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Lian:

Did you purchase the DR4018's directly from Digikeijs or a dealer?

How did you confirm the reset worked on all outputs?

Dennis

I have 2 x DR4018 that refuse to work correctly when I set them to CV47=6 for 8x point motors. The units will work correctly on the first 7 points but in the 8th they both give a constant output on #15 and a low voltage output on #16 when switched that way. I have proved this by using a 2 aspect signal which displays a full red irrespective of the setting for switch #8.

I have reset the unit CV8=8 several times, and confirmed it is resetting, then rest CV47=6 and the issue is always there. Another DR4018 works correctly on all ports. I have also tried using a separate 15v DC power source to isolate that possible?issue.

I went to the Digikeijs website to create an RMA but I get a blank white page w2hen I go to create new return :(

Any suggestions how to either fix the DR4018 or to get an RMA from Digikeijs to have the units replaced/repaired?

Iain

I am building a small automated layout with detection using Stand-Alone Loconet and NCE PowerCab Command STATION.

The original plan had been to use a Digitrax BDL168.

Having bought both a Digitrax PR4 and a BDL168 and spent several days building a loconet terminator it soon became apparent that this configuration was too complicated with regard to RailSync together with the lack of Command Station ground connection hich needed a pseudo ground circuit!

I finally decided that a better way to go was to change to the Digikeijs DR4088LN-CS and a RR Circuits Locobuffer USB,? with a Sprog3 for a Command Station.

As neither of these two devices will act as a loconet terminator I also purchased a M?llehem G?rdsproduktion Loconet Terminator.

Having wired it all together on a small test board the DR4088LN-CS worked first time without any problems and at less than half the cost of a BDL168 for the same number of Inputs (16).

?

Colin

Dennis

Thanks for the update.

I have previously used CDUs to fire more than one solenoid turnout motors per Accessory Decoder output, hence the question.? But to be quite honest with you The DR4018 is so cheap that I would just add a second decoder in the future.

I personaly have found that even a Peco PL-10 fitted to a N Gauge turnout can be a bit iffy at 12v so it is nice to be able to go to 18V DC

Colin

A new DR4018 manual for the US English version is being finalized before release.

Here is what the manual says about powering the DR4018.

2.2 Technical specifications The connection terminals for power and signal (track voltage) are designed for a cross-section of 0.5 mm?.
The terminals for Out 1- 8 are designed for a cross-section of 0.34 mm?.
Each Out (1-8) consists of two outputs.
The terminal with the designation "C" is always the common pole and always carries (+) potential.
Terminals 1-18 are the respective outputs and always carry (-) potential.
The DR4018 switches to minus (-).

Protocol Max. Load per Out 1 - Out 8 = 2amps
Total current of all outputs 3 amps
Power supply 3A 12-18V DC? Recommended min. 12V DC 3A 12-18V AC

Note on power supply: When using "old" transformers (AC output), malfunctions may occur during operation under certain circumstances.? When using a transformer, it must also be noted that the output voltage of the transformer must be multiplied by 1.4 and therefore a higher voltage is applied to the output of the DR4018 than to the input (power). For this reason we generally recommend the use of switching power supplies with at least 12V (DC) output voltage (DC voltage) and 3A output power at maximum load of the outputs.

A CDU is only for a DC layout using ON/OFF or Momentary switches to prevent the turnout coils from getting hot and melting the plastic housing.

On Sun, Apr 21, 2019 at 09:08 AM, James wrote:

Hello Colin

You asked if you can us a CDU with the dr4018. So I answered this question.

Dennis has told you how to us the dr4018 with ?solenoids witch does work but all you must do is use an external power supply to Moore the dr4018 and not use track power.

?

Hope

This helps.

?

James

James

I took Dennis’s reply:

‘That should work wired directly to the DR4018 using Preset 0.’

To mean that a CDU should work when connected to the power terminals of the DR4018, as that was my original question.

I then read:

‘That makes the outputs momentary on each way.
Wire it with the Center pin of the soleniod to the 'C' terminal on the DR4018 and pins 1 & 2 to each side of the solenoid.’

And took that to mean that the wiring for solenoid was as stated.

