem most guys experience with a factory/home track is a lack of good power as they expand their collection of better quality cars. Most set power packs - "wall warts" - only put out about a 1/2 amp of power. Hopped up cars usually need at least 1 amp to run well. In this video, we will see how you can get about 5 amps of power with adjustable voltage for $30 or so.
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It's a good idea to confirm with a multimeter that the voltages it says its putting out are actually being put out. Cheap power supplies can sometimes be inconsistent
Hey Terry, thanks for this video. After seeing this (and part 2) I was convinced that this was the way to go for me. I got two of these off ebay and am running them on my two-lane Tyco layout, one for each lane. I made a custom terminal track from a standard 9" straight with 18 guage wire soldered directly to the rails. I also incorporated long controller leads and leads for a jumper track into the terminal track, and made one jumper track from another standard 9" straight, which I placed approximately half way through the track. The design is modular, so I can add as many jumper tracks as I want, but one seems to be working fine for now. I used "t" style connectors on all of the connections. I am currently using Tyco standard controllers, but just waiting on some more connectors so I can wire up some AFX and Auto World controllers, too. Eventually I will get some better controllers. My track is about 70 feet, and before this new setup I was having very noticeable power issues, even when using two of the Tyco X2 "high performance" power packs (one for each lane with two standard terminal tracks). Now there is more than enough power and no noticeable power loss anywhere on the track. I should add that I spent a great deal of time on the track itself to make sure everything is fitting well and making solid connections. The adjustable voltage is very cool to have, too. I like to crank up the power to make some of the slower cars more interesting, and have also used it as a handicapping function to even the playing field to race different chassis together. In my opinion this is an awesome setup. Total cost for all of this was less than $50.
.....and you got a real cool house/garage setup as well. Jude keeps bugging me to get back over there to buy some more things......im thinking the method to his madness is to play on your tracks :-) I really like your collections also you have lots of cool cars for sure. Thank you again for making us feel so welcome Terry.
We run the stock 22V with 1A in each lane. This way when we're racing, and one car dives off the track. The other car doesn't all the sudden, go Hairy Canary!!! ;)
Used to be 24V and .50A running the old Tyco power pack. If I remember right... It was pretty awesome running the old 440-X2 cars around. ;)
I have been using a power hack on one of my tracks for three years. It has variable voltages and without a doubt one of best things I did to improve overall track performance. Never had any problems and still going strong. Thank you for introducing this!
Can you just use a light switch dimmer instead?
@@lowercentenary I don’t know why it won’t work but I prefer to know how many volts that I’m using. I’ve found that 24v is about max that can be used but I watch and make sure the cars don’t get too hot at that voltage. 18v to 20v works great especially when using a car for a long time.
@@gregoryfox7551 ah yes I see...thank you so much for taking the time to reply, much appreciated!
I have used an alternate power supply for a year now and am very pleased with it on a 50’ lifelike track. Thanks for this video showing how.
what alt power supply your using. Custom made or something commercial off the shelf? I'm expanding my life like soon. thx !
I bought a generic computer power supply from eBay. Had to make sure the connector plugs worked (they didn’t so I bought the right ones from eBay) and it worked. Nice option is there are several output settings so I can run the cars at different power levels (14 volts to 24 volts) and it cost about $20 total and of course the time to put it together. Well worth it as it’s interesting to see how the cars run at the different power levels and there have been zero problems after 4 years.
@@gregoryfox7551 ok thx. I'm expanding my four lane track so I'll have 2x powerpack. looks like hardest part is pigtail hookup to the actual track, but that's just right male/female config and taping/solder/heatshrinking it all together. Did u upgrade your controlers too? Or keep using stock ones?
My track is lifelike but I use the big tyco controllers. They are bigger than lifelike but are stock (no modifications except longer power cords) and work well.
@@ottodetroit can you elaborate on the splicing part? I'm a newb and find it very confusing
I just hooked up a multi voltage laptop charger. I cut the wire and installed Dean's Plugs on a stock wallwart and the laptop charger. This way I still have all the options!
The power curve it added is great. More speed and power even at the 12v setting, I have it on 16v.
The original Tri Power pack was to little on Intermediate and way to much on Expert. For the grandkids I can put the Tri power pack back on!
Good !!
Interested in getting 2 of these for a afx tomy track. One for each lane. Running a 2 lane track. Want to do a larger size track. About 60 feet or more. Was wondering if the tomy afx plug still will run in both directions. Thoughts on this please
Do you get more feel out of using one of those better OS3 or Parma controllers?
Hey brother! Awesome content! I am having trouble finding a good switchable voltage power supply like you show here. I am
not naive to electrical specs and I can’t seem to find a proper solution on eBay or Amazon. Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks for your help!
Thanks brother, I built a table with two levels, a tough race track on top and a small town track with three trains on the second level, and your right, the race track is losing power, thus I will incorporate your idea(I just got back into them so I have a lot to learn). Thanks again brother..... :-)
Couldn't you use a light switch dimmer for the same effect without all the splicing?
Dude, ya gotta tell us where you purchased the adapter plug.
Where did you get one of these? I want to get one to power my 24 VDC fire alarms.
Hello my friend , if you take The Ho car and modify them too go on a 1/32 Scale Track you have more rail force too hold down the with the magnets and the slot Deeper .
