OVERVIEW
The PowerScaler, although designed for N and Z scales, is also fully compatible with HO. As most N and Z Scale model railroaders know, a typical power pack is designed to operate many different model scales. HO scale is the most popular, and therefore offers the largest market for power pack manufacturers.
Since HO is the largest market, a typical power pack is optimized for the motors used in HO locomotives, but can also supply the larger voltages needed for scales bigger than HO. This means that an N or Z Scale locomotive, with it's small motor, reaches a maximum, realistic speed in the early part of the throttles arc.
This characteristic limits the usable throttle range for road engines and makes precision yard work with switchers a challenge. In prototype locomotives, the throttle speed range is different for each engine. A road diesel is designed for medium to high speed operation and its throttle provides a corresponding range. A yard switcher has a lower maximum speed and therefore the throttle speed control is more precise. Both types of locomotives, however, still have throttles. Since you operate different locomotives on your layout, and your power pack has one throttle range, it's up to you to compensate for the different speed characteristics of each engine.
If you are an N or Z Scale operator, this forces you to unrealistically compress the throttle movement, leaving most of your power pack's range unused as you operate your layout. If your scale is HO, you may still have switch engines that only operate realistically in the lower throttle range.
The PowerScaler is designed to work with your power pack and allows you to redefine the full scale output range. With the PowerScaler, you choose the throttle range which gives the most realistic speed for your locomotive. No longer are you limited to the compressed arc of a single throttle range. The PowerScaler allows you to realistically accelerate your N and Z Scale locomotives using the full arc of your power pack's throttle.
HOW THE POWERSCALER WORKS
The PowerScaler uses a precision electronic circuit to redefine the full scale output voltage of your power pack based on the setting of the POWER LEVEL control.
A typical power pack has a full scale output voltage of between 15 and 20 volts. This means that with the throttle fully counter clockwise, the voltage applied to the tracks is 0. As the throttle is rotated clockwise, the track voltage increases with each degree of rotation until the maximum voltage is reached.
If you are using an N-Scale locomotive, the motor usually reaches it's maximum speed in the first third of the throttles arc. This is somewhere between 6 and 8 volts. In order to use the full arc of the power packs throttle for this locomotive, the power pack would need to have a maximum output voltage of 6 to 8 volts at full throttle.
The internal circuitry of the PowerScaler redefines the full scale voltage applied to the tracks by reducing the voltage without limiting the current available to the locomotive. The POWER LEVEL selector allows you to choose from eight different full scale voltage ranges which are then applied to your track.
REDUCES HEATING AND STRESS
Since the PowerScaler allows your locomotives to operate realistically at lower voltages, it reduces the heat and stress which naturally occur during operation. This will result in longer brush and motor life plus it allows pulse-type power packs to be used safely with N-Scale and smaller locomotives.
CONTROLS AND INDICATORS
The PowerScaler has one control and two indicators.
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The only control on the PowerScaler is the POWER LEVEL selector. This is an 8 position switch which redefines your throttle's full scale range.
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The selector has 8 settings. The lowest setting (MIN) provides the greatest precision and low speed control. There are six intermediate settings, each providing more power and therefore more speed. The highest setting is MAX. At this setting the PowerScaler is set to pass the output of your power pack directly to the tracks.
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The two indicators on the PowerScaler are TRACK POWER and OVERLOAD.
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The TRACK POWER indicator (green led) directly shows the power level applied to the tracks. The intensity of the indicator will vary as you vary your throttle or the POWER LEVEL control.
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The OVERLOAD indicator (red led) will light if the PowerScaler is supplying excessive current to the tracks which would otherwise damage the internal circuit.
CONNECTING THE POWERSCALER TO YOUR LAYOUT
The PowerScaler is easy to install and connects between your power pack and your layout.
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Simply connect the output from your power pack to the input terminals of the Power Scaler.
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Then, connect the output from the PowerScaler to your tracks.
MOUNTING THE POWERSCALER
The PowerScaler is designed to accommodate nearly any mounting arrangement.
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The enclosure can be surface or insert mounted either vertically or horizontally.
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The enclosure has an integral mounting base with holes which eliminates the need to open the enclosure for mounting.
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To surface mount the PowerScaler you may drill two holes and attach the enclosure with screws or use double sided adhesive tape.
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If you choose, you may also mount the PowerScaler directly to your power pack. Since most power packs have a flat area at the top or a sloped console, the PowerScaler can be attached to either of these surfaces. Attaching the PowerScaler to your power pack makes operation extremely convenient.
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