I have an NCE Power Pro DCC system for my layout. I am ready to route the Control Bus. The problem is the Booster / Command Station is in the center of the layout and I need to split the control bus to go in two directions.
I've found an RJ12 data wire splitter (see below) and am wondering if I can use it to send the control bus in two directions without complications. It is advertised as so but I'm not sure about it.
Has anyone else done this and if so have you ran into problems?
Thanks, Bill
Known in the industry as RJ12 (6P6C) ST - meaning 6 position 6 conductor Straight through wiring, these cables are different than the ones you buy as 3 line telephone cables. And LESS EXPENSIVE at Litchfield Station
I am not familiar with NCE, but my Digitrax has two RJ-12 outputs on the comand station specifically made to go in two directions and every accessory has at least two RJ-12s.
Is this not addressed in the user manual?
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
The UTP panel that comes with the Power Pro System can do this if you're not going to mount it on the fascia. Look at the wiring diagram on the inside front cover of your System Reference Manual.
The splitter that you show should also work okay as long as it has the required number of contacts.
Have you tried contacting NCE and asking them? I have found their customer support to be very responsive to questions of this type. They usually respond to e-mail within two work days.
I hadn't thought about calling NCE until I read your reply.
I did call them and found that you can use the UTP as a splitter. They suggested I put it under the layout and split the cable directions and not use the pannel on the facia because someone could disconnect the bus mistakenly.
Thanks for the reminder.
Bill
I used the RJ12 splitter for the same purpose. It's better than having to mount the UTP out of reach so people won't unplug the bus. My UTP is mounted on the facia and the RJ12 is plugged in the back, no issues.
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
Other than Litchfield Station, where can you buy an RJ12 Splitter?
Radio Shack ... Home Depot ... Lowes ... Anyplace that sells telephone wire.
Just make sure it's 6 conductor.
Phoebe Vet Radio Shack ... Home Depot ... Lowes ... Anyplace that sells telephone wire. Just make sure it's 6 conductor.
And wired straight through. Phone stuff sometimes randomly flips the wires because it's easier to manufacturer and because phones don't care. The one Litchfield sells I'd trust Bruce to have checked it out that it's going to work. You can also make your own, with as many ports as you like, using the snap in bits available from various manufacturers - you can buy a bunch of RJ12 jacks and one of the surface-mount carriers and snap in as many RJ12's as you need and wire them all together.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I'm a little confused as to what you intend to do with that splitter. Is it your plan to plug it into the command station directly, or to plug it into a utp?
If into the command station, I looked at my NCE command station and I'm not certan that you can plug it in directly without covering something else up. And if you plan to plug it into a spare utp, this sounds like an extra expense if you can avoid it.
What I would suggest, if you can find one, is to get an RJ12 splitter that has three female ports instead of the two female and one male plug. I think they should make something like this, but you again have to make sure that you get the straight through variety. Then what I'd do is come off the command station with a short pigtail lead, say 6 inches, and plug this into the connector. You then can come out of the splitter with the two leads you originally needed.