I posted this on the Yahoo Digitrax board as well but figure there are a lot more readers on this web page to try to find an answer to my question.
The Zephyr currently handles one section of my layout and the DB150 two sections of the layout.
With the PM42 which will handle four sections I need to know if I run the wiring from the Zephry through the PM42 for the one section controlled by the Zephyr will the Zephyr continue to act as the Control System and hence not shut down should a short occur somewhere in the on section controlled by the Zephyr.
The DB150 will then handle the two other sections of the layout through the PM42.
If this will work, the Zephry would be able to run engines in the other sections of the layout without any problem, and if an engine entered the section controlled by the Zephry and there was a short in that section the engine would simply stop as it entered the section.
Am I correct in this?
Don,
Most of the Digitrax group people are here too.
Your method would work but unfortunately it has one flaw. PM42's trip current settings are for all 4 sections. So to get the PM42 to trip before your Zephyr, the PM42 trip current would need to be set to 1.5 amps. That would mean the remaining sections powered by your DB150 would also trip at 1.5 amps.
Personally, I would not connect track power from the Zephyr at all. Let the DB150 power all 4 PM42 sections as a slave booster. Connect the Zephyr to DB150 with a loconet cable and it can be the command station and handle programming. Power outputs would still be available to use for maybe a test track? The Zephyr's throttle and controls will still work as always. I run my home layout this way.
Martin Myers
Your logic is correct. The PM 42 will be handling short protection instead of the Zephyr and DB-150's internal circuit breakers
Also if the short were to pass the PM 42 and cause the internal circuit breaker of the DCS50 to shutdown it would not affect the command station portion of the Zephyr. You would still be able to run trains in the other sections of the layout controlled by the DB 150.
Here is an example of my previous layout setup. I have since added circuit breakers (PSX series...they seem less picky about locomotives...especially sound locos) to further divide up the layout.
I have a Digitrax Chief System with DCS 100 and DB 100+ (yeah its that old...(1996? i think)). The command station (DCS 100) is hooked up to the lower level and the Booster (DB100+) is connected to the upper level. If a short occurs on the lower level it does not affect the operations of the upper level. The command functionality of the DCS 100 does not shutdown, only the internal circuit breaker trips.
You are correct that if a short were to happen in the zephyr section it would not shut down the sections controlled by the DB150.
I hope this information helps.
Colorado Front Range Railroad: http://www.coloradofrontrangerr.com/
I certainly appreciate the response I am receiving from those responding to my question.
Certainly gives me insight into limitations of the system I am adding components to.
Martin, your post regarding the amperage s certainly opened my eyes as to how limiting running the line from the Zephyr to the PM42 would be.
I will take your advice and use the Zephyr only for programing and to run a small test track I have near my layout.
I have another question regarding my latest upgrade.
Will adding the PM42 have any effect upon my occasional use of an Analog locomotive?
don7 Will adding the PM42 have any effect upon my occasional use of an Analog locomotive?
It will work as you describe, but a better option might be to set up as I have, with the exact same equipment. My Zephyr is the command station. The track outputs are unused (well, they power my stationary decoders - not any track). My DB150 powers my track, broken up into 4 sections via the PM42. This way there is nothing to interrupt the zephyr plus the track voltage is the same all over - the Zephyr voltage does not match either the N scale or HO scale setting on the DB150, the Zephyr is somewhere in between since it does not have a voltage selector and Digitrax wanted it to be suitable for both HO and N scales.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks again to those who responded to my inquiry.
Yes, using the Zephyr only for the command station with its read and write capabilities, and using only the DB150 for the layout seems the best solution.
I just thought of a use for the Zephyr, I could use it to control the movement of the Walther's turntable
Nice to know that I can still run an anologe engine while upgrading with the PM42, I have a number of old brass favorites that I like to run on the layout once in a while.
Yes, the only place the address 00 analog loco operation will break down is if you put in a reverse loop and either use a section of the PM42 or an AR1 to control it. As long as the PM42 is breaker only, address 00 will continue to function as always.