I have Digitrax Super empire builder on my HO 1st time layout, building 2x4 & 2x6 ft modules. The basic is a dogbone with a yard with expansion built in. I am in wiring phase now and want to separate the yard from mainline now with future power districts available as it grows. I am looking at PM42 and PSX series units but don't know which way to go, single units or the quad's, Digitrax or other companies. i am alwys reading here but haven't posted much. I feel now I will posting a lot as the questions are really starting to surface. Any info greatly appreciated.
PSX's are highly reguarded. However be sure to get a newer one, as the older ones don't do well with multiple sound units.
I haven't heard enough about Digitrax's power management (PM series) to make a firm opinion. However the one opinion I have heard from a DCC "expert" is they are "questionable at best"
A common place to throw a short is on turnouts due to derailments. So breaking your layout down based on the major turnouts to spurs/sidings would be one way to go. Industry switching is heavy on turnouts, so obviously seperate them from the main.
If you have a long main line where you will be running several locos, you might want to break that down into seperate power districts as well.
-D
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
I have a PM42 that provides 4 'Power Districts', and our club has 16 PM42 units spread over three 8 amp boosters. The key to the PM42 is programming the option switches. In my case, I have each 'Power District' set for 4.5 amps and 'fastest' operation. This prevents the 5 amp booster from shutting down first. What you want is for the 'Power District' to sense the overload and shut down it's control area without the affecting the other power districts. Our clubs roundhouse area has 2 PM42 'Power Districts' - There is such a load when powering up that area with lots of sound equipped engines that we were getting PM42 shut downs at times for that area!
If you have a Digitrax system, the PM42 may be a good unit. You really need a Digitrax throttle to 'program' the units. If you have a different DCC system, the PSX units may be a better solution. Check out Tony's Trains web site - He has a lot of good information.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
I used to think the PM42 ran a poor second. But then I helped my friend hook one up on his N scale layout and it works great. Plus with a Loconet conenction and JMRI you can do things like put a shutoff switch on a panel to completely turn off a section of the layout, and pop up messages when shorts occur in various sections.
While the new PSX's supposedly handle sound decoder startup surges better, once thing I find interesting is that they only interrupt current to one rail. The older PowerShields as well as the PM42 cut off BOTH rails when a short is detected. Does it matter? Probably not, 99% of the time. I still have to do a little investigation to see if it's possibly to add the simple diode/resistor to a QSI sound decoder to stop the inrush issue - if so there will never be a problem with any circuit breaker. I did not have a problem with 3x QSI plus 2x Loksound on a Zephyr as far as short recovery, but who knows with more of them running.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks for the thoughts. I have decide to go with 2 PSX1's for now to see how this all plays out. I read up at Tonys Trains and Litchfield Station as you suggested. The PSX have their own power source on board, are solid state and adjustable break points among other key features to break in that learning curve. Maybe if I had a much larger layout the PM42 might be a better choice but I think this will be a good place to start. Thanks to all!
Larry