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Why does my booster "beep"?

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  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Vernon BC
  • 28 posts
Why does my booster "beep"?
Posted by OK LANDING on Monday, February 23, 2009 7:17 PM

 

 

I recently added a DB150 booster to complement my Digitrax DCS 100, dividing my layout into 2 power districts. Each of these power districts is divided into 2 subdistricts using a PM 42. When I power up the layout, the DB150 beeps 5 times. The manual describes this as a “booster short circuit shutdown”, although the layout operates normally. The booster also beeps 5 times when I shut the layout down after a session. These beeps are of shorter duration. Is this something I should be concerned about? Apart from this, everything runs smoothly, and the PM 42 works as it should. I tried flipping one of the plugs on the cable connecting the booster to the command station, with no change.

I've run out of ideas.

Errol


       Errol

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Modeling Canadian Pacific's Okanagan Branch In The 1950's

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Vernon BC
  • 28 posts
Posted by OK LANDING on Monday, February 23, 2009 8:49 PM

davidmbedard

 Did you call Digitrax about it?

David B

Good point, David, I'll give that a try.

Errol

       Errol

__________________________________________________

Modeling Canadian Pacific's Okanagan Branch In The 1950's

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
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Posted by simon1966 on Monday, February 23, 2009 9:13 PM

My DB150 in booster mode beeps 5 times upon power up.  I believe that it is normal behavior and is associated with the booster looking for the command station to take control. 

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

  • Member since
    December 2006
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Posted by DANSGRANDPAPA on Thursday, March 5, 2009 2:05 PM

I also have a DB150, comes stock with the digitrax empire builder set, same story on power up the beeps begin. I have been using it for years with no issues. I just figured the manual had a misprint. But like I said.......no issues, and I have never been sorry for the purchase!

Doug

  • Member since
    March 2009
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Posted by cptsail on Thursday, March 5, 2009 2:56 PM

I had the same issue with my booster.  According the manual, 5 beeps indicates that the internal battery is going bad.  It's a standard large watch type battery and easy to replace.  When it is replaced, you will have no beeps upon startup. 

  • Member since
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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Thursday, March 5, 2009 5:52 PM

 Are you sure it's 5? Everythign I've seen says this is normal when there is an additional booster with the command station. It might actually be 6 beeeps, which is command station already present. I assume you have the jumpers on the DB150 to make it a booster only? Do you power them on and off at the same time, or one at a time? Try turnign on JUST the DCS100, give it a second for the Loconet to stabilize, and then turn on the DB150.

                                            --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Vernon BC
  • 28 posts
Posted by OK LANDING on Thursday, March 5, 2009 7:19 PM

rrinker

 Are you sure it's 5? Everythign I've seen says this is normal when there is an additional booster with the command station. It might actually be 6 beeeps, which is command station already present. I assume you have the jumpers on the DB150 to make it a booster only? Do you power them on and off at the same time, or one at a time? Try turnign on JUST the DCS100, give it a second for the Loconet to stabilize, and then turn on the DB150.

                                            --Randy

 

If I turn the DCS 100 on and wait a few seconds before turning on the DB 150, I do get 6 beeps.I haven't altered anything on the DB 150 out of the box. Are the jumpers internal? I didn't get a manual with it.

Errol

       Errol

__________________________________________________

Modeling Canadian Pacific's Okanagan Branch In The 1950's

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
  • 5,743 posts
Posted by simon1966 on Thursday, March 5, 2009 9:14 PM

Everything you need, including manual PDF's are on the Digitrax web site

Beeping noises reference

http://www.digitrax.com/kb/index.php?a=908

 

 the manual  http://www.digitrax.com/ftp/superempire.pdf

Page 24 of the manual shows the procedure for adding the link to make it a booster.

 

 

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 1,206 posts
Posted by mfm37 on Thursday, March 5, 2009 10:21 PM

 5 beeps is normal behavior for a DB150 when it's acting as a slave booster to another command station. It happens because for a fraction of a second when main power is shut down, rail sync is shorted to ground and the DB150 correctly reports it as a short.  Then it shuts track power down.

Martin Myers

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