Some eLink users have noted that the supplied power supply, a 1amp (1A) unit, is not sufficient for running their systems.

This can be for a number of reasons. For example... their layout may be quite large and may be running lots of locos. Other reasons could be that not enough power is getting to the point motors and signals etc. Whatever the cause there is a way around this.

Of course, if you want to simply upgrade your power supply to a 4amp (4A) version just for the sake of it there is no stopping you. There is no need to worry about replacing a 1amp supply to a small layout with the larger version. However, in terms of usage you will not gain much. It is wiser to stay with the adaptor supplied with your eLink until you do notice power dropping to the layout as you expand.

One way is to purchase the Hornby Digital 15V 4A Transformer (P9300) which quadruples the ampage of the original supply and therefore offers up more power to the layout. That supply, at the time of writing (January 2017), is available for £41.99 direct from Hornby Hobbies (up £4 from February 2015). However, there is another way if you wish to purchase a supply for less...

That is to buy what would normally be classed as a laptop charger. As long as you buy one that is strictly 15V and 4A output that unit will suffice as far as power to the whole layout is concerned. The unit should be double insulated.

You find that by looking at the label on the underside of the power unit and you will note two squares, one inside the other as a small diagram.



A double insulated symbol means there are no earth wires inside the adaptor but this is designed that way and, of course, is perfectly safe. It is no different to the Hornby supplied one.

One more thing you must do is ensure the connection to the eLink is correct. By that I mean the connector itself. On the original connector you will see a central pin inside the outer metal ring of the connector. That ouside area will be the NEGATIVE terminal and the central pin is the POSITIVE one. You MUST get this right.

On the original adaptor you can see this via a diagram that shows a plus sign (positive) inside a circle which then has a line pointing to a central dot surrounded by what looks like an inverted ’C’. Another line points away on the other side of that ’C’ and toward a full circle with a minus sign inside. That inverted ’C’ and the dot in its centre represent the adaptors connecting plug, thus the central pin and the outer metal area. Thus the outer ring with the line pointing to the negative is just that, negative. The central pin is shown by a line connecting to the postive sign, thus positive.



This is how you identify the polarity of the connector. The diameter of the connector should be 6.3mm, outer edge to outer edge. Inner diameter is 3mm. Once you confirm all that (and it does sound like a lot) then you can purchase an adaptor for half the price of the Hornby one and it will be safe and sturdy enough to run the layout without all that expense. Essentially, this is all Hornby are selling you anyway.