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

Colin

开云体育

Hello 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

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.

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Colin

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Hello Colin

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.

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Hope

This helps.

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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.

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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.

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

If you look at my post on specification it says you can apply up to 18VDC.

Power supply 3A 12-18V DC? Recommended min. 12V DC 3A 12-18V AC