Slot Car Power Supply

What voltage do slot cars run on?

Most slot cars need 12-18V dc power to run, although HO cars may need up to 20V to run properly. Instead of guessing, it is a good idea to look up the specifications on the slot car (or more specifically the motor of the slot car), which typically tells you what is the proper voltage range to operate it. One should know that within the correct voltage range, the higher the voltage, the faster the car will run, and too high a voltage may burn the cars/motors out prematurely. This is why the best power supply for slot cars is a regaulated adjustable dc power supply that allows you to run different cars at different voltage. A regulated power supply ensures that your car motors run efficiently and smoothly, and you don't have power surges when one of your cars deslot. Investing in a high quality dc power supply made by Volteq will quickly pay for itself in motor savings alone. Volteq variable DC power supplies have highly regulated DC output, they are built to last with over-voltage and reverse-voltage protection.

How to select the correct power supply for my slot car track?

Once the voltage is slected, you also need to figure out the maximum current you need for the power supply. Again the specs on your motor/car should tell you the current needed, multiply that by the number of lanes you have should give you the maximum current needed for the whole set up. Multiply that by a factor of 1.25 to give yourself some leaway. Choose a dc power supply that can give you at least that amount of current will ensure that your cars never run out of juice.