|
To install fuse holder with the Digitrax PS2012
Greg Smith
I have been acquiring Digitrax (and other HO model 'stuff") since 1999 and am finally setting up a layout. I have a Digitrax PS2012E, DCS200 command dysyion/booster, and DB210. I am setting up a blade fuse box (7.5A fuses) between the power supply and the command station and booster. I was going to run only one wire through the fuse box for each unit - from the red (+) connectors. Will this adequately protect the command station and booster? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Greg |
|
|
|
Re: Reverse loop headache
For basic continuity checks I use a 9V battery connected to a piezo electric buzzer and a pair of alagator clips. I hook this to the rails when I start wiring a section and it will buzz as soon as I touch a wire to the wrong place.
Tim Rumph Lancaster, SC |
|
|
|
Re: Reverse loop headache
Nick Ostrosky
Again, many thanks for all the suggestions. Allan, per your September article, I did start to make all those measurements across the gaps – only to realize my trusty old volt meter died on me (and not just the battery)! So I will pick this back up when I can replace it, which may take a few days.
Nick
|
|
|
|
Re: Bus wire
I've not had an opportunity until now to thank all those that have responded to my original post with your thoughts and suggestions.All were greatly appreciated.
Thank you'
John
|
|
|
|
Re: Reverse loop headache
Allan AE2V
Nick,
You said you checked across the gap. Did you check diagonally across the gap? It still sounds like you have a connection between your reversing section and the non-reversed adjacent sections. If you get Model Railroader, see the Sept issue and my DCC Currents column. It's all about gap crossing issues. Allan |
|
|
|
Re: Reverse loop headache
Nick Ostrosky
Tried a couple more things today:
Changed out the AR to see if the AR was the problem. Same result, so the AR appears functional. Changed out the PSX assigned to the neighboring yard section, also no change in results. Re-verified that all the wiring from the PSX to the yard was correct, same for the AR. Verified that there is no continuity across the gaps with an ohm meter on both ends of the AR, so power coming in from the neighboring power district seems to be eliminated.
Question: is it possible my gaps are too small? When watching a loco cross the gaps the leading right wheel crosses just fine, but the short occurs when the leading left wheel hits the staggered gap (i.e., left wheel crosses second). The gaps on both ends were cut the same way, razor saw.
Nick
|
|
|
|
Re: Digitrax SDH166D DCC decoder with Sound
GLA <haybiscuitgla@...>
Thanks again ! On Tue, Sep 27, 2022, 3:37 PM Allan AE2V <bigboy@...> wrote: Yes, any wires you don't need just cut short. If you ever thing you may need them, don't cut them too short! Most "extra" wires can be used to put a light in your cab or marker lights. For extra insurance if you are worried they may touch something metal, put a little piece of heat shrink tubing over the ends. If you have a couple of wires you won't need, they can all go in the same piece of heat shrink. Wires that are side-by-side can't short to each other as long as you snip any exposed ends off. --
--I am wiring a Digitrax 166 with sound Decoder in a 1996 2-8-8-2 Rivarossi Mallet. (motor is isolated) -Entire decoder, speaker, etc. in tender I assume ? --Anybody have an idea of pin connector between tender and engine ? Or just hard wire engine to tender ? -- This rookie does not know what to do with extra wires out of sound hook up ???? I am following Allen Gartner's sketch of a Rivarossi 4-6-6-4 Challenger which is wired the same. Any help ? Gary |
|
|
|
Re: Digitrax SDH166D DCC decoder with Sound
Allan AE2V
Yes, any wires you don't need just cut short. If you ever thing you may need them, don't cut them too short! Most "extra" wires can be used to put a light in your cab or marker lights. For extra insurance if you are worried they may touch something metal, put a little piece of heat shrink tubing over the ends. If you have a couple of wires you won't need, they can all go in the same piece of heat shrink. Wires that are side-by-side can't short to each other as long as you snip any exposed ends off.
Allan |
|
|
|
Re: Digitrax SDH166D DCC decoder with Sound
GLA <haybiscuitgla@...>
Cut off and seal up all the extra wires coming out of sound connector ? On Tue, Sep 27, 2022, 12:56 PM Allan AE2V <bigboy@...> wrote: Gary, --
--I am wiring a Digitrax 166 with sound Decoder in a 1996 2-8-8-2 Rivarossi Mallet. (motor is isolated) -Entire decoder, speaker, etc. in tender I assume ? --Anybody have an idea of pin connector between tender and engine ? Or just hard wire engine to tender ? -- This rookie does not know what to do with extra wires out of sound hook up ???? I am following Allen Gartner's sketch of a Rivarossi 4-6-6-4 Challenger which is wired the same. Any help ? Gary |
|
|
|
Re: How to Connect Feeders to Main Bus ??
I have used suitcase connectors for years and have had no issues with them. If they are crimped tight enough to close, then they should provide a reliable connection. For most home layouts through the medium size range there shouldn’t be any issues with either solid or stranded wire, especially at DCC frequencies. I use solid 22-gauge wire for feeders every 3 feet or each piece of track. Make sure the suitcase connectors are the ones that connect 14 to 22g wire. These are just a few basic things I have used with great success.
Rob
From: w4dccqa@groups.io <w4dccqa@groups.io> On Behalf Of bernard steinbacher via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2022 7:17 AM To: w4dccqa@groups.io Subject: [w4dccqa] How to Connect Feeders to Main Bus ??
