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Reverse Loop Problem
Hi, Tom. Your description isn't 100% clear. I'm not sure you've gapped both rails of both ends of your reversing section,. That is essential, so if you haven't done so, it is the first step toward a s
Hi, Tom. Your description isn't 100% clear. I'm not sure you've gapped both rails of both ends of your reversing section,. That is essential, so if you haven't done so, it is the first step toward a s
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Don Weigt
· #13668
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question on buss wire connections
Jerry M, I agree with what Steve H wrote and the Wiring for DCC page he references. Note the RC networks are on the ends of the buses that feed power to the block detectors, not on the detected sides.
Jerry M, I agree with what Steve H wrote and the Wiring for DCC page he references. Note the RC networks are on the ends of the buses that feed power to the block detectors, not on the detected sides.
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Don Weigt
· #13620
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Power Buss Wiring using Speaker Wire vs Individual Wires Twisted together for long runs
Well, separating the two bus wires by a large distance reduces coupling between them, but also increases the difference in their coupling to and from other signals. So, separating the two DCC bus wire
Well, separating the two bus wires by a large distance reduces coupling between them, but also increases the difference in their coupling to and from other signals. So, separating the two DCC bus wire
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By
Don Weigt
· #13616
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Power Buss Wiring using Speaker Wire vs Individual Wires Twisted together for long runs
Bob L, This isn't about stranded vs solid conductors. Nor is it about coupling between the two wires in a pair. The twisting of the pair around each other helps reduce coupling of signals from that pa
Bob L, This isn't about stranded vs solid conductors. Nor is it about coupling between the two wires in a pair. The twisting of the pair around each other helps reduce coupling of signals from that pa
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Don Weigt
· #13605
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Power Buss Wiring using Speaker Wire vs Individual Wires Twisted together for long runs
Twisting wire pairs has been used for much longer than DCC has been around. In audio work, it tends to cancel noise (any unwanted signals) coupling into one pair from the currents in others. It's grea
Twisting wire pairs has been used for much longer than DCC has been around. In audio work, it tends to cancel noise (any unwanted signals) coupling into one pair from the currents in others. It's grea
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Don Weigt
· #13596
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Bus wire
John D, Using 14 gauge bus wire on a layout that size is almost certainly overkill, but won't cause any functional difficulties. We all appreciate things that, like the old Timex ads,"Take a licking a
John D, Using 14 gauge bus wire on a layout that size is almost certainly overkill, but won't cause any functional difficulties. We all appreciate things that, like the old Timex ads,"Take a licking a
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Don Weigt
· #13583
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Wall wart uses?
Every wall wart I've ever examined closely has all sorts of safety listings printed on it. And, they are used so manufacturers don't need to jump through the hoops to sell products containing the line
Every wall wart I've ever examined closely has all sorts of safety listings printed on it. And, they are used so manufacturers don't need to jump through the hoops to sell products containing the line
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Don Weigt
· #13543
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Wall wart uses?
Richard, What is the power or especially output current rating? Many wall warts are rather low power, won't even power a programming track. Also, some DC wall warts may only rectify the DC, not filter
Richard, What is the power or especially output current rating? Many wall warts are rather low power, won't even power a programming track. Also, some DC wall warts may only rectify the DC, not filter
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By
Don Weigt
· #13533
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Droppers to bus
PennsyNut, Your wiring method clearly is working for you so far. That's great. I like your mention of tugging. I'm a believer in the "tug test", at appropriate forces for each connection being tested.
PennsyNut, Your wiring method clearly is working for you so far. That's great. I like your mention of tugging. I'm a believer in the "tug test", at appropriate forces for each connection being tested.
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Don Weigt
· #13520
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Updated album Car lighting keep alive cap
#photo-notice
The values George gave will work fine. The bridge rectifier is about as low a rating as you can get, so it will be small and inexpensive. The 270 Ohm resistor will limit the inrush current to about 0.
The values George gave will work fine. The bridge rectifier is about as low a rating as you can get, so it will be small and inexpensive. The 270 Ohm resistor will limit the inrush current to about 0.
