I'm working with a Digitrax BDL168 on my test layout and intend to use it for detection but am having some problems. Here is a discription of my hardware and software conections.
Digitrax DCS50, UR92, BDL168, DS64, UT4D, RR-Cirkits Loco Buffer-USB, one Tortoise, and JMRI running on a Windows Vista laptop. The DCS50, UR92, BDL168, DS64 and, RR-Cirkits Loco Buffer-USB are all connected with LocoNet cables and I can read and write data via JMRI. I can also run a loco with the JMRI on screen throttle and the UT4D so I'm pretty sure I have at least all that connected correctly. I can also control the Tortoise switch machine connected to the DS64 from either the JMRI control or the switch function on the DCS50.
The rail A wire from the DCS50 is connected to terminal 1 on the BDL168. The rail B from the DCS50 is connected to the far rail on my test track. Terminal 2, 3, and 4 on the BDL168 are connected to isolated sections on the A rail. I have a gap cut in the rail, it is the near rail of my test track. So I should have active detection on three sections.
My problem is that when I attach the TL5 tester to any of the four external LED connectors the four LEDs on the top light up but the LED in the center of the tester that should show zone power dose not light up. Running a loco through the zones dose not change the statues of the LEDs.
I have been over BDL168 instructions and all the stuff online I can find and cant find anything wrong with my wiring, do I have a defective BDL168? Below are some photos of my setup.
Do you have a ground wire from Pin 11 on the BDL168 to the Zephyr?
Set the following OpSw's (not all the default! Default has transponding on, and you aren't doing that)
1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 all Thrown
11,12 Closed
13, 19, 25, 26, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45 all Thrown
You ARE turning on track power, right?
Verify the gaps, too.
Make sure your Loconet cables are correct - a flipped over one will cause issues with a BDL168, it's one of the few devices where it actually matters.
ANd you do have power to the BDL168? Pins 12 and N.(directly above one another), at least 12 volts AC.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Randy,
Yes forgot to list the ground from the DCS50 to pin #11 and I am powering the BDL168 with 12V to pin 12 and N. Track Power is on, and gaps are good. the OpSw's are set to the default settings so I will try that. I will also check that my Loconet cables are not crossed.
Thanks,
Joe
I checked to make sure you had the tester plugged into the right socket for section A, too
I guess the other odd thing, not mentioned, could be that you need to supply the input power for each section even if you are not using the outputs at the moment. Since thre is an OpSw that makes the 16th section the track power sensor when using common rail wiring - there could be something funky involved.
You said you can run trains with the JMRI throttle - I assume this is WITH the BDL168 in place. FOr the sake of complete testing, can you simplyfy things so all you have is the Zephyr and BDL168, and run a train fromt eh Zephyr console, to avoid the chance that there is any interaction with JMRI overriding something. The indication on the tester is perfectly normal - if there was no power flow, so that tells me the BDL isn;t seeing that the track power is turned on. Speaking of JMRI - do you see Loconet mesages as the loco enters each section? Or make a sensor table with the addresses of your sections and put a simple signal on a panel and see if the state changes - but you should see messages with just the Loconet Monitor window in JMRI.
And yet another possibly gotcha - the manual doesn;t say so but all of the articles in the tech support depot say to connect the booster input and each section outpout to BOTH pins - ie, 1 and A for input, 2 and B for section 1, etc. I don't have a BDL handy to look at, the two sides MIGHT just be onnected to each other on the board but give that a try and see if it helps. The only pins NOT doubled up are the AC input on 12 and N, and the Ground on 11. And make sure the contact area of the BDL is clean - there should be obvious marks from the edge connector if you look at it.
Also did you read page 10 and solder a 10k resistor to pin 22 and common to test the unit for functionality?You can test each section before hooking up by using the 10k resistor between each output and common.There are also other instructions on power up for whole system common rail, which is what it sounds like you have.
http://www.digitrax.com/ftp/bdl168.pdf
Springfield PA
Right, as Randy said, the tester should show the single LED is lit with the track power and the 4 block occupancy lights are all out with nothing there and the power on.
