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Reverse Loop with Tortoise & Hare
BRENT WOOD
Hi Group, I'm new, but sure this has probably come up before.
I'm trying to automate a reverse loop with a T & H. I've wired 'trigger rails' prior to the entry and exit of the loop & programmed address 10 and CV 50 into the Hare and tried various combinations of values. I can trigger the Tortoise with the NCE Procab, so I know that part of the system's working. I suspect the problem will be somewhere in my programming. Can anyone give advice please? Thanks Brent
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Re: Reverse Loop with Tortoise & Hare
Scott H. Haycock
Brent, I use this combination as well. IIRC, No programming is required to get the autothrow to work. Double check your wiring. You may have your two trigger rails reversed. The instructions that come with the Hare are a little awkward, but by reading them over you may find something you missed. Scott Haycock Modeling Tarheel country in the Land of Enchantment Hi Group, I'm new, but sure this has probably come up before.
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Re: Reverse Loop with Tortoise & Hare
BRENT WOOD
Scott,
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Thanks for the comments - I tried reversing the trigger inputs but no difference. Perhaps my trigger sections are too short - about 1 inch. I also wondered if my loco's didn't draw enough current to trigger the Hare. (Blackstone C19's and K27's). You are correct when you say the Hare instructions are awkward - I have read them perhaps twenty times.... They show three triggers whereas I have only used two - entry and exit. I couldn't actually see the purpose of the third trigger, but perhaps this is my problem? Brent
--- In WiringForDCC@..., "Scott H. Haycock " <shhaycock@...> wrote:
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Re: Wiring Setup
Eric
Johnny, most programs are written for Windows. If you are using a Mac, there is a good little program called Empire Express by Hayden Software that I use. Fairly cheap ( less than $50). I found it very useful.
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RicZ
--- In WiringForDCC@..., "John" <jwjj@...> wrote:
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Re: Wiring Setup
ptj-mobile@sbcglobal.net <ptj-mobile@...>
Another good software option is XTrkCad, also free. Available on Sourceforge.net, and they also have a Yahoo group.
Good luck, Paul Jara
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Re: Wiring Setup
mckeevermichael@...
I would not use wire that is smaller than 16ga for the track buss. 22ga is fine for feeders, but make sure that each section of track has a feeder. Regards, Mac in SoCal, ATSF, SP, UP in Barstow Area, Transition Era
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Re: Wiring Setup
Bill Wilken
On 01/04/2014 11:37 AM,
ptj-mobile@... wrote:
XtrkCad is very straightforward and also is available for linux. I recommend it highly.
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Re: Reverse Loop with Tortoise & Hare
Vollrath, Don <dvollrath@...>
Brent,
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Be sure to read http://www.wiringfordcc.com/sw_ctl.htm#a17 The Hare Auto-Throw feature will not work if you use a separate accessory bus. The trigger detector section works with all wheel pick-up and may not work with older locos with one-sided pick-up on the loco and the other side on the tender. DonV
-----Original Message-----
From: WiringForDCC@... [mailto:WiringForDCC@...] On Behalf Of bawmky Sent: Friday, January 03, 2014 8:34 PM To: WiringForDCC@... Subject: [WiringForDCC] Re: Reverse Loop with Tortoise & Hare Scott, Thanks for the comments - I tried reversing the trigger inputs but no difference. Perhaps my trigger sections are too short - about 1 inch. I also wondered if my loco's didn't draw enough current to trigger the Hare. (Blackstone C19's and K27's). You are correct when you say the Hare instructions are awkward - I have read them perhaps twenty times.... They show three triggers whereas I have only used two - entry and exit. I couldn't actually see the purpose of the third trigger, but perhaps this is my problem? Brent --- In WiringForDCC@..., "Scott H. Haycock " <shhaycock@...> wrote:
------------------------------------ http://www.WiringForDCC.comYahoo Groups Links
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Re: Reverse Loop with Tortoise & Hare
wirefordcc
Brent, I've not used the Hare, but I suspect that at least one of your problems is that your trigger section is too short. Common trigger sections need to be at least as long as a locomotive so that the locomotive's power is drawn through the trigger section. A one-inch section won't do that. Allan
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bus wires DCC and DC
