starter set help

[Kenji T.]

Hi. Im currently livin in Singapore and am a fan of japenese trains. Their designs are amazing and interesting. I just started collecting kato n scale trains for a new hobby. I need help. In Japan the voltage is different from singapore. My question is, if I buy a voltage transformer and plug it in a socket with my kato power pack Standard s, will I be able to run some trains? So far I have 3 controllers.

[IST]

I think yes. In Hungary we have 220V, so I have to use also voltage transformers with my Kato power packs, and it have been working without any problem in the past few years.

[Kenji T.]

thanks

[JR 500系]

Hi klaus!

 

Fellow Singaporean!

 

The Kato is less friendly here on our shores, and need an external transformer or converter to convert our electricity of 230V to the required 110V of the Kato adaptor. I did try to modify myself using third party voltage transformers and they work super fine~

 

Have fun in this hobby! It's great! 

 

Cheers and happy new year!

[Densha]

I use a 230V to 110V transformer as well. It also has a built-in plug converter I needed. Works fine.

[Sinus]

Recent Tomix power units don't need any transformers just plug convertors.

[E6系]

Yes, Mr Sinus is correct.  Only plug adaptor is required if Tomix product is used.

[Guest keio6000]

voltage transformers are problematic on any number of levels. i think this is a very bad route to go down and I have quite a bit of experience with this.

 

for simple kato powerpacks, the easiest thing to do if you are in singapore is to simply buy a local power pack (the part that plugs into the wall) and plug this into your kato controller.  any electornics shop will help.  you will find with kato 'close enough is good enough', at least for getting started - dont quote me on this (check your unit), but i think the basic controller is 9v 1500 mA. 1500mA is a lot, but you can get started with far fewer amps and still have acceptable performance.

 

or, do as our polish friend says and get a tomix poewr pack which just requires a plug adapter.

[katoftw]

kato is 15V 1.5A.  so you just need a transformers with that output.  input can be whatever is local to home area.

 

transformers with screw type terminals can be purchase also from places like ebay.  get an extension cord and chip the end of and attach for input.  do same with kato/tomix cord for output.

 

clearly you are dealing with electricity, so if unsure or uncertain, seek correct help for a professional.

Edited January 5, 2014 by katoftw

[JR 500系]

Hi:

 

As i have posted on another thread here: http://www.jnsforum.com/community/topic/7419-enquiry-about-damaged-kato-power-pack-tomix-pick-up-wheels/?p=90928 

 

Here's what i did using a third party voltage transformer. Katoftw is right about the Kato power pack being 15V 1.5Amp, as kinda weird that it is using 15V. I used a 15V 2 Amp voltage transformer to connect from my mains direct (230V), and it branches out to two separate plugs, once each for each Kato power pack i had. Although it states 15V AC input on the power pack, i used 15V DC input and it works fine too. The voltage transformer only cost me about SGD$28, and my electrical worker was kind enough to do the connections and plugs for me.

 

The voltage converter plug keio6000 mentioned works fine, but in the long run, especially if you turn it on for a long time, often blows up. I've had 4 power converters blew up since i started using Kato power pack, and each converter roughly costs SGD$15. (For a small watt type, the higher the watt, the more expensive it gets). I've tried up-sizing the watt to the highest available here (90 Watt) type and it still blows up with long usage. So far, the alternate enhancement i made works fine even in long usage. There is but one problem, as it is connected directly to the power pack, in the event the transformers fails suddenly, there might be 2230V going in directly to the power pack and that might pose a major problem. Have not encountered this yet, but i reckon the likelihood is here...    

 

Hoped that helps! 

[katoftw]

So you got each power pack running running at 1A?  Since you got 2 power packs running off a single 2A transformer?

 

Pretty good kit.  Much better than the kit you were running with.

 

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MP3059

 

Has the same specs as most Kato power supplies.  100-230V input, output is AC 15V 1.5A 50Hz.  And just by a Aussie to whatever country plug you are from.  But by the time to factor in shipping etc.  You might as well just by a universal transformer and cut up some wires.

Edited January 6, 2014 by katoftw

[cteno4]

It's too bad kato did not just move to a universal transformer!

 

Jeff

[katoftw]

there product has never been a aimed at a global market.  guessing that's the reason why.  digitrax dcc controls use the same transformer, just need to by a plug from your home nation to fit it.  maybe one day katp power packs will be the same.

[JR 500系]

So you got each power pack running running at 1A?  Since you got 2 power packs running off a single 2A transformer?

 

Pretty good kit.  Much better than the kit you were running with.

 

Thanks! 

 

Yap so far it works fine. I was curious about this fact too, and actually asked my electrical worker this question. However, he assured me and even show me using a 'what-you-call-it'meter' for testing electricity and it displayed 2Amp, 15V on BOTH plugs at the SAME time. I got amazed too and couldn't understand the rationale so... The only way i can find out more is to virtually run my trains on it, but not before cleaning my tracks since it has been quite a long time since i cleaned my Kato tracks... 

 

Will report on progress once i get more information and test results ~~ 

[cteno4]

It's crept out into the world to have 3 different packs now. Unitrak is distributed pretty far and wide so I do think they meant to export this. Seems more expensive to source three separate units at smaller volumes. Universal adapters really have become the norm. But would reqire plug adapters as i expect japanese/us bade would be the lions share. But who knows.

 

Jeff

[kvp]

It's 2 amps total. So you will be ok, as long as you don't load it more than a total of 2 amps, but it can be 0.5 on one and 1.5 on the other or 1 on both or 0 on one and the full 2 on the other. If you load it with 1.5A on both, then you will probably orverload/overheat it. Generally it's best practice to add an additional 20-30% safety margin, so if both controllers have an 1.5A fuse, then (1.5*2)*1.3 = 3.9 A would be a safe value. Of course having a double short is very unlikely, unless there is an isolated crossing somewhere between the two circuits.

[cteno4]

Modeltrainplus has come to the rescue here! very decently priced universal transformer that puts out 15vac 1.6A and is 100-250v. US/japan style spade plug, so all that is needed elsewhere is a plug adapter! I tried to find these in the US and Mardon one in the Philippines but no luck to get a 15VAC adaptor (as noted a dc supply should work as well)

 

http://www.modeltrainplus.net/collections/n-scale-parts-new/products/ac-adapter-15v-1-6a

 

Nariichi is awesome at filling those niches!

 

jeff