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By
Don Weigt
· #13485
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Voltage measuring issue
Michael, If both of your meters show the same symptom, then it's pretty certain not the meters. Since you have the same readings at all your boosters outputs and all over your railroad, it seems a pro
Michael, If both of your meters show the same symptom, then it's pretty certain not the meters. Since you have the same readings at all your boosters outputs and all over your railroad, it seems a pro
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By
Don Weigt
· #13463
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Voltage measuring issue
Michael, If your boosters' track voltages really were dropping by half, your trains would run much more slowly or not at all. Since that's not happening, the actual voltage can't be dropping that much
Michael, If your boosters' track voltages really were dropping by half, your trains would run much more slowly or not at all. Since that's not happening, the actual voltage can't be dropping that much
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By
Don Weigt
· #13447
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DCC lighting for passenger cars
While a capacitor across the traces that power the LEDs will help, the voltage range over which the LEDs light is small, so the capacitor can't deliver power very long before the LEDs dim and then go
While a capacitor across the traces that power the LEDs will help, the voltage range over which the LEDs light is small, so the capacitor can't deliver power very long before the LEDs dim and then go
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Don Weigt
· #13438
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Tortoise switch machines
Michael, With the two lead bicolor LED, the easiest wiring is to connect it, with a series resistor, between the two wires powering the Tortoise switch machine. When power to the Tortoise reverses, th
Michael, With the two lead bicolor LED, the easiest wiring is to connect it, with a series resistor, between the two wires powering the Tortoise switch machine. When power to the Tortoise reverses, th
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Don Weigt
· #13428
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Tortoise switch machines
Michael, If your 12 position rotary switch has a spare "deck" you could use it to switch power to the tracks. But, it's not a great idea, because those switches aren't intended for switching as much p
Michael, If your 12 position rotary switch has a spare "deck" you could use it to switch power to the tracks. But, it's not a great idea, because those switches aren't intended for switching as much p
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Don Weigt
· #13424
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Tortoise switch machines
Michael, Welcome to the wonderful wide world of model railroading and DCC! You'll f8ind there are multiple ways to do almost anything on a model railroad. How your LEDs should be wired depends on what
Michael, Welcome to the wonderful wide world of model railroading and DCC! You'll f8ind there are multiple ways to do almost anything on a model railroad. How your LEDs should be wired depends on what
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By
Don Weigt
· #13423
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Digikeijs DR5033-ADJ DCC 3 Amp Booster
Nat, It gets complicated. Adding boosters without connecting them to the cable between the command station and other boosters is challenging. The boosters' outputs all need essentially the same timing
Nat, It gets complicated. Adding boosters without connecting them to the cable between the command station and other boosters is challenging. The boosters' outputs all need essentially the same timing
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Don Weigt
· #13413
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Photo NORMAL 2-6-22.jpg uploaded
#photo-notice
Lawrence, That should work, as far as I can tell. You need to make certain there isn't wiring in the turntable that tries to make all the exit stub tracks' polarities the same, since BF7 now is the op
Lawrence, That should work, as far as I can tell. You need to make certain there isn't wiring in the turntable that tries to make all the exit stub tracks' polarities the same, since BF7 now is the op
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Don Weigt
· #13408
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Photo NORMAL 2-6-22.jpg uploaded
#photo-notice
Lawrence, Your drawing isn't clear to me. BF7/block 28 can't be connected to the same AR as the turntable, or their relative phases will never switch, and one end of the turntable will always short th
Lawrence, Your drawing isn't clear to me. BF7/block 28 can't be connected to the same AR as the turntable, or their relative phases will never switch, and one end of the turntable will always short th
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Don Weigt
· #13402
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Rebuilding layout, concerned about power requirements
#photo-notice
Nick, The main disadvantage of having unequal bus lengths is that the longest runs are longer, and their voltage drops are also greater. At some point, the wiring might need terminators to minimize DC
Nick, The main disadvantage of having unequal bus lengths is that the longest runs are longer, and their voltage drops are also greater. At some point, the wiring might need terminators to minimize DC
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Don Weigt
· #13401
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