This is what Hornby say about the Select Digital Control Unit:-
QUOTE Capable of controlling up to 60 locomotives and 40 accessories, the Hornby Select digital controller is the perfect way to enter the digital world of model railways. the Hornby Select digital controller is the perfect way to enter the digital world of model railways. Each locomotive can be coded with up to 99 levels of acceleration or deceleration speed (inertia). The LCD display screen of the Select shows the number of the loco or accessory which has been selected. Power is through a standard wall mounted transformer which supplies 1 amp 15V DC power to the track; a larger 4 amp transformer is available which will provide additional power to the track for more locomotives to be run at the same time.
And about the Elite Digital Control Unit:-
QUOTE For those who wish to take their train control to a new and advanced level, the Hornby Elite is the ideal companion. Capable of answering the needs of most railway layouts, this advanced unit with twin control and wide function LCD screen can carry 255 registered locomotive addresses and the same number of accessories, plus a USB portal for linking to a personal computer. Once inputted and assigned, the unit will also display the names and running numbers of locomotives, as well as train direction, speed and function indicators. A clock is also included on the display which can be set to real time or up to 10x faster. The Elite is supplied with a 4 amp transformer which is capable of providing enough power to run approximately eight locomotives at any one time.
There is more info on the Hornby website.
The display has a real time clock which can be accelerated permitting timetables to be created. Only a small thing but interesting. Train speed is shown also. For modellers not used to observing the actual speed a train is going it might come as something of a shock how fast they have actually been operating! The inertia function should not be overlooked. Proper acceleration and braking so that you feel that you are "driving" the train. Some of this may be old hat to those who already have fully featured systems but to have this sort of thing available in a unit for under £100 is a bonus.
The 4amp transformer is part of the package with the £99 Elite unit. The £50 Select unit has a 1amp transformer supplied with a port that can take the 4 amp transformer if required. Hornby claim that 4amps is sufficient to run 8 locomotives at the same time. Now setting aside locomotives parked up in sidings or in a fiddle yard I wonder what proportion of home modellers would actually have 8 locomotives running at the same time? Power is needed to operate accessories such as sound and smoke and lighting and this is one reason why you may need increased power.
Happy modelling
Gary
QUOTE Capable of controlling up to 60 locomotives and 40 accessories, the Hornby Select digital controller is the perfect way to enter the digital world of model railways. the Hornby Select digital controller is the perfect way to enter the digital world of model railways. Each locomotive can be coded with up to 99 levels of acceleration or deceleration speed (inertia). The LCD display screen of the Select shows the number of the loco or accessory which has been selected. Power is through a standard wall mounted transformer which supplies 1 amp 15V DC power to the track; a larger 4 amp transformer is available which will provide additional power to the track for more locomotives to be run at the same time.
And about the Elite Digital Control Unit:-
QUOTE For those who wish to take their train control to a new and advanced level, the Hornby Elite is the ideal companion. Capable of answering the needs of most railway layouts, this advanced unit with twin control and wide function LCD screen can carry 255 registered locomotive addresses and the same number of accessories, plus a USB portal for linking to a personal computer. Once inputted and assigned, the unit will also display the names and running numbers of locomotives, as well as train direction, speed and function indicators. A clock is also included on the display which can be set to real time or up to 10x faster. The Elite is supplied with a 4 amp transformer which is capable of providing enough power to run approximately eight locomotives at any one time.
There is more info on the Hornby website.
The display has a real time clock which can be accelerated permitting timetables to be created. Only a small thing but interesting. Train speed is shown also. For modellers not used to observing the actual speed a train is going it might come as something of a shock how fast they have actually been operating! The inertia function should not be overlooked. Proper acceleration and braking so that you feel that you are "driving" the train. Some of this may be old hat to those who already have fully featured systems but to have this sort of thing available in a unit for under £100 is a bonus.
The 4amp transformer is part of the package with the £99 Elite unit. The £50 Select unit has a 1amp transformer supplied with a port that can take the 4 amp transformer if required. Hornby claim that 4amps is sufficient to run 8 locomotives at the same time. Now setting aside locomotives parked up in sidings or in a fiddle yard I wonder what proportion of home modellers would actually have 8 locomotives running at the same time? Power is needed to operate accessories such as sound and smoke and lighting and this is one reason why you may need increased power.
Happy modelling
Gary
