Washes are generally used to add shade or grime to a model, whether it be a model train, car or figure, a wash can...
Cart 0 Product Products (empty)
No products
Free shipping! Shipping
£ 0.00 Total
Product successfully added to your shopping cart
Quantity
Total
There are 0 items in your cart. There is 1 item in your cart.
Total products (tax incl.)
Total shipping (tax excl.) Free shipping!
Total (tax incl.)
Search Tips
Tips categories
Latest Tips
-
Is black the best wash colour to use?Read more -
What are my best acrylic options for painting bare metal surfaces?Read moreBare metal can be a very difficult colour to paint well as it has a habit of showing up any imperfections very...
-
What does AFV mean in military scale modelling?Read moreAFV stands for Armoured Fighting Vehicle. These versatile military machines come in many shapes, sizes and forms but...
-
What colour primer works best when painting natural metal surfaces?Read moreWhen painting natural metal surfaces on a model, it is generally recommended to use a grey or white primer. Grey or...
-
What is a Metcalfe kit?Read moreMetcalfe is a family run business founded during the early 1990s. They produce 00/H0 and N gauge card kits for model...
How can I power accessories if I have no suitable auxiliary port?
If you don't have an auxiliary port on your controller, but want to power some accessories, what can you do?
If that is a problem you are facing right now, you'll be pleased to hear that you have a few options. Firstly, you could buy a dedicated auxiliary transformer. They plug straight into a wall socket and have terminals rated at 12v DC making them perfect for powering most accessories. They are not the cheapest option and cost nearly as much as a new controller, but they are neat, professional and specifically made for the job.
Secondly, and if you are a little more confident, you could always just buy a second cheap analogue controller, but instead of powering track, use the feeds to power your accessories instead. If you are considering this option, you may want to use a voltmeter to check how many volts the controller is producing when turned up to full power. Although most will produce around 12v DC (the same as an auxiliary port), some older controllers can vary slightly.
The last option is probably the one you should consider the most. If you are at the stage where you are installing powered accessories onto your layout, it would suggest that you are looking to create something more advanced than an oval of track to run a few trains around with the kids. Have a good think about where your layout is going and how big is it likely to get. It may be that the time has come to upgrade to a controller more suited to your end goals rather than investing and then reinvesting as the layout grows.
Posted in: Power and control
Click here to receive the tips weekly in your mailbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Related products
Related posts
-
Can a "DCC ready" train be used on analogue?Yes, you can use a DCC ready train on your analogue layout. DCC ready just means that the train has been factory... - Is it difficult to fit a DCC decoder in to a DCC ready engine?In theory, it should be easy as the whole idea of being DCC Ready is to simplify the process. The first time I did...
- What is 7/0.2 wire?7/02 wire is a wire made of 7 strands of 0.2mm wire. Stranded wire has the advantage of being flexible while solid...
- Is an N Gauge controller compatible with OO Gauge?Yes, an N Gauge controller is compatible with OO gauge trains. You may have to change the power clip to the track...
- Is stranded wire better than solid wire?In my experience, stranded wire is preferable over solid wire. Stranded wire is more flexible than solid core wire,...