Exit109GTI
New Member
Hey everyone, this is my first post on the site. I'm new to electronics, so I hope someone can help me.
Building a control panel for a model railroad. The railroad will be split up into a number of blocks, and the control panel will be able to turn on or off power to each block. The power will be a variable 18VDC source. For each block that is powered, I want a LED to light up on the control panel.
Here is what I have setup so far.
I have a set of mechanic switches, that when on light up a LED, and provides forward bias for a switch transitor. The transistors collector and base is then hooked up to my variable 18VDC source that drives the trains.
It's not working, even when the switch is off and the 9V battery is removed, the train is still getting power, and lots of it.
My problem I think is that the current breakover limit on my transistor is 600mA, and a N Scale locomotive draws like 1000mA. Would this cause the problem? Would I be able to wire 2+ transistors in parallel to handle more current?
Am I even doing this the right way?
Building a control panel for a model railroad. The railroad will be split up into a number of blocks, and the control panel will be able to turn on or off power to each block. The power will be a variable 18VDC source. For each block that is powered, I want a LED to light up on the control panel.
Here is what I have setup so far.
I have a set of mechanic switches, that when on light up a LED, and provides forward bias for a switch transitor. The transistors collector and base is then hooked up to my variable 18VDC source that drives the trains.
It's not working, even when the switch is off and the 9V battery is removed, the train is still getting power, and lots of it.
My problem I think is that the current breakover limit on my transistor is 600mA, and a N Scale locomotive draws like 1000mA. Would this cause the problem? Would I be able to wire 2+ transistors in parallel to handle more current?
Am I even doing this the right way?