Crabster

I have now wired up 10 signals using 9V DC/500ma regulated supply with the master switch in the circuit successfully. But you must have the signals off when the layout is powered up, just to be on the safe side.... I hope this helps..

6 signals installed now on 9v DC/500ma power supply (regulated), but, as I said before, have a master switch between the supply and the signals, which I make sure is in the OFF position before I power up the layout, just in case...... All still working... David Crabtree

Hi... Yes, I keep the signals on for the duration of the session and switch them off before I power down the layout, so that when I power up again the switch is in the OFF position... Do not power up the layout with the signals turned on, as this may blow them with a voltage surge...

Hi... I think I`ve just solved the electrical conundrum...... I have wired the signals up in parallel, with both the Red and Black wires to connection blocks and all the signals fed from there, with a 9v DC/500ma regulated power supply unit, but I have also put an on/off switch in the circuit, so any voltage surge will not get to the signals. This switch, in my opinion, is essential and obviously acts as a safety barrier. So, I am now going to wire up the rest of them (10), and buy some more soon.. I have spoken to Dapol and DCC supplies, so I hope this helps to allay any fears people have about purchasing these signals now, and persuades them they actually do work, when given the correct voltage and are switched... If there are any more developments, I will post them up here.... David

Like I said in one of my previous post, I don`t believe they have been extensively tested at all... Or at the very least, not enough. I don`t believe they have been tested running in multiple on an analogue system. They can`t have been, as they WILL fail using the original recommended 16v AC supply and as I`ve discovered, WILL also fail using a 12v AC regulated supply and a 12v DC unregulated transformer running in multiple... I am trying a 9v DC/500ma regulated supply this weekend and I`m also going to put a switch in the circuit so any power-up voltage surge will not get to the signals.... Again, here`s hoping...

Yes I agree with what you are saying and now see the logic behind it...But as as I stated previously, DCC Supplies, who are Dapol`s technical department, actually sent me the 12v AC/500ma power supply, so that tells me that even they don`t know what the correct way to power them is.... I will now try a 9volt DC/500ma regulated supply when I receive them in the post and see what happens... I will report back with any findings.. but still, if there`s some stored current feedback from the on-board capacitor when powered up , I can`t see how lowering the voltage or having it regulated will stop this.. It would surely mean at the point of powering up the layout, a signal would receive the 9v from the source plus any stored current in the circuit, which may be causing the failures... But please correct me if I`m wrong.. Like a previous post states, "it is time Dapol produced their own power supply specifically for these signals" then there can be no mistake. I, Dapol and DCC need to get to the bottom of this one way or another and find out whether or not these signals are fit for purpose ultimately, and if they`re not, they need to recall all of them and take them off the shelves.. Lets hope that this does not prove to be the case..

Hi... I have tried a 12volt DC/1amp transformer and this blew them as well.. Like I said, my latest attempt was a 12AC/500ma regulated supply and this blew the most recent one on Saturday just gone... My next attempt will be 9V AC/500ma regulated when I get them through the post in the next couple of days...

Hi Steve and thanks for your input... I personally think it`s the amps that are blowing these signals as well as too much voltage.. I reckon 1 amp is way to much for them.. That`s why I`m trying a 9v AC/500ma regulated supply next, as a 12v AC/500ma supply has proven too much for them. If that blows them, then there is a serious problem in the design and manufacture here.... I`m still in touch with Dapol and DCC Supplies regarding this issue and have spoke to them today (13/2/17) and I am keeping them both informed on my progress.. I can`t help thinking I`m doing their beta testing on these signals for them, something which obviously should`ve been done by them, months if not years ago... And I have also come to the conclusion that they have not been tested running in multiple, and they`ve only tested them one at a time. Of all the circuit diagrams I`ve seen for these signals, I`ve never seen one with more than one signal installed using an analogue system and leaves me thinking that you need one transformer for each signal, which is plainly ridiculous.. There also may be some feedback of current in the circuit from the on-board capacitors when working in multiple they have not accounted for at the testing stage, which would be a serious issue if present... Something they MUST look at if it transpires that this is the case.. I will keep my progress up to date on this forum as well.. David

Hi everybody... Well, about 6 months ago I purchased 10 of the new (ish) southern region signals and proceeded to wire them up with 16v/1amp as per instuctions. After wiring 5 up they started blowing one by one and was left with just one working. I then received replacements from Dapol in Wrexham for all, but the replacements were blowing as well... I have tried the original 16v AC/1amp supply and have also tried 12v DC/1amp transformer supply and now (as suggested and provided by DCC supplies) an 12volt AC 500ma regulated power supply and they are still blowing. I have been liaising with DCC Supplies for 3 weeks now to try and find the answer to this problem and have had absolutely no joy whatsoever. I even get the feeling they don`t know what to do with their own signals. I have tried wiring them up with a common return (Black) wire and yesterday I tried wiring in parallel, so each signal is powered from a connection block on both black and red.. and this morning one more blew... I am now at my wits end with these signals as I have now blown 16 signals in around a month, obviously getting replacements for all, but this cannot carry on for ever... I have, like I say received vague help from Dapol and DCC supplies, but I still have not found the answer... It seems to me there is a problem with the product here, because I know what I`m doing electrically.. All the signals I have wired up are Southern Region. I do possess some Western signals but I have not wired them yet.. I dare not.. So the problem may just lay with the Southern batch. Perhaps a circuit diagram with say 5 signals would be a start, but like I say, Iv`e tried everything I know. My next option is to try a 9v/ 500ma regulated supply, but I`m not holding my breath.... Has anyone either had the same problems, or have any helping advice because I`m running out of ideas here... David Crabtree