Turn off the track power, and you should get what the tester shows in the pic: the single LED is out, and the 4 occupancy lights are on. If you can run a train through this Zone A with the tester showing the above, then something is wrong for sure. I've had a lot of kooky things happen with our 7 BDL168's, but never that. It could be the tester that is faulty... I'd measure for voltage on the outputs for the track power LED, and see if there's anything there.
BTW, what are the little black items on each red wire near the BDL? Labels?
Oh, and don't worry about the double contacts on the BDL. These are just to increase the amp rating of the contact, nothing more.
Paul A. Cutler III
Your 12V wal-wart - is it AC or DC? If it's DC, the drop through the rectifier on the BDL might be making it too low to operate reliably.
Hamltn - his description is direct home wiring. Well, it really doesn't matter much with only a single booster connected. When ou add a second booster, it's direct home wiring if there is a gap in the common rail between boosters, or common rail wiring if there is no gap. Direct home technically means gaps in both rails at every block but since all the wires from the non-detection side would be wired all to the same booster terminal, it doesn't make sense to gap the common rail other than at booster boundaries.
Since it's a first time install I'd say test it with no track installed and then go one block at a time, testing along the way.
The gap I was talking about is not the common but between each block. Only a singel gap was mentioned.
Also looking at the feeders to the track in the pic. I don't see an obvious isolation between the 2 visible blocks. One on either end of the turnout. Unless of course insulated joiners are used.
There would only be one gap, in the rail that is connected to the BDL. From the picture he has just a simple test track with a turnout in it, not a closed loop, so with 2 gaps there are 3 isolated sections of rail.
Which brings up another point - what sort of turnout is that? If it's an Atlas you shouldbe OK but if it's some sort of power routing one, you might actually need additional feeders on the common side.
Also try putting a 22k resistor to the 4th block on the BDL to common, so all 4 sections are utilized. Shouldn't matter, but you never know.
rrinker There would only be one gap, in the rail that is connected to the BDL. From the picture he has just a simple test track with a turnout in it, not a closed loop, so with 2 gaps there are 3 isolated sections of rail. --Randy
Why only 1 gap? He has 3 detection sections. You would have to have 2 gaps as you noted. In the pic there are 2 of the 3 shown. There might be insulating joiners but if not then the 2 wouldn't be isolated from each other.
On a side note there is a firmware update available for both the UR92 and 402 throttle that fixes some of the connection issues people have been having.
Wait til he gets back I guess. It looks like there are insulating joiners in each leg of the turnout, making the three sections: turnout and track hidden behind laptop, straight leg of turnout, and diverging leg of turnout. Just my guess, hard to see in pictures.
Same things are being posted ont eh Digitrax Yahoo group - first post was "what about the ground" whichw as clarified by the OP - he DOES have the ground wirein place. Crticia - it will NOT work without the ground. Which reminds me of anothe rhting - is the ground in the correct pin ont he Zephyr? Most commonly, people mess up the program track because program A and B are not right next to each other, the Ground is in between them.
It's also on modelrailroadforums.com. Not much action on it there.
Thanks everyone for your help. It turned out to be a bad crimp on a Loconet cable. I have it working now. Now to work on my JMRI panel.
If you don't already have one, I highly recommend a GOOD METAL crimp tool like this Klein: http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical-Electrical-Tools-Accessories-Electrical-Tools/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbm76Z5zsip/R-202038310/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
The plastic junk ones always result in problems as they crimp fron an angle. The ratchet type like this always drop the die straight on the connector. One trick, check the wire after you strip it. If you insert the wire to the stop in the tool and strip it, it's almost always too long - even on the good tool. The indiividual wires need to be cut square, and push all the way to the very nose of the connector. The outer sheath should be in far enough to be grabbed by the larger piece that crimps up over it. Follow this procedure and every cable will be a good one (unless you stick one on upside downa nd make a telco cable by accident).
A bad crimp, Yeah, Just what I thought.