Hi!
This afternoon I finished the install of the "final version" of a Digitrax DCC system on my under construction HO layout. I had a problem with it, but put in a "fix", and all is well. However, I still question why the problem happened in the first place, and maybe you can enlighten me.
The system is a 5 amp DB150 Super Chief with second DCS100 configured as a booster. Each of these units has their own 5 amp power source. Each unit also leads into a DCC Specialties PSX-4 set of breakers - with each of the 8 (total) breakers leading to an isolated track "block".
All the blocks were properly wired with white 14 awg power bus handling the "outer" rails and a color 14 awg bus handling the "inner" rails. All of these were wired the same and checked accordingly.
The "rail A & rail B" connections from the DB150 & DCS100 to their respective PSX-4 was also done the same, so the A rail for the entire railroad was the same (outer) and the B was the inner.
When I powered up, I soon found that a loco would short when going from one of the DB150 power blocks to one controlled by the DCS100. It took me all of a few minutes to figure out that the "polarity" was different between the two PSX -4 sets of blocks. So, I reversed the "rail A & rail B" lead from the DCS100 (going to its PSX-4), and everything worked correctly.
Hey, that made me happy............ but, my wiring was done as "it should have been" and I can only surmise that Rail A & Rail B for the two units just aren't the same.
Any thoughts on this?????? Again, all is well, the railroad runs great. But, I'm missing something and it caused me to write this post.
Thanks all,
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Ding ding ding! You're a winner! You got one of the DB150's with the A and B terminals wired backwards.
Although you might want to check the Loconet cables between your DCS100 and DB150, if one of them is wired like a phone cord instead of a data cable, that will reverse the railsync connections which will have the effect of reversing the Rail A and Rail B connections.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
For starters, you are confusing me with the terminology. A DB150 is an Empire Builder and a booster. The DCS100 is the Chief and a booster. You said, "...a 5 amp DB150 Super Chief with second DCS100 configured as a booster." Do you really have a 2nd DCS100? Or do you mean that you have one DCS100 set up as the "master" and a DB150 set up as a "booster only"?
Anyways, as Randy said, you have to make sure that your LocoNet is wired correctly between boosters and brain. Also, I would recommend that you connect both Ground wires together (that might help with the synchronization).
Next, check your power supplies. Are they plugged into the same polarity? Are they wired the same to the booster and brain?
Finally, there is the "what the heck" reason... The DB150's are also set up to be auto-reversers. They are actually made to flip polarity...and sometimes something sets them off. For example, at my club, one of our freight yards has it's own booster. It's been installed for years without issue. One day, it flipped polarity. I don't know why, but it did. I flipped wires, and everything worked again, but it's confused me to this day. I checked the Digitrax Forum, and so far no one has found a reason. It's an easy fix, and it hasn't happened since, but it's odd.
Paul A. Cutler III
Sorry for the confusion...... I have a DCS100 (sourced from the Super Chief) and a DB150 sourced from the Empire Builder. The DCS100 is the "main", the DB150 is the second booster.
The loconet wire used to connect the two is one of the short ones that came with the Super Chief, and I actually looked at the connectors and they are wired identically.
The two power supplies (5 amp Digitrax) are plugged into the surge protector identically. However, I "assumed" that there was a polarity factor with the wires leading from the power supplies. Is there???
As Randy said (I assume he was serious), perhaps I got one of the units with the wires to A&B reversed?
Thanks,
mobilman44However, I "assumed" that there was a polarity factor with the wires leading from the power supplies. Is there???
mobilman44As Randy said (I assume he was serious), perhaps I got one of the units with the wires to A&B reversed?
Like everyone so far has said, if your loconet cable is data style (pin 1 to pin1) you have one of the DB150's with reversed outputs.
BANTRAK owns two DCS200's and a DB200 . The DCS200's were received from Digitrax in the same package. One of the DCS200 has been reverse phased since day one. The second DCS200 matches the DB200, my personal DB150 and Zephyr, and another member's DB150. I tried making the errant DCS an autoreverser, shorted it one time and it swapped phase. Then I reset the Option switch to return it to non-auto reversing. It went right back to being reverse phased.
