Most Airfix kits do not include any paint or glue, if you are not used to making models this may seem like a bit of a...
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
-
What glue and paint should I buy for my Airfix kit?Read more -
What scale is a 28mm figure used by wargamers?Read more28mm wargaming figures, sometimes referred to as miniatures, are the most popular scale of gaming figures on the...
-
What is the purpose of the trackmat system by Hornby?Read moreThe purpose of the trackmat system by Hornby is to provide a convenient and easy-to-use solution for model railway...
-
What is the best material to use for railings?Read moreWhen constructing a kit, lengths of wire are often included for use as railings on buildings such as signal boxes and...
-
What are my options for motorising a turntable on my layout?Read moreThere are several options for motorising a turntable on a model railway layout, including:Manual operation: The most...
Why do only some modellers use a CDU for point motors?
There are several reasons why a modeller may choose to use a CDU (Capacitor Discharge Unit) to provide power to their point motors, but essentially, it is because they want more 'oomph'.
Although a point motor (turnout motor) will happily operate unaided from a 16v AC auxiliary power supply, factors such as the number of points operated simultaneously or the distance between power supply and motor can influence how effective that amount of power is when it arrives. A CDU will store up power and deliver it with a 'kick' ensuring all turnouts operating from a single switch are fully changed thus minimising the risk of a derailment.
Strictly speaking, if you are operating your turnouts one at a time, a CDU is probably not required, especially if your layout is not that big. However, your circuit's electrical connections must all be good as any resistance may result in a points failure, and then you will have to break out the model replacement bus service.
Posted in: Power and control
Click here to receive the tips weekly in your mailbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Related products
Capacitor Discharge Unit CDU Mk2 Version (4400μf)
Price: £ 30.00For use with all solenoid motors (e.g. PL-10 and PL-11). Connect this unit to...
Integrated Dual High Power CDU
Price: £ 34.95Integrated CDU Unit Dual High Power CDUsThe CDU is 135mm x 87mm x 56mm with...
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,...