I have a MRC Prodigy express with one throttle. I was wondering if it was possible, considering if I wired it correctly and only used one thottle controller at a time, to run a ethernet cable from the DCC system to a spliced section where it would sperate into to connectors traveling too opposite sides of the layout? So I can use the controller on both sides without having to run a long wire but instead have two moderate length wires to connect too that would lead too the system.
Below is a diagram, so basicly I'm asking if it's possible to splice the ethernet cable into two connectors (A and B) instead of one so I could plug only one throttle in on either connector (A or B) and still get it too work. I'm thinking too myself why would it not work (as long as I have just one throttle) but just making sure.
I don't have an MRC system, but what you're basically describing is a control bus. The standard way to do this is to run a cable all the way around your layout, tapping off for jacks along the way. The wire from the throttle may then be plugged into any of the jacks. On my Lenz system, and I suspect on your MRC as well, the system will actually support multiple throttles plugged in at the same time.
The only trick may be at the end of the "control bus" wire, where you may need a "terminating" resistor across the line to provide the proper impedance for the signal. Again, this is something the fine print in the instruction manual should tell you.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
My system supports up to 5 cabs but I'll probably never go beyound one with it. My layout isn't large I would just need maybe 3 connecting locations at the most... I just figured it would be cheaper (I have a bunch of ethernet cords) then going with the extension plate MRC has.
Prodigy doesn't use Ethernet cables. Yes it uses an RJ45 plug/jack which is the same as ethernet but they use flat telephone cable, not twisted pair ethernet cables. I'm trying to find wiring information on their cab bus but typical of MRC the manual says NOTHING other than "use our jack panels". Ethernet cables MIGHT work - but with no pinouts given I can't say if splicing wires liek you want to do will work or not. Or even if a commercial 2-1 coupler for RJ45 would work. And lookign on Tony's - can anyoen explain why the MRC panel woudl cost $10 more than the Digitrax ones - and this is the MRC one that does NOT provide extra power - that oen caosts a LOT more, but comes with the wall wart to power it. You only need that if you connect more than 5 cabs at the same time.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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If it makes a difference, when I first got the PE the cable that came with it was defective so since then I used ordinary ethernet cables all the time with no problem.
I just tested my theory and it works without a hitch... But thanks for everyones input.