Thanks for the info so far, ok so can you apply this method to a 4 person driver station, and not have to use the termanal tracks for your controllers???????
Best to call 863.450.9835
Where did you buy your laptop battery chager and what is the name of the charger
Where did you find that pig tail adapter for the lap top power supply? I dont know what to search for or where to find them like that. Thanks.
I got some off eBay - Female 10 12V DC power supply wire cable plug line, the CCTV 2.1mm security cam
what upgraded controller do you use/recommend?
I have several laptop power supplies I would like to use. You stated to use a 2.1 mm security cam power plug. Male or Female? Could you post some links to exactly what to use? Thanks.
I love Harden Creek!!!!
Hi.. HCS,if my laptop power supply has a reverse polarity cable, do I have to use it to run the power supply on my slot car track?
Thanks for the video. I'm having an issue with my cars . They don't power unless I tilt them forward . Can they be adjusted ? Everything is working . Any suggestions be great
It may be pickup shoes issues. That is difficult to sort out here on a chat.
Ok so they have the dual power terminals that allows you to run 4 individual lanes, can this hack work with this method or would that be to much power for a single lane, I would have to have 4 adapters.......
Too much power? No. The car will only draw the amount of power it can use. Stock car will "take" little power, less than is available. A built car will "take" more, as much as it "needs". As long as enough power is available. If not enough power is available the car won't run as fast as it could. It may not even move at all. Electrical devices don't consume more power than they need even if more is available.
Would this work on my old tyco us1 truck sets? They seem to have no power.
Im just getting back into this after 40 yrs., but cant you just take the magnets out, getting a more life like speed and w/o flat-lining?
The car will move faster without the traction magnets and fly off the track easily. If that's the way you want to run, slow, then you use quite low voltage. Probably 12 volts. They will still be fast but you really have to slow down for curves. Lot of people enjoy that.
What kind of pigtail is it? Im having a heard time finding one. Im just not sure what to look for. Thanks
It is a 2.1 mm security cam power plug
Harden Creek Slot Cars ok. Thank you. Can't wait to try this out😊
Can I use 12V ac adapter for a 6V slot car ? (I have 4 battery slot. 1.5V each)
What brand/model is your track and cars?
Usually you're going to want an AC adapter that has a DC output voltage the same as your total battery voltage.
An HO slot car designed to run at 6V will probably overheat or burn up the brushes pretty quickly at 12V.
Use a deep cycle marine battery. That's what I used to use back in the day. 117 feet 4 lane track never an issue for power when you go this route..
Can we just use a light switch dimmer instead?
@@lowercentenary Don't know?
So you think a pack would need to be applied to every 30-40 foot of track?
It does not work that way. You need a power taps at about that many feet but they have originate off only one power source. Multiple power supplies can't be controlled be one controller. You will need to look up a wiring diagram to see how this all has to be done.
Harden Creek Slot Cars, I run Tomy AFX. To this point I have used start/power track at different points of the circuit with a stock power pack plugged into each piece to help maintain power throughout the track. Controls work great. Is it different in this instance because you have made it yourself? Is there something different with the circuitry?
You need to look a wiring diagram for single source power with multiple tap points. You can call me if you like. Thanks, Terry 863.450.9835
If you are running 4 lanes do you have to have 2 power packs??????
Thanks for he question. Yes. You need a power pack for each two-lane power track piece.
While running a 4 lane track how big can my layout be before I start to lose power, good info by the way........
30 or 40 feet is OK
Thank you. I know I’m writing this after many years of this video being posted. I just wanted to know that will this solution of using this power supply / transformer work on a digital 1/32 set or 1/24 set like Carrera which needs about 18V at 4-6 amps. Do you see any concerns?
I doubt seriously this could be adapted to digital. But I am not an electrician and don't play one on TV. You would have to consult an expert in that area.
I was going to do this then Auto world came out with the adjustable power supply from 9 volts up to 24 volts.
Can you tell
Me the pig tail name or size I wanna do this to my track
It may be an 'RCA' size but it has been too long since I got these parts to remember
Will this work on slotless TCR?
No
I can smell the ozone from here.
Can’t you use a train transformer or no?
Yes, you can use a DC train transformer that puts out enough amps and volts. Years ago I used a MRC unit that was for G guage trains. The issue is expense for some guys. That MRC unit was $200.00. The point of this video is a 'hack' that is cheap. Also since I made this video, the cost of Chinese desk-top power supplies has come down. And this year,, Auto World came out with a 2 amp up top 24 volt power supply that is $30.00.
You can use an ac train transformer, just ad a rectifier in line. You can make a rectifier with 4 diodes for a couple of bucks. A Lionel 1033 is about 25 to 35 dollars, 18 volts 90 watt output equates to 5 amps at 18 volts, huge copper wound transformer will never burn out like a small modern power supply will. You can also turn the voltage down if you want.
@@quickturn66 I've got a few Lionel transformers laying about. Thanks for the assistance
Omg viper at 18 volt
Viper is the badass. Mega G+ is pretty pathetic. Original Mega G isn't so bad but Viper still rules.
😮 the cars are way too quick for me, can't keep up with em.
What is the make and model of that universal power supply
Yunda YDA206 (I think).