Oscar Ahumada
Hi all I’m new to the group I’m going to be using NCE system got power cab but when layout finished will have a power pro my biggest question I’m thinking of running 2 bus wires per part one dcc (blocked with bd20s and some dcc specialties block watchers) and a dc bus for BD20 LEDs and alike can I run 2 EB1s one straight to dcc bus the other then running thru a bridge rectifier then its dc and I can run that for the LEDs and stuff yes ? cheers Oscar
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Re: bus wires DCC and DC
Flash Gordon
Oscar,
Sure you can rob the dc off the DCC but you are using amps that you may want to use to run your locos.... the booster does have a limit. I run accessories off a separate power supply. Ed S
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Re: bus wires DCC and DC
Oscar Ahumada
cheers mate and dc power supply alot cheaper than a dcc one
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Re: Reverse Loop with Tortoise & Hare
BRENT WOOD
Allan, Don and Scott
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Many thanks for your kind advice. The problem is finally resolved, but I feel more than a bit stupid as the issue was simply the dip switch settings. (Allan, the one inch trigger section works fine). Regards Brent
--- In WiringForDCC@..., <bigboy@...> wrote:
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Re: Reverse Loop with Tortoise & Hare
BRENT WOOD
Allan, Don and Scott
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Many thanks for your kind advice. The problem is finally resolved, but I feel more than a bit stupid as the issue was simply the dip switch settings. (Allan, the one inch trigger section works fine). Regards Brent
--- In WiringForDCC@..., <bigboy@...> wrote:
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Re: Reverse Loop with Tortoise & Hare
Scott H. Haycock
Allan, The trigger section is only there to let the Hare know that a train is approaching the frog from one of the converging tracks. It is a short section with a wire to the Hare. When the metal wheel bridges the gap, it transmits track power to the section, telling the Hare which of the two routes the train is on. If the turnout is thrown for the other route, the Hare will throw the turnout, preventing a derailment. Brent, Have you tested the trigger section by bridging the gaps with a screwdriver blade to see if the circuit is working? If not, and you are sure of your wiring, try using a different Hare and see if it works. Also, I have heard that DCC Specialties has good customer support. You might try contacting them. Scott Haycock Modeling Tarheel country in the Land of Enchantment Brent, I've not used the Hare, but I suspect that at least one of your problems is that your trigger section is too short. Common trigger sections need to be at least as long as a locomotive so that the locomotive's power is drawn through the trigger section. A one-inch section won't do that. Allan
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Soundtraxx DSD-101LC CV setup question
asychis@...
Hi Folks,
I am setting up two Lifelike ALCO PA's using Soundtraxx DSD-101LC, ALCO
version. The majority of the installation has gone smoothly. I checked the
motors and they don't seem to have the high stall current that plagued early
production runs. Curiously, there are two headlights in upper and
lower casings, but different lamps. The upper headlight is a 12 volt lamp
with three wires, and what seems to be two filaments. I have wired these
to turn on together and configured them to be a Marrs light. Works just
fine. The lower headlight is a 1 1/2 volt lamp, and works fine with a 220
ohm resistor on the yellow lead.
The decoder is pretty simple, without additional effects leads, just the
standard seven wires plus a green and brown wire for the speaker
connection. Since there are no "auxiliary" lighting leads, I want to use
the yellow "rear" light lead as my headlight in the lower casing, and the white
headlight lead to run the Marrs light in the upper casing. I seem to have
a problem with assigning the yellow lead to turn on at the same time as the
white lead, e.g. when the locomotive is running forward. There is no
option in the model for a rear light, so the yellow is free to use.
I thought I could just set CV34 to a value of 1 to operate when the
locomotive moves forward, since its normal value is "2." However this does
not seem to work. The default value of "2" does work, the backup
light come on in reverse, but if I change the value to "1" it does not come on
in either direction.
I have CV29 set to "34", normal direction, 128 speed steps, no
analog. CV50, the backup light configuration has not been changed, it is
set to "1." What am I missing? I have been through the manual
several times and have not read anything that indicates I need to change other
CVs.
