Power levels on programming track

[PED]

I wanted to have my programming track to be able to be part of the main or a seperate section of track for programming. Switching between the two via DPDT switch. I also wanted to have a LED light up when DPDT switch set for the programming track.  To my surprise, I cannot get the programming track to light up an LED like I can for the main track. Is that due to lower voltage or current available in the programming track or is it something else?  Whatever the reason, how do I get the programming track to power up a LED?

[peahrens]

I don't know why the LED will not function when program output is applied, but wonder if it did, whether it would affect reading CVs with or without a program track booster.

Anyway, perhaps use a 4P2T, center off preferred, toggle.  Then use one half (6) of the terminals to route Operations mode power to the Prog track, much as you planned.  For the other terminals, use the other terminals (6) to power a bi-color LED.  That requires power from any source for the LED (appropriate resistor, of course) with the output reversed by X-wiring the contacts.  There are diagrams somewhere(?) for this, such as a bi-color LED wired to a Tortoise switch machine.  That way, you could have a lit indicator (say, green) for Opers mode and a different color (say, yellow) when the toggle is thrown to Prog mode.  

The LED power source can be any that works for the LED (e.g., DC 12v) as it would be independent from the program track connections.  I don't know how Opers mode DCC power would work across a LED.

[santafe5000]

Take a look at this DCC Wiki topic and it explains how to set up your programming track with LED indicators.

https://dccwiki.com/Programming_Track

[PED]

Thanks James. Useing the 4PDT switch, the LED picks up the power it needs from the main while the programming track is set to program.