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Re: Basic DCC Wiring Diagram?

 

Bill D,

The basic concept seems simple to me. Others may correct me, if they disagree:

Each booster powers a "Division"/district/portion of the track of a model railroad. One or more breakers connect each booster to the track.?

Boosters to breakers to tracks....

IF only one breaker is used, it simply adds more protection between the booster and all of the track that booster powers, or separates the track into two districts, one of which has separate short circuit protection. A short in that district won't stop trains in the second district, which is connected directly to the booster output. An auto-reverser is a special case of this.

If multiple breakers are used with a booster, they permit dividing the track powered by that booster into smaller districts, each separately protected, so that the effects of shorts are more localized. Part of the track powered by that booster is still usable. Only the part connected to one breaker shuts down, the others are still powered. That usually also allows lower current limits, as fewer trains typically run in any one district. Lower current limits reduce wheel pitting from arcing, and the likelihood of damage to the trains or railroad.

--
Don Weigt
Connecticut
Re: Basic DCC Wiring Diagram?

 

Allan,

? I also am looking forward to your book.? And hoping that key items such as this diagram will
be made available online as well.? Perhaps putting a link in them to how to order the book?
This is very basic stuff - and it, predictably, comes up on the DCC oriented groups all the
time (literally).? So we need a "one reference to rule them all" and I humbly suggest it be
this group.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - Jim in the PNW
Re: Basic DCC Wiring Diagram?

 

Looking forward to the book Allan.

Bill D
N&W Steam Only
Re: Basic DCC Wiring Diagram?

 

Hi Jim,

I have created such a diagram for my upcoming (hopefully) book.? It is supposed to be out this year.? I'd put the diagram on my website, but the publisher probably wouldn't like that.

Allan Gartner
Wiring for DCC
Basic DCC Wiring Diagram?

 

Hi all,

? I tried to find a basic wiring diagram that shows the recommended relationship
between the booster districts and breaker districts - on the w4dcc website and
did not discover what I'm looking for - does it exist?? If it does please point me to it.
Even if it is not on the w4dcc website.

? What I'm looking for is a big picture "block diagram" that show how a DCC layout
should be wired.? If it doesn't exist anywhere on the web (highly unlikely) then I
will create one.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - Jim in the PNW
Re: Daisy chaining a PSXX-AR to PSX-AR already chained to PSX?

 

Juergen,

? Your situation is - almost always - caused by one or more "wiring errors".? Think about your wiring
this way?

? Every booster district is separated from all other booster districts by double gaps ... everywhere.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?- and -
? Every breaker district is separated from all other breaker districts by double gaps ... everywhere.

? The most common wiring errors are either the double gaps aren't working (unlikely but not?
unheard of) or there are one of more sections of track bus that have feeders that cross booster
or breaker districts (the same track power bus is wired to track on more than one booster/breaker
district).

? "Divide and Conquer".

? The best way to find these is to first find out 'what's really happening' ... by cutting power (removing
the connections at a terminal block?) to all of the districts and then connecting them back up One At A
Time - all the while testing what track is/isn't powered (RRamp meter, light bulb, old style meter).
After you have figured out which track blocks are connected when they shouldn't be -then- go under
the layout and figure out where the incorrect wiring is.?
? Somewhere you have two (more?) districts connected to each other.

? Often the layout owner won't even know this wiring problem has happened - because trains will Run
fine ... until?there is a short (somebody runs a turnout or a derailment) and then trains in more than one
district?will stop/come back alive after the short is cleared.

? The whole purpose of having booster/breaker districts is to isolate others from the shorts that you
experience - as much as possible.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?- Jim in the PNW

P.S. If you live in the PNW contact me - off list - and I'll see if we can set up a time for me to visit.
Re: Daisy chaining a PSXX-AR to PSX-AR already chained to PSX?

 

That's right. I have a need help with my 2 pm74 on both the 2&3 ds light up on both. But not ds1 . And the first pm74 is clicking . Ra rb main bus from the camand? station to the firstpm74 same to the 2 pm74 but from the booster. We know that ds 2&3 are working when you do the quarter trick you get sparks & a short in the pm74 but nothing in ds1 let me know what your opinion is.


On Fri, Mar 22, 2024, 10:51 AM Don Vollrath, <donevol43@...> wrote:
So the right answer for best operation is to always connect the INPUT wires of a PSX.. or PSX AR or other brand/type circuit breaker or AR controller directly from the booster.

DonV
Re: Daisy chaining a PSXX-AR to PSX-AR already chained to PSX?

 

So the right answer for best operation is to always connect the INPUT wires of a PSX.. or PSX AR or other brand/type circuit breaker or AR controller directly from the booster.

DonV
Re: Daisy chaining a PSXX-AR to PSX-AR already chained to PSX?

 

Jeremy said ...

? I¡¯m still uncertain of any compatability issues between wiring psxx-ar to a PSx output.??

? Look at it this way - the output of any PSX is supposed to connect to "track it is protecting".? If
you connect the output side of any PSX to another PSX (any PSXX, AR, etc.) then you can have
"timing issues" with respect to which PSX trips and whether or not both of them trip.? And the
behavior can be 'sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't' or sometimes it works one way and
the next time a different way.

? The simplest method is to use the daisy-chaining connections of J1 ("input") in order to
connect up?a second (or third, etc.) PSX.? Although it is possible to have the input of a
PSX device (again?any to/from any)?connected to?the output of another PSX and
everything will work as desired.
? The more common result is for trains crossing that boundary to either stall and have to be
pushed across the gaps - or hesitate and then move ... sometimes it is several hesitations
before it will run normally.

