For digital control (DCC) control systems please see our special DCC Digital Command Control section.

Regardless of scale, most locomotives run from a controlled 12v DC power source. Lights and signals require a 12v DC uncontrolled output. Points (or turnouts) are motorised using a passing contact switch and can be powered from either 12v DC uncontolled, or 16v AC supply which gives very positive operation. Quality transformer/controllers provide all three outputs (remember that connecting the 16v AC to the track would result in locomotives burning out).