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I have a DCS200 and it has an output capability of just over 8 amps with 21 VDC input. I run that one at 18 volts on the rails at no load. At the highest loads, the rail voltage sags.
I have a much older DCS100 that is also an "8 amp" version, but it will output only 7 amps, but at 22 no load volts on the rails. At higher loads, the rail voltage sags significantly. While I was actually using it as a booster this one ran from a 22 VAC 15 amp transformer. Now, I use it only as a command station and to run the programming track so it runs from the AC output of a Bachmann power pack and it does fine. The big transformer runs an NCE PB110 booster that actually drives the rails at 22 volts and it maintains nearly 22 volts at 10 amps. It does not trip until it reaches 20 amps.
The older DCS100 would run two trains with lighted cars, but it could not handle a 3rd train of any size. The PB110 drives 3 heavy trains without sweating. I don't have enough concentration to run more than 3 trains at once so I haven't actually tried it with more.
BTW, for DC, watts are identically equal to VA. VA only makes sense in the context of AC power where a reactive load can shift the phase of the current with respect to the voltage. In that case, VA is the product of the voltage and current, ignoring the phase shift This is called reactive power and is important in sizing wiring, transformers and circuit breakers. Watts is the REAL power delivered to the load considering the phase shift and is ALWAYS less than VA.
I have a much older DCS100 that is also an "8 amp" version, but it will output only 7 amps, but at 22 no load volts on the rails. At higher loads, the rail voltage sags significantly. While I was actually using it as a booster this one ran from a 22 VAC 15 amp transformer. Now, I use it only as a command station and to run the programming track so it runs from the AC output of a Bachmann power pack and it does fine. The big transformer runs an NCE PB110 booster that actually drives the rails at 22 volts and it maintains nearly 22 volts at 10 amps. It does not trip until it reaches 20 amps.
The older DCS100 would run two trains with lighted cars, but it could not handle a 3rd train of any size. The PB110 drives 3 heavy trains without sweating. I don't have enough concentration to run more than 3 trains at once so I haven't actually tried it with more.
BTW, for DC, watts are identically equal to VA. VA only makes sense in the context of AC power where a reactive load can shift the phase of the current with respect to the voltage. In that case, VA is the product of the voltage and current, ignoring the phase shift This is called reactive power and is important in sizing wiring, transformers and circuit breakers. Watts is the REAL power delivered to the load considering the phase shift and is ALWAYS less than VA.