? Does this help?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - Jim in the PNW
Re: Daisy chaining a PSXX-AR to PSX-AR already chained to PSX?

 

FWIW One more data point on this: ?the DCC Guy on YouTube reviewed the PSXX-AR (?)
- talked to the developer about why the AR J1 input was connected to PSXX J2 output: ?the PSXX circuit breaker protection is more robust than the AR.
- identified a input/output wiring mistake in the original manual.

I¡¯m still uncertain of any compatability issues between wiring psxx-ar to a PSx output. ?
And having some ?apparent phase issues entering and exiting AR blocks¡­ especially with steamers with opposite rail pickups a few inches apart - loco stalls on exit w/o tripping either breaker - needs to be pushed so tender is completely beyond the gap.
Re: N scale cameras

 

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On Mar 19, 2024, at 2:26?PM, Robin Becker <rbgroups@...> wrote:

? People have pushed small cube cameras around on flat cars in n scale for years now.? I have one around here somewhere.? They are self contained, no external power required.? Suggest searching Amazon or eBay.
Robin

Robin Becker
San Diego CA

Mar 19, 2024 10:24:08 AM Allan AE2V <bigboy@...>:

Hi Lawrence,

I can't say anything about available cameras for N-scale.? You would think with what they can put in cell phones, that the technology small enough should be doable.

In any event, I'm here to answer your question about using DCC to convert to 5 VDC.? Yes, it can be done.? You will need a bridge rectifier, a capacitor for? a bit of filtering and a voltage regulator like a 7805.

If you wondering if this will fit in an N-scale loco, it will definitely fit in an N-scale dummy; especially if you want that mythical camera!

Allan Gartner
Wiring for DCC

Re: Digitrax UT4R Throttle Repairs?

 

Hi BIll,

If no one here has a solution for you, you may have better luck on the Digitrax groups.io forum.

Be aware, most companies give up servicing their vintage products when replacement parts are no longer made.? This is a common problem in the electronics industry.? Much of my last job was scouring the market for surplus parts so that we could put off a complete redesign as long as possible.??

We often got notices of last time buys before a company shut down the production line.? Once this happened and we tried to ask for more parts.? They informed us that the production line and building no longer existed.? They had been selling out of their warehouse for years and never told anyone until they were almost out of parts.

Good luck in your quest.

Allan Gartner
Wiring for DCC

Digitrax UT4R Throttle Repairs?

 

My?Digitrax UT4R has stopped working properly.? This has happened before, then I send it and money to Digitrax and they fix it.? Now, they say they're out of that business.? Anybody else doing it?? Thanks.
--
Bill Mosteller
Great Decals!
www.greatdecals.com

Re: N scale cameras

 

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People have pushed small cube cameras around on flat cars in n scale for years now.? I have one around here somewhere.? They are self contained, no external power required.? Suggest searching Amazon or eBay.
Robin

Robin Becker
San Diego CA

Mar 19, 2024 10:24:08 AM Allan AE2V <bigboy@...>:

Hi Lawrence,

I can't say anything about available cameras for N-scale.? You would think with what they can put in cell phones, that the technology small enough should be doable.

In any event, I'm here to answer your question about using DCC to convert to 5 VDC.? Yes, it can be done.? You will need a bridge rectifier, a capacitor for? a bit of filtering and a voltage regulator like a 7805.

If you wondering if this will fit in an N-scale loco, it will definitely fit in an N-scale dummy; especially if you want that mythical camera!

Allan Gartner
Wiring for DCC

Re: N scale cameras

 

Hi Lawrence,

I can't say anything about available cameras for N-scale.? You would think with what they can put in cell phones, that the technology small enough should be doable.

In any event, I'm here to answer your question about using DCC to convert to 5 VDC.? Yes, it can be done.? You will need a bridge rectifier, a capacitor for? a bit of filtering and a voltage regulator like a 7805.

If you wondering if this will fit in an N-scale loco, it will definitely fit in an N-scale dummy; especially if you want that mythical camera!

Allan Gartner
Wiring for DCC

Re: sub bus for detection units

 

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Jim thanks your info mirrors what I have found?

On Mar 18, 2024, at 1:00?PM, Jim Betz <jimbetz@...> wrote:

?? ... also - go to the LCC group for info on that ... - Jim

Re: sub bus for detection units

 

? ... also - go to the LCC group for info on that ... - Jim

Re: sub bus for detection units

 

Daniel,

? LCC signaling is more about "detection" than you seem to be understanding.? Many guys struggle
with the granularity required for detection for signals - you need more segments/sections of your RR
detected than you may initially understand in order to do signals.
? The wiring between the track and the detection device(s) should not be twisted.? After them is OK.

? Perhaps different terminology will help.? I like to use booster districts (and sub-districts), breaker districts
(and sub-districts) and track blocks.? A track block can be track, turnouts, or even interlockings.? The
track blocks are the part that can not have twisted wires.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - hope this helps ... Jim in the PNW

Re: sub bus for detection units

 

The direct link that Steve provided is very helpful. Be sure to read beyond the first couple of pages.

DonV

N scale cameras

 

HI,
Has anyone found a way to place a camera in front of a locomotive?
Also can DCC power be picked up with metal wheels and converted to 5 volts DC for USB devices?

Thanks?

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