DC only O scale layout

Many accessories will need AC power, however others will run with DC power.  If you can be specific about the accessories, we can be more accurate.

All I have handy is a Fastrack O72 command switch, but it works fine on DC, so my sense is that normal Fastrack remote switches should as well.

Thanks for the reply, I am still looking over accessories and will have to determine which ones I will be getting.

Keith, you can also use cheap computer DC power supplies (less than $50.00).  Very stable power, a multitude of power voltages and amperages are available.  You will need a throttle of some sort from a simple rheostat to a walk around wireless control like G Scale Graphics Trackpower 4.

Ping me if you want more info.

Chris Sheldon

Note that many instruction manuals for O-gauge accessories will only mention AC as a power source even though they'll work just fine with DC.

If cost is an issue, you can get a 90 Watt DC-output laptop charger for about $10 shipped.  That's about 10 cents per Watt which is a good target price for fixed-output power supplies suitable for O-gauge.  Be advised that while PC power supplies with plenty of power (hundreds of Watts) can be found for a song, many only put out 12V DC max.  That can impose a speed limitation with some O-gauge engines (plenty of Watts, but insufficient Voltage).  DC-output laptop chargers put out 18V DC or more.

So if budget is an issue, my suggestion is to run as many things as possible off DC.  Then for those accessories that require AC voltage, you can get a smaller Wattage supply.  AC power supplies suitable for O-gauge use are more expensive than a DC supply (Watt for Watt).

I can control my layout with either variable transformer fed AC or DC. As pointed out in this thread, most accessories will work on either AC or DC, but I prefer DC power for that use.  What I have found is that almost all conventional power locos of any vintage run much smoother on DC.

Thanks for the replies. I am looking into laptop charges mentioned above to power the layout. Now for the fun of designing it.