i have an ho scale layout two levels and i have a db150 command station , i have my layout blocked out through a series of 5 buss lines. What is the best way to create a programming section on my layout? the track wire is the same as the prog. wire. simple solution
A good place to start would be here
http://tsd.digitrax.com/index.php?a=1442
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
Hi,
I also have a two level HO layout - with Digitrax DCC. My programming track is a "normal looking" siding in the engine terminal, long enough for a set of 4 locos to be programmed at the same time. It is totally isolated from the other tracks via insulated rail joiners and a little space between the joint. The DB150 programming wires are hooked directly to it.
Yes, I have to manually push the locos on and off the track, but that's ok for me. I could have wired a dpdt toggle in to go from programming to regular operation, but chose not to do that.
Anyway, it works like a charm, and you cannot tell it from any other siding by looks.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I have a DB150 powering my layout. I do not leave loco's on powered tracks. When I am done running I put them in an engine terminal and shut off the track power with DPDT toggles for each track. I do the programming on the main but I don't have to worry about the other locos. I like programming on the main as opposed to a separate programming track. At my club we have a section of track on a board connected to the programming section of the DCS200.
I'd go with Daves advise and get the Auto sw I think its about 20 american.
also you were the one who had the problem last year with the psx-ar ,all is good still ? did they ever tell what was wrong with youre unit ? just currios since Im having a similar problem with one ...Jerry
The first unit they sent me was bad so i sent it back and got a different one plugged it in and now i have two one for the top and one for the bottom. They are the slickest thing ever. never have problems knock on wood. Thanks for all your help. I do have one more question what guage wire should i use to power my slow motion switch machines and lighting all my structures? 14,18,20 and what is the best and least expensive way to power those lines. will a dc cheep blue box control work or do i need something more advanced and does the tortois us dc or ac power? What is the problem your having with psx-ar?
hi bnsf; had bad programing day ,more or less ,its fixed now thanks to Randy's advise . you can follow on a another thread
as far as you're other questions ,you mite want to repost as I dought you'll reach those who know if you mix you're question in to a response IMHO, its a good question and Id like to follow for future.
thanks for getting back to me ..Jerry
The DB150 does not have dedicated program track abilities. when you set the address of a loco with it, it sends those signals to the main buss lines and that will program all engines to that address. The DCS50, DCS51, DCS100 and DCS200 can all be set up with a program track. I have done this with a 3 position DPDT switch. Here is the schematic below.
I just found an error in the schematic, let me fix it and I will repost it.
Just isolate the area you want as the program track at both rails and follow the wiring for the switch and then you can run trains across that section as well as use it for programing. Using a 3 position switch will also prevent power feedback of the main rail power to the program leads. Some cheaper DPDT switches may not disconnect from one side before connecting to the other side. THis is bad and could damage the command station.
Massey
A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."
Hopefully that's TWO schematics, because the way to do it for a DCS50/DCS51/DCS100/DCS200 is not the same as the way you would do it for a DB150.
The picture for the DB150 is in the manual, also I would consider Dave's suggestion to use the NCE AUto-Switch, it's a nifty gadget that will work just as well on the Digitrax DB150 as it does on the PowerCab, and there will be no chance of user error like forgetting to flip the toggle switch. If you would liek to have a properly isolated drive on/drive off program track with the AutoSwitch, the two outputs of the AutoSwitch, Main Track and Program Track, would eb wired in the same manner as wiring the DCS100 or other system with a dedicated program track, because what the AUtoSwitch does is essentially what the other command stations do internally.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.