It never occurred to me that Dennis was not referring to a CDU, and I am sorry that I may have misread Dennis’s reply as I did not mean to offend either of you.

Please accept my sincere apologies.

?

Colin.

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Hello Colin

OK.

So I have James who says ‘No’, and Dennis who says ‘Should’.

Do I have a vote for Can?

Or shall I buy a DR4018 and try it, at the risk of destroying it!

I would of course use all outputs for the solenoid operators (Preset 0) and connect and 16V CDU (such as a SEEP GMC-CDU from Gaugemaster) to the power terminals only.

I know that this is a very young Group and no contributor appears to have a role within it except for Dennis (Group owner, who obviously has direct contact with Digikeijs).

Together with some of the instruction sheets being a little short on detail I do appreciate all those people who make the effort to?contribute but a disparate reply as to these in post #47 & #48 are disconcerting.

?

Yesterday I received a DR4088LN-CS which I am hoping will replace a problematic Digitrax BDL168 in a ‘Stand Alone’ Loconet configuration, I will start a new Topic to report back as to how I get on.

?

Colin

That should work wired directly to the DR4018 using Preset 0.

That makes the outputs momentary on each way.

Wire it with the Center pin of the soleniod to the 'C' terminal on the DR4018 and pins 1 & 2 to each side of the solenoid.

Dennis

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Hello Colin

Is it possible to connect the unit input? Power terminals from a CDU (Capacitor Discharge Unit) to operate Peco/SEEP turnout solenoids?

Colin

How does everyone else feed all the accessories - other than using the track? What's the favourite way of providing a number of 12v feeds from one supply?

Thanks for your comments.

I don't connect any accessory decoders to track power. If DCC is needed I use a separate bus fed from a dedicated booster or before the circuit breaker of a track feeding booster. If 12v d.c. I use a commercial power supply (though have built my own in the past). If 16v a.c. a separate transformer.

Mike Ruby

Glad I could help

Andy

On 17/04/2019 17:27, andrew whitaker via Groups.Io wrote:

Hi Chris,
Have you adjusted the position of the motors? I have just fitted 14 pl11s to a couple of dr4018s and found that I had to move a few of them into or away from the points lever because the point wasn’t throwing properly, certainly got the oomph as you put it to throw them though, are the points switching freely by hand, may need to loosen track pins if that’s how you’ve stuck them down.
Hope this helps
Andy

Hi Andy

Just to report back that your advice has proved successful! The first PL11 was moved just enough to ease the control bar and it now works flawlessly. Investigation of the second PL11 showed something different - miswiring. Despite me knowing that the green wire is common, I had miswired which caused non-operation in one direction.

So many thanks for your help.

Meanwhile regarding Iain's suggestion - yes, I did in fact have this problem when I first installed the DR4018. It took only one command to drop the input volts below 9v, and then didn't recover.

I was using a power distribution board by Blocksignalling - PS4 - which is a very good way of feeding accessories - but each output is limited to 1 amp, not nearly enough for a 4018.

How does everyone else feed all the accessories - other than using the track? What's the favourite way of providing a number of 12v feeds from one supply?

Thanks for your comments.



--
Chris

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Chris, your correct, I have the manual file now from Digikeijs and starting to correct and update the manual.? If anyone knows technical errors that need to be fixed let me know.

I am correcting some of the translations and omission right now.

Some should come along and help you with the setup for you Peco Plii's

Dennis

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Hi Chris,

Have you adjusted the position of the motors? I have just fitted 14 pl11s to a couple of dr4018s and found that I had to move a few of them into or away from the points lever because the point wasn’t throwing properly, certainly got the oomph as you put it to throw them though, are the points switching freely by hand, may need to loosen track pins if that’s how you’ve stuck them down.

Hope this helps
Andy

On 17/04/2019 13:48, Iain Morrison wrote:

There may a problem then as the one on the Digikeijs website (modified 08/04/2019 but dated 23/12/18) has more information contained within it that the one you have uploaded.
You actually need to refer to both to get all the information

Does anyone find the DR4018 hasn't the oomph to switch Peco PL-11 side-mounted turnout motors?

If so, can anything be done to improve this, such as lengthening the duration of the switch pulse?

--
Chris