Controller voltage

[The Sage]

Just came back from the UK and along with me came Bachmanns class 105 & 47 and ViTrains 37. Now will my 19V controller fry their motors?

 

[John Webb]

Just came back from the UK and along with me came Bachmanns class 105 & 47 and ViTrains 37. Now will my 19V controller fry their motors?

If turned full up, then "Yes" - the models you have are designed to run on 12V as their maximum voltage. 19V is 50% higher than this design voltage!

 

[O L Leigh]

When I were a lad I had a Hornby APT trainset which had a 14V controller. Admittedly the train went like stink (to the extent that it would fall off the rails on ANY bend, even with tilting bodies) but it burnt out several motors as well.

Be careful or your new acquisitions could go the same way.

O L Leigh

 

[Heinz57]

I wouldn't risk it. As the others say, feed too much into the motors and you do risk frying them.

You would be best to use a 12v controler/transformer

However if you don't want to buy a new controler you could construct a 'limiter' circuit. This will be placed after the controler but before the tracks. It limits the amount of voltage going to the tracks, so even with the controler wacked up to full you will get no more than 12v.

 

[The Sage]

Thanks to all, as an interim solution I have modified the controller so that it wont open more than 60%!