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If you are only going to run four lanes with stock Artin stockers, you will have no problem using only one power supply. However, I see no problem with using both power bases with two power supplies with only one caveat. Tape over , disconnect or block the two redundant controller plugs in each base. I say this because I had the idea to wire redundant parallel drivers stations on each end of my wood track. It worked fine except one time I left an unused controller at a drivers station while simultaneously controlling at the station at the other end of the track. For a reason which I do not understand (maybe someone can pipe in and explain why), I burned up the resister that unused controller. Another option for using dual power supplies is to simply cut and wire both supplies in parallel through one set of plugs to one power base. It's DC so it's pretty simple.

Before updating power, I would suggest adding a braking circuit since Artin for some reason doesn't equip their sets with brakes. Brian at BRS Hobbies sells rewired power bases equipped for brakes. You will have to also buy four new controllers equipped with the braking circuit. The 35 or 45 ohm Parma economy controllers work really well for home purposes. I and another person on this board have wired a braking circuit into Artin controllers but if you don't want to fool with aftermarket power supplies, I am sure you don't wish to tackle a project such as that.

Mike A

If you use Artin cars with their mild motors and mild magnets and head lights you should be able to have a lot of fun with a single power supply. After all, Artin sells a 4 lane track with 4 GT1& GT2 cars all of which have headlights. The more the merrier if you want to add a second power supply. However the, "and others" in your question depends on the "others." Some of the other manufacturers use hotter motors and more importantly, very strong traction magnets. Those magnets cause drag. That drag draws more amperage. More amperage draw requires more power etc, etc. All will work. Most will work well. Some may not work at 100% if they don't have adequate power.

You can't go wrong with buying two four lane Artin sets for the price. I have four or five sets around here. Artin track is as good as any on the market. The only issue that I have with it is the lack of brakes but that is easily solved. I suggest that you go ahead and buy the sets. Start with only one set if you wish to try it out. You can always add more power, more cars, and more track as your hobby expands. The track will work with any of the major manufacturers analogue 1/32 cars with the caveats listed above.

Mike A

Dennis is right about those cars. All of the cars he mentioned come from manufacturers who make complete sets. All of those sets run on wall wart power supplies that are roughly equivalent to each other in terms of power output. Voltage varies a couple of volts but overall power output is similar.

Mike A

devo,
No one has answered your timer questions. There is no out of the box timing system available for Artin other than the two, 2 lane offerings by Artin. To use the two lane timers for 4 lanes, you would have to split the 4 lanes into two 2 lane sections to allow input of two the timer sections of track. I forget who, but either SCW or BRS hobbies has a diagram of how to do that on their website. As far as I know, neither of the Artins timers will input into a computer. For folks that hook up tracks to computers, there are two basic systems available in the after market realm. They are dead strip and optical systems. Software is free on the web once the hardware is installed. Hardware can be custom installed. I have seen references to folks who do that. Someone else will have to pipe in of of the best and most cost effective after market particulars regarding this subject. There was a guy a couple of months ago who sold a 4 lane, optical equipped, power section on the For Sale board. I wish that I hadn't been so tapped out at the time or I would'a bought it myself. It sold for something like a hundred bucks.

Mike A