Wanted Aristocraft crest power supply

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My 15amp DC power supply has blown up......... :eek::eek:

I am looking for a used Aristocraft Crest Power supply.
It is the one with selectable voltage on the front and the ammeter

Some have three voltages (13v, 18v, 22v) some have two.
I would prefer the three voltage type but would be interested in a two voltage type

This is the three voltage type:

cre 55465.JPG



This is the two voltage variety

cre55465.jpg
 
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Thanks Davey, I will check them out......... I found a electronic repairer near to me on t'internet. He says that he will have a look at it when he gets back from his hols. When I phoned him he was in the NRM York so sounds like a train guy too.

Hi Greg.
The one that I had was an Elite version that I had got some time back new but had not used it.
It is the small form factor but high power, that I need to fit into where it will be used. It is a pretty up to date design as it used switching technology instead of a massive transformer like a lot of rail power supplies.
I have tried to find similar power supplies with similar dimensions but no joy over here........ Except very expensive remaining new Elite/Everest models at retailers.

Davey's 'heads up' on the used one will be good if the electronics repair guy says that it is a lost cause to fix mine.
 
beavercreek said:
Thanks Davey, I will check them out......... I found a electronic repairer near to me on t'internet. He says that he will have a look at it when he gets back from his hols. When I phoned him he was in the NRM York so sounds like a train guy too.

Hi Greg.
The one that I had was an Elite version that I had got some time back new but had not used it.
It is the small form factor but high power, that I need to fit into where it will be used. It is a pretty up to date design as it used switching technology instead of a massive transformer like a lot of rail power supplies.
I have tried to find similar power supplies with similar dimensions but no joy over here........ Except very expensive remaining new Elite/Everest models at retailers.

Davey's 'heads up' on the used one will be good if the electronics repair guy says that it is a lost cause to fix mine.
Click to expand...


Mike,
Ask your repair guy what he reckons the NTC thermistor should be in this unit..
I have asked Crest, via their support email address, but have not even had an acknowledgement they received it.

TIA,
PhilP.
 
Will do Phil.......
I always phone Navin (director) at Crest and he is always good for info...
I shall look to see it on my one..... that is if it didn't char in the blow up.
 
beavercreek said:
Will do Phil.......
I always phone Navin (director) at Crest and he is always good for info...
I shall look to see it on my one..... that is if it didn't char in the blow up.
Click to expand...

Thanks.. May well not be the cause of this one being dead, but for the price of a thermistor, worth dropping one in and standing well back!
;)>:)>:)
 
OK, just a small bit of clarification to avoid confusion (including mine)

The Elite, 55465 was a 13 amp at 20v, the Everest, 55468 was a 15 amp at 24v. Even though the design looks virtually identical, the Elites proved to be good workhorses, and the Everest was plagued by problems, some worked and some shut down all the time.

So, now I am confused, where/how did the NTC resistor / thermistor come into the conversation? Did someone say this is a common failure in this unit?

First I have heard of this.

Greg
 
Guilty M'lud!

I have a dead (goes upstairs to check model number) CRE-55465 2-voltage model here..

The internal fuse has gone big-time (silvered the inside of the glass), and the NTC thermistor has blown itself to bits..
The intention is to fit a much lower value fuse, and a new thermistor (if I can find something suitable), then turn it on from a safe distance..

If it goes 'bang', it goes in the bin, as I would not be happy fiddling more with a switched mode supply.
If it works, it gets used sparingly, but not for anything to 'precious'.

An email to the support address for Crest (Yahoo from memory) did not get a response. Hence the request if someone is going inside one who has more knowledge of these beasts.
 
I would suggest bypassing the thermistor, and try a new fuse and power up unloaded... The thermistor I believe you are referring to is just to reduce the inrush current when a load is applied and to minimize false triggering of the overcurrent protection circuitry.

If you test it unloaded, there should be no issue.......

I have known Navin for many years, and I'm pretty sure he does not repair electronics.

I see Meanwell has various distributors over there: http://www.meanwelldirect.co.uk/pro...ith-Battery-Charger/AD-155-Series/default.htm

We can get them very cheaply here in the States and they have a good track record, I have several over 10 years old. They don't have the fancy meter, but at $70 US they are a deal.

Greg
 
Greg, the link that you gave goes to power supplies with only one voltage each, 14v or 28v or 54v .... not 22 or 24v (let alone multiple choice voltage).
The form factor is not too far from Aristo/crest varsions but the voltages are not ideal. Comparing to these, the three voltage 'Elite' version seems to have been good value, my old original one, (not the new 'blown-up one), has lasted for 13 years, ten of which were being kept outside, in a brick built bbq unit, all year round. The Meanwell ones do not seem like a logical replacement at the moment.
I will keep on looking for a three voltage 55465 Elite, like my trusty old stalwart (okay, agreed, the new one was not so trusty!)
 
