Kato Hyper DX Power Pack for N-scale

[mags_minibuilds]

Does anyone here own this Kato 22-017 power pack? What does the voltage knob on the top of the controller supposed to do...in what case will you need to adjust this knob? I will be mainly running N-scale locos and the power supply that comes with is it rated as 15V 2.4A 36VA. It seems like this controller was intended for HO scale. Most of my motorized chassis says it cannot exceed 12V so would it be better to get the 22-082 power supply than to use the one included? Thanks!

[Kamome]

I have 2 of the older Hyper D controllers but it’s practically the same. The voltage knob essentially allows you to feed small increments of voltage to keep the head/tail and interior lights on when the throttle is set to 0. 

 

I find the Hyper D actually smoother for N scale. Although it is probably better suited to HO, it is absolutely fine for N. The only issue with it is when you cross from one controller power district to another, you can get a surging effect as the train bridges across the two on something like a scissor crossing. 

 

It isn’t really suited for small chassis locomotives. I have found that the Dapol N scale terrier and the Tomix Thomas don’t like the output of this controller and run erratically. 

Edited September 25 by Kamome

[brill27mcb]

That temporary speed surge when crossing between two power packs is indicative of their unsynchronized PWM pulses. Any random difference in the pulse timing between the two packs, other than a 100% synchronized overlap, will effectively increase the percentage of the pulse "duty cycle" that a pulse is "on," which causes a temporarily increased average voltage to the motor.

 

Rich K.