I posted about a issue a few weeks ago. Engines seemed to be running at half speed sometimes and I have the DB 150 on HO scale. It started working again (once in a while it would act up then correct it self) so I never tested it.
Tonight a new problem appeared. I was running two engines and had 3 sound engines running in the back ground. Then all went quite, no chirps just quite. Looked at the DB 150 and the green power light was off? First time I have seen that? Unplugged the power supply a few minutes (It felt warm but not hot when I unplugged it) Let it set a few minutes and plugged it back in and everything is back to normal?
While I do not think this is a factor, I have my PR 3 hooked to a Loconet port and using my computer for throttles.
So how do I tell if its the power supply, or the DB 150 going bad?
Only test equment I have is one of the cheap Harbor Freight Meters. Please tell me what settings to set it to for testing different components.
I now have 5 engines running and everything seems fine again?
Ken
I hate Rust
Can you use another power supply, Ken? If it does the trick, you would be off an running. The green light should be a firm indication that power has been interrupted at the input side.
Crandell
Ken, sounds like the power supply is playing up. I don't recall what power supply you have for the DB? For sure it will have thermal protection of some kind. Your description suggests that this is what the problem is and that when it was un-plugged it reset.
Make sure it had good air circulation.
Check this out on the Digitrax web site http://ikm.digitrax.com/questions/1278/Troubleshooting+Guide+for+Digitrax+Command+Station+or+Booster+Problems
no LED light = power supply or power supply connection issue.
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
Hard to tell with an intermittant error, but if it acts up gain, you can check the voltage at the power connections of the DB150 to see if the power supply is actually putting out anything. With the green power LED off, it's probbaly not. Or it's dropped too low for the DB150 to function.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Also, make sure that the grey plug on the front of the DB150 is firmly seated, and that all your connections to that plug are clean and tight.
Thanks for the reply's. System is working fine again? Hard to fix something that will not stay broken.
Only thing I have done since I originally installed the SEB (3 years ago) was add the PR 3 by Loconet and that was 2 weeks ago.
Should I be unplugging the power supply when not in uses? I have been turning the system off by the DB 150.
Sure glad I still have the Bachmann E Z Command still!
Ken, I don't think it is broken at all. If it is thermal cut out on the power supply then it is working correctly. Just make sure that the power supply is not covered by a bunch of stuff.
Simon, it was sitting on the bare concrete floor and nothing was sitting on it. Had not been moved in 3 years.
If it is not a connection issue, and I would take the time to open, clean and reseat all connections, and it is not a normal overheat problem, then the power supply might be on the way out. What brand, make and model of power supply do you have?
Ken:
With all the electrical problems you have had perhaps your layout needs an exorcism
Joe
Boy Joe that was helpful, trying to get some metals?
Simon It is a PS514.
simon1966clean and reset all connections
Do you mean open up the DB 150 and clean it with say CRC? I know, have it unplugged if that is what you are talking about.
Ken, you know how on a whim you run a finger over the top moulding on a door frame and look at what sticks? Well, that stuff accumulates inside of vented electronics, too. It is a good idea to run a thin soft cleaner or rag through heat dissipation vanes, such as those on the back of a DB150 about once every 200 hours of use. If the power supply is vented, as mine is (It is the one Digitrax offers for the DB150, and mine does get warm, and I do keep it in a place where cooling air can rise around it...mine sits on a small block of 2X4 to get a chimney effect of air around it), it maybe could stand a careful blast of compressed air.
The other cleaning the guys are talking about is taking the wire ends out of the multi-station terminal plug that is on the front plate of the DB150, maybe spraying a contact cleaner, reinserting and tightening the ends, and then restoring the terminal block back into the DB150.
It's possible the power supply is failing under load. Buddy of mine had one that worked great up to about 1 amp. over an amp, the voltage fell off. Quarter test would fail too. Replaced the power supply and all is well. So if cleaning doesn't work, try testing its output with a load. Tail lamp bulb would be sufficient as a load.
martin Myers
Thanks for all the answers folks.
Hum the quarter test. Sometimes when there is a derailment, the DB 150 does not chirp? Been meaning to look into that.
I will clean up and blow what I can Thursday is I find time.