Since ours are used on modular layouts and each is mounted in its own portable box with accessories, we have installed a "phase correction" system on its box. Just a jumper plug that can be moved to one of two positions to correct phase. We just move the jumper to whichever position matches the phase of the adjoining power district.
A simple way to check the phase of each booster is to dial up address 00, turn the speed up to 99 and compare the color of the track status lights on each booster. If they colors match, the track outputs will match. If one is red and the other green, outputs are out of phase. Don't forget to return address 00 to zero speed and dispatch when done.
Martin Myers
HI !
Thank you all for the input - it is appreciated!
While I know little about electronics, I am experienced with "wiring". When I realized the two PSX -4s (each with 4 blocks) were out of phase, I checked and rechecked the color coded wiring I installed. It was correctly done. Obviously something was "out of sync" and I couldn't find it - and that really made me question what I had done.
Knowing that - in all likelihood - the DB150 and DCS100 are probably out of sync due manufacturing differences really makes me feel "good".
Like I said, all is well and I am extremely pleased with the Digitrax and DCC (and sound) in general. The layout's two mainlines are fully functional, and it is sooooo cool to run locos from one to the other in either direction and not have to worry about those pesky DC block switches. Ha, on the other side of the fence, I came "that close" to having a head-on!
Frankly, my interest in the hobby is now as high as it was when I built that first major (for me) HO layout in the early '70s - a 14 x 8 "U" shape with Athearn locos and Athearn/MDC kit built cars.
ENJOY,
Just to give you a bit more confidence that this is the correct solution, here is the article from the Digitax knowledge-base.
http://tsd.digitrax.com/index.php?a=865
I had the exact same problem. I knew my wiring was good and tore my hair out trying to figure it out.
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
mobilman44 Hi! This afternoon I finished the install of the "final version" of a Digitrax DCC system on my under construction HO layout. I had a problem with it, but put in a "fix", and all is well. However, I still question why the problem happened in the first place, and maybe you can enlighten me. The system is a 5 amp DB150 Super Chief with second DCS100 configured as a booster. Each of these units has their own 5 amp power source. Each unit also leads into a DCC Specialties PSX-4 set of breakers - with each of the 8 (total) breakers leading to an isolated track "block". All the blocks were properly wired with white 14 awg power bus handling the "outer" rails and a color 14 awg bus handling the "inner" rails. All of these were wired the same and checked accordingly. The "rail A & rail B" connections from the DB150 & DCS100 to their respective PSX-4 was also done the same, so the A rail for the entire railroad was the same (outer) and the B was the inner. When I powered up, I soon found that a loco would short when going from one of the DB150 power blocks to one controlled by the DCS100. It took me all of a few minutes to figure out that the "polarity" was different between the two PSX -4 sets of blocks. So, I reversed the "rail A & rail B" lead from the DCS100 (going to its PSX-4), and everything worked correctly. Hey, that made me happy............ but, my wiring was done as "it should have been" and I can only surmise that Rail A & Rail B for the two units just aren't the same. Any thoughts on this?????? Again, all is well, the railroad runs great. But, I'm missing something and it caused me to write this post. Thanks all, Mobilman44
I had a similar issue. A number of the DB150s came out with the Rail A/Rail B terminals reversed. Some folks have stated that it is because it can also be an autoreverser and there is a 50/50 chance of the polarity being right. I question that idea. You can also set the DB150 to be an autoreverser to avoid the issue too but I took your approach and reversed the outputs.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
Just a note from an NCE user which reflects on the same problem, My layout is divided into 4 power districts each with an NCE booster attached. I had the same problem going from one power district to the next one, and finally decided one booster was wires wrong from the factory. I reversed the wires on that booster and never had any problem since. Even the factory guys can make a mistake.
Bob
Don't think I'll run intot his problem, at least not on this layout. 5 amps is more than enough to pwoer it, so I will have a single DB150 powering the layout. It won;t matter which way the terminals are wired. The Zephyr output will drive my stationary decoders - so a track short won't prevent operating a turnout to possibly clear it.
At least, that's the plan as of today. Subject to change. I'm still debating on where to mount the Zephyr - it would be perfect as the cab for the cement plant but I thinkt he better option is to mount it on my workbench for easy programmign and testing and just provide a throttle port for the cement plant.