Phil, I am in Holland at the mo, then onto Hamburg but will investigate inside the 'blown' 55465 when I get back.
Will be visiting, amongst other things, Madurodam model town in Hague and Miniature Wunderland in Hamburg. Also hopefully, dining on a night tram as it tours around the Hague.......... Other rail things might happen........
 
beavercreek said:
Phil, I am in Holland at the mo, then onto Hamburg but will investigate inside the 'blown' 55465 when I get back.
Will be visiting, amongst other things, Madurodam model town in Hague and Miniature Wunderland in Hamburg. Also hopefully, dining on a night tram as it tours around the Hague.......... Other rail things might happen........
Click to expand...

Mike, No worries on timescale.. Much happening here keeping me from railway-related things atm.
Phil.
 
Greg
I want to use the middle of the three voltages (18v setting) for my lighting circuit (which is extensive and feeds many buildings and streetlamps etc around the layout.
I am at the moment using 4 x LGB 1amp controllers in parallel set at about 19-20v to do the job which have worked fine for the last 10 years but I have just added a very large mining concern and ancillary buildings (it is 8 ft long) with many leds and tungsten lights. The 4 x 1amp controllers are now not up to the job with the new load added and so I wanted to use my trusty old Crest 55465 (that is currently used at 24v for my Train Engineer (DC) power) in place of the LGB units.
The building leds are a mix of 12v led strip (for replicating flourescent lighting) and E5.5 or E10 sized 19v screw bulbs (which have an internal rectifier and resistor). The tungsten bulbs are 19v rated.

I would then have used the new Crest unit (the one that blew up) as the TE track power.

The lighting power units reside outside all year around (as did the Crest TE power up until about three/four years ago). The site for the power supply is just high enough for the LGB units (or the Crest one). )There is plenty of air circulation before worries about that are raised)

The small form of the Crest unit is just right for the newer positioning of my track power DC (three TE receivers) and DCC (Massoth Central Station) in a custom built cabinet in the conservatory.

So that is why I want to find a three voltage power supply with the form factor of the Crest.....

I am happy with this arrangement it works well .......... as does the lighting!

There are 4 'townships' on the layout and each one is lit as are various shacks etc along the route. here are links to some of them on the railroad's facebook page
No piccies of the mining complex yet as it is not quite finished
https://www.facebook.com/beavercree...4924086210989/904923816211016/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/beavercree...3410694028997/855519024484829/?type=3&theater
 
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Mike,
Is this *really* all outside? - OR in an open-sided barn?
Epic layout and modelling! Hats' off Sir!
:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:
 
So you want 18v for your lighting, and a 24v unit for your track.

You have a 12/22 volt unit already, so it won't work for your lighting.

Pardon my possible stupidity, but why not use your existing 22 volt unit for your track and get a small 18v supply for your lights at a fraction of the cost of a 55465 or a 55468? Clearly an 18v unit will be smaller and cheaper, and it does not sound like you are going to be looking at the volt and amp meters all the time.

Greg
 
PhilP said:
Mike,
Is this *really* all outside? - OR in an open-sided barn?
Epic layout and modelling! Hats' off Sir!
:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:
Click to expand...

Oh, I can testify to the fact that it is all really outside, and seems to survive everything that the weather can throw at it! :)

And yes, Mike's gradients ARE every bit as fearsome as he alludes to on here.....

Jon (who is only a few miles from the Creaky Beaver.....)
 
Greg please read my posts in their entirety in the whole thread, especially where it mentions how much power I need for the lighting!
This is starting to feel like the American forum interactions where challenges are thrown out if one does not go along with another's way of doing things.

I am going to itemise the reason for my situation so it can't be misconstrued. Apologies to others if they have already gleaned this.

LIGHTING:
1). I currently have four 1 amp LGB controllers set at about 19 to 20v in parallel giving approx 4 amps. This is now not enough power as I am adding a lot more lights as well as sound systems in buildings running from the lighting circuit using drop down bucks. I may need up to 10 amps or more by time I am finished. There are pictures on the railroad's Facebook page showing the amount of lighting already there and that is without the new demands for the mine further developments and sound systems

TRACK POWER:
2). I have an old three voltage Crest power supply that supplies my TE receivers at 24 v

LIGHTING:
3). I was going to put the old Crest power supply into use at 18v setting for the lighting. It is small enough to fit into the place in the garden where it would replace the LGB units and would have plenty of amps for my needs.

TRACK POWER:
4). I was going to use the new Crest power supply to replace the 'old' one (that will become the lighting power supply) that at present feeds the TE receivers running at 24v. It would fit the place where the old one resides as it has the same form factor. Unfortunately my 'new' one blew up.......

I need a small, 18/19v high amp power supply for the lighting circuit (10 amps or more) that has similar dimensions and resilience to outdoor conditions.....Thus the search for another Crest 'Elite' 3 voltage power supply

I like flexibility, both in thought and in practicality......... Crest 'Elite' three voltage power supplies ( 13, 18, 24 v) are flexible, small form and usually very robust ......

Greg this is what I want so it is my prerogative to try and find another elusive 'Elite' power supply. There seem to be no other alternatives that fit the requirements that I need.
What is the problem?
 
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Why is it when someone wants something - an alternative has to be better.
I WANT a Bugatti Veyron, and NO, a Ferrari wont do.
 
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