Also, the decoder comes with a "bipolar" capacitor. It sure looks
like a electrolytic capacitor. It it an electrolytic without the need to
be concerned about polarity? What happens if you use a "polar"
electrolytic capacitor? The latest Tsunami decoders have "polar"
electrolytic capacitors for the speakers. I wonder what the difference
is?
Any other tips on this installation?
Thanks!
Jerry Michels
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Re: Soundtraxx DSD-101LC CV setup question
Mark Gurries
On Jan 5, 2014, at 8:57 AM, asychis@... wrote:That should work. All your doing is making F0 reverse the same as F0 forward. Essentially coveting the yellow wire to have the exact same function as the white wire. This is a valid function mapping option. I have CV29 set to "34", normal direction, 128 speed steps, no analog.Good. CV50, the backup light configuration has not been changed, it is set to "1."1? So I checked in the LC manual and you right it says the default is 1 for ALL 4 function outputs However if you read the list of light effects, it show that the value of 1 is for "Rule 17" and the value of 0 is for "ON-OFF" control. No light effects assigned. Decoders in general are not supposed to have any light effects pre-assigned and this is confirmed by looking at the original DSD (none LC) manual which shows the default value is zero. So I believe this is a typo in the LC manual. Can you read the value of CV49 and CV50? They should be the same and both be zero. What am I missing? I have been through the manual several times and have not read anything that indicates I need to change other CVs.If you look carefully at the CV34 description text in the technical reference manual (Page 29 of the 2001 version I have), the wording says this will not work. At first I thought this was also a "typo" too so I then looked at the DSD non LC manual and sure enough it says the same thing. Checked the Tsunami manual and is says the same thing too. Specifically the text describing what happens when you set CV34 = 2 (default rear headlight) is repeated word for word when you set CV34 = 1. The term REVERSE is used for both. The direction of the Yellow Headlight wire output does not change to FORWARD with it function mapping value set to 1. Apparently there is a limitation in the function mapping for Soundtraxx decoders which explains why it is not working the way you expect it too. I think your best bet is to use the white wire for both headlights. Also, the decoder comes with a "bipolar" capacitor. It sure looks like a electrolytic capacitor.It is both. It it an electrolytic without the need to be concerned about polarity?Correct What happens if you use a "polar" electrolytic capacitor?It can be done but then you have to get the polarity correct during installation. Installing a polarized capacitor backwards will destroy both the capacitor and decoder. So to make it bullet proof and reduce warrantee repairs, they ship a bi-polar cap instead. The latest Tsunami decoders have "polar" electrolytic capacitors for the speakers. I wonder what the difference is?The cap is NOT for the speaker. Tsunami do not need capacitors for the speaker. The amplifier is a modern design that eliminated the need for the cap. The cap does not power the motor or the functions. Just the micro controller and sound chip. The cap is a small Keep Alive capacitor that allows the electronics to stay alive when dealing with common less perfect electrical pickup be it the wheels, track or both. Prevents the sound system and decoder from reseting with common power dropouts. Best Regards, Mark Gurries Electrical Engineer DCC Website & NMRA DCC Clinics: www.markgurries.com
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Custom length RJ cables
george hohon3
Does anyone know of a supplier that makes custom length RJ cables for connecting UTP panels on a NCE system? Thanks.
George
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Re: Soundtraxx DSD-101LC CV setup question
Jerry, you need to set CV33 to a value of 3.
Paul O
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Re: Custom length RJ cables
Steve Haas
Here are a few links:
Tony’s will build cables to order
http://www.tonystrains.com/products/dccaccess_wire.htm
Litchfield has bulk cable, connectors and tools to do your own:
http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/home.php?cat=323
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen other DCC dealers offer them, too.
You can have the cables custom built for you, or you can build them yourself.
They are not hard to build, you just need to learn how to do it and use the correct tool. Tony’s has an online tutorial showing how to do it. If you are willing to go the build it yourself route, the financial savings can be significant. Your time, your money, your choice.
Best regards,
Steve Haas Snoqualmie, WA
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