Magna Force MF615

• Buy It Here

DCC Specialties has developed and is distributing a new high performance DCC power supply specifically designed for DCC systems. It is recommended for Digitrax, Lenz, NCE, and other DCC systems. Outperforms all others in price, power, safety, and features.

• It has a grounded, 16AWG, fail-safe three-wire input and output.
  
• Illuminated rocker power switch.
  
• Circuit breaker protection on the output.
  
• 6 A, 15 VAC Output, Input 120 VAC.
  
• Sealed unit - impact resistant enclosure.

More pictures are available here.

CAUTION: Magna Force MF615 is an electronic unit, not a toy! NOT to be used by children under 12 years of age. It contains no serviceable parts - DO NOT DISASSEMBLE.

• Download Installation Instructions in PDF (205 kB)

Installation Instructions

1. Please read the following instructions before proceeding.
2. Do not plug unit into AC wall outlet until initial installation is completed.
3. Tools required: screwdriver, wire strippers.
4. The 3-wire output of the Magna Force connects to your DCC system as follows:
   • The center conductor is a ground wire, and can be connected to the chassis of your DCC system or DCC system ground.
   • The outer conductors, 15 V AC, are connected to the inputs of your DCC system. See connection diagrams - figure (1) for Digitrax, figure (2) for Lenz, and figure (3) for NCE.
   • Green denotes ground wire, actual wire may be another color.

Your Magna Force MF615 is protected from shorting or overload. If you experience a power supply overload, the unit will shut down with no output power. Please turn off the power supply and allow about a minute for the MF615 to reset.

Connection Diagrams

Digitrax
1. Connect the two terminals on the DB150 or DCS100 marked POWER IN to the Magna Force outer wires.
2. Plug in the MF615 and turn on to power up your booster.
3. DCS100 or DB150 will beep once and its “POWER ON” LED will come on.

Lenz
For a quick start, connect terminals U and V of the LZV100 to Magna Force.

NCE
Connect Magna Force to both sets of power terminals on the Powerhouse as shown. NOTE: POWER wires must be connected to both sets of power terminals. Units produced after 11/1/2003 may not require both power connections.

Test

The Model MF615 transformer was tested for output voltage and current capability. It is rated at 15 VAC at a 5 amp load. I confirmed that it meets its stated specifications, and can be used for short periods at currents as high as 8 amps. It has built in over current protection that appears to operate correctly, and does not appear to have dangerously high hot spot temperatures even when used beyond its ratings.

Below is a graph of the transformer hot spot temperature vs time at a constant 6 amp load. It shut down after about 102 minutes. The voltage just prior to shut down was 14.25. This value is within the ratings of NCE, Digitrax, and Lenz for use with their boosters. I let it cool slightly and then turned it on with no load. The voltage was 16.86, just about the same as at the start. When it shuts down due to over temperature, it will not allow load current until it has cooled off a little bit, about 5 minutes or so.

MF615 Transformer Performance

I also ran the transformer at 5 amps until the temperature stabilized. It took 2 hours and 37 minutes to achieve a steady temperature of 66.3 C, but it did not shutdown at this load. The output voltage at the stabilized temperature was 14.61 volts with a load of 5 amps. This is slightly under its rating, but more than adequate to operate the NCE, Lenz, and Digitrax booster trio.

The graph below shows the load regulation from no load to a maximum load of 8.64 amperes. At the maximum load, the output was 13.78 volts. This is still within the operating requirements for NCE and Digitrax boosters, although it is slightly below the Lenz 14 volt minimum requirement. At the 8.64 amp load, the unit shut down after 9 ½ minutes. The hot spot temperature was about 40 C. Note that the hot spot is the hottest spot on the outside of the transformer, and may not be the same as the hottest internal temperature. It is located underneath the unit, so it is unlikely to be directly touched unless you pick the unit up. Directly touch accessible areas are cooler, and in general feel very hot but not enough to cause a burn. For your easy conversion, 70 C is about 160 F. 40 C is slightly above body temperature.

Load Performance of MF615

We welcome comments or suggestions from readers; please write or call.