I have read that suitcase connectors don't always make good contact to the wire, thereby causing a power drop ? |
|
|
|
Re: Digitrax SDH166D DCC decoder with Sound
Allan AE2V
Gary,
I can't answer all your questions, but here is what I can tell you. Putting everything in the boiler reduces the number of wires you need between the tender and engine. But if you can't fit everything, or just some of the things in the boiler also may reduce the number of wires. On the other hand, Rivarossi locos are light. Putting things in the tender allows to add a little more weight in the boiler. Don't over do it. I did that to one of my Rivarossi locos and the weight bent one of the articulated engines (trucks). So I took out some of the weight. Putting a speaker under the smoke stack does make for a more realistic sound coming out of a tunnel. On the other hand, the tender makes a great baffle and you get better overall sound, particularly bass, from a tender mounted speaker. If you 2-8-8-2 has a centipede tender, be sure to check out my instructions for getting it open. These instructions are listed with my other decoder install instructions. Soundtraxx, NCE, and TCS all offer small connectors that make running wires from between the engine and tender easy. Allan Gartner Wiring for DCC |
|
|
|
Digitrax SDH166D DCC decoder with Sound
haybiscuitgla@...
-- --I am wiring a Digitrax 166 SDHD with sound Decoder in a 1996 2-8-8-2 Rivarossi Mallet. (motor is isolated) -Entire decoder, speaker, etc. in tender I assume ? --Anybody have an idea of pin connector between tender and engine ? Or just hard wire engine to tender ? -- This rookie does not know what to do with extra wires out of sound hook up ???? I am following Allen Gartner's sketch of a Rivarossi 4-6-6-4 Challenger which is wired the same. Any help ? Gary |
|
|
|
Re: Reverse loop headache
Don Vollrath
Try swapping the AR units. It is possible that one of them is malfunctioning.
DonV |
|
|
|
Re: Reverse loop headache
Don Weigt
Nick, While testing with reverse loop wires disconnected, did you check for shorts from both reverse loop rails to both non-AR rails? A connection between either reverse loop rail and either non-AR rail will short one phase or the other of the reverse loop track power. Your symptoms still suggest you have an undiscovered non-AR connection to one or both rails of your reverse loop. -- Don Weigt Connecticut |
|
|
|
Re: Choosing a DCC Starter System ?
Andy - Arlington TX <andy.j1s@...>
Tom,
While smart phones are technically computers, I was speaking of desktop/laptop computers, running Windows, Linux or MacOS operating systems. WiThrottle is a throttle app for Iphones that can connect to a computer running JMRI, or dedicated WiFi interfaces for DCC systems (e.g. the Digitrax LNWI connected to a Zephyr.) EngineDriver is a similar app for Android phones. If you wish to use JMRI, then it needs to run on a Windows/Linux/MACOS computer, connected to your DCC system, typically via a USB interface available from the DCC system vendor. The DCS52 has a built-in USB interface for connecting to a computer running JMRI. So for Digitrax, you have two ways to use your phone as a throttle:
Finally, SPROG DCC systems are available either as USB dongles for computers (Windows, MacOS or Linux) running JMRI, or as an expansion "hat" for Raspberry Pi computers (also running Linux & JMRI.) -- Andy - Arlington TX |
|
|
|
Re: Reverse loop headache
Don Russell
I think I had the same issue I had power to the track within the reverse section. The only power inside the reverse section comes from the AR itself.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Don Russell On Sep 26, 2022, at 4:41 PM, Nick Ostrosky <nick79ostr@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
Re: Reverse loop headache
Nick Ostrosky
So far:
Verified that the only power to the reverse section is from the AR, both by verifying wiring and volt meter after disconnecting AR as suggested. Zero volts to the track section with the AR disconnected, no ohms to indicate a possible short between the AR and non-AR sections. Verified AR is fed directly from the booster (alternatively I did try daisy-chaining it from the neighboring PSX, no change in results). My second AR (the one that is functioning correctly) is fed from the track bus to my yard power district and not directly from the booster, which I was thinking may have affected the area of the yard adjacent to the problem AR (i.e., two ARs adjoining the same power district, I was thinking they may have been somehow fighting each other). Disconnected that until I can run a direct line from the booster, but it had no impact on my problem AR in subsequent testing. I started playing around with CVs 55 and 65, setting the problem AR as secondary and tweaking CV 65 up to 8 to see what difference it would make. Still have the same result. I have zero familiarity with how much I should change CV 65; should I have seen any change by changing it from default to 8? Appreciate all the suggestions, pretty sure I'm going to have a "duh" moment when I finally figure this out. |
|
|
|
Re: Choosing a DCC Starter System ?
Martin Piech
Bill Wilken, Are you available offline to discuss your comment about detection? |
|
|
|
Re: Reverse loop headache
Don Vollrath
To verify the isolation of the AR track… disconnect both wires for that section from the output side of the AR unit, then with other track power ON use an AC volt meter to verify that there is near zero voltage from either/both AR rails to other powered rails on the other side of the isolation gaps. ie- an open circuit.
You can use a similar technique by using an ohmmeter with track power off and look for infinite ohms from each of the AR rails to other tracks. DonV |
|
|
|
Re: Reverse loop headache
Don Vollrath
Nick, it sounds like the PSX and PSX-AR are fighting each other for tripping sensitivity. Make sure both units are
powered directly from the booster AND that all other entrances to the AR section are unoccupied AND that the AR unit flips the polarity first. ( a trip amplitude and time sensitivity adjustment on both units) The AR unit should work with or without staggered isolating rail joiners. If all else fails… verify the wiring and isolation of the AR section. DonV |
|
|