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Are LED lights better than grain of wheat bulbs?
Posted in: Power and control, Best practices
23rd October 2019
Grain of wheat bulbs are filament based so run hot. This means in certain situation, they have a habit of melting...
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Is a double slip better than a regular point?
Posted in: Model Railway, Tracks
17th March 2020
A double slip is an X shaped crossover with a difference. That difference being that there are point blades attached...
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Why are ships' hulls painted red beneath the waterline?
Posted in: Best practices
27th November 2023
Painting ships' hulls red beneath the waterline serves a specific purpose and has been a longstanding tradition in...
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What happens if I mix enamel and acrylic paint?
Posted in: Painting
31st January 2020
There is an unwritten rule that you do not mix enamel and acrylic paint as they are completely different in their...
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Can a DCC engine run on an analogue layout?
Posted in: Power and control
30th October 2019
Whether your DCC engine can run on an analogue layout depends on the decoder fitted to the engine. If the decoder is...
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When choosing a DCC decoder, how important is the amp rating?

Decoders are definitely not all the same, they have different numbers of pins, can control different functions, come in different shapes and sizes, and often, have different amp ratings. But how important is the latter?

Well, it is both very important, and not very important all at the same time. Decoders have two ratings, a continuous rating, and a peak rating. A continuous rating is the maximum amount of amps the decoder will safely support for prolonged periods, a peak rating, is the amount of amps it can tolerate in the event of short spikes in power. If either are exceeded in their relevant context, the decoder will likely be permanently damaged.

The above is clearly the reason why amp ratings are very important, having said that, how likely is your locomotive to draw more amps than even the lowest rated decoders can handle?

Well, that depends on the engine itself, the length of your trains, the gradients encountered, and the number of functions used. A layout featuring a humble tank engine shuttling up and down between fiddle yard and country station is unlikely to be greedy with the amps. On the other hand, a display layout with steep gradients, locos with sound, lights, whistles and bells, and long consists to please the spectators, may well have locos that require decoders with more heavy-duty capabilities.

If you have an ammeter, you can always do a quick test to see how many amps your loco is drawing at maximum power, just don't forget to really put it under some strain when you take your measurement. If you do not have an ammeter, you can either play it safe and install a decoder with a higher amp rating, or check on your decoder's manufacturer's website to see if your decoder is suitable for use with your loco.

Posted in: Model Railway

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