I know most commands stations have a booster built in. I could imagine 3 possible outputs on command stations:
1) Main Track output (boosted to higher amperage ie 5 amps)
2) < 1 amp Main Track output (intended to go to a booster)
3) Programming Track output
Do modern command stations (like NCE and Digitrax) have all three of these outputs? Or are there just two outputs (Main and Programming)?
To my knowledge based on NCE. My Power Cab, one output. Main or program selected by the cab.
Five amp system, one main and one program track. Main shuts down when using the program track option.
Manuals for each system show the outputs online.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
In addition there is a cab and/or booster bus with that third output. Digitrax combines it witht he cab bus, so it's all one set of wires. NCE uses two, one for cabs and accessories only, and one for boosters only.
How modern do you mean? Digitrax and NCE have both had this since pretty much day 1 of DCC. Even if the first NCE systems actually had the two components in one box and you had to link them together with an external cable.
Some systems have no bus for downstream boosters, they expect you to hook boosters right to the main track output - MRC for one.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Depends on what you mean by "output" I guess. I think the most common (from my experience anyway) is a two-wire terminal to connect to the main track, another two-wire terminal to connect to a programming track, and a separate connection (like a six-connector phone line) to connect to a booster. If using a booster, you connect the main controller to the booster with the phone line cable, then connect two wires from the booster to that section of track.
Digitrax calls their <1 amp output Railsync. It is built into the Loconet cable on pins 1 and 6. Empire builder (DB150) does not have a separate low current programming output.
Every command station that is expandable should have at least the first two out puts listed. The programming output will be on most of them also.