Yes, the program track has to be isolated from the main track. Both rails need to be gapped. You can use a DPDT switch to connect either the progrm track output of your system or the track power to the isolated section of track, allowing you to move the loco in on it's own power, then you flip the switch and start programming. Assuming the DCC system you have has a seperate output for the program track. If it doesn't, what you do is power the isolated section right from the DCC system and the entire rest of the layout through a switch. Turn the switch off to program so the only place getting the program commands is that one isolated track section - otherwise you would be programming every loco left on the track.
--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 guess I lucked out in that my layout plan I'm following has a small engine facility using a turn table that has an extra storage track I can use for a programming track. I'd like to set that track up so I can read back CV's, I've had enough problems with things over the years that I've formed a nack for wanting to see that what I did took, i.e. being able to check CV variables and make sure they programmed right. How would the programm track be wired? I'll most likely extend the length of the program track since someone on here mentioned that the locos may physically move when programmed, but other than that does the programm track have to isolated?
Thanks for everyone's input. I'm feeling good about making one f the ET tracks switchable from Ops to programming.
Regards,
Greg
Greg Shindledecker Modeling the =WM= Thomas Sub in the mid-70s
Our club's programming track has 25 feet of 18 guage wire and a plug between it and the Command station. Never had any trouble with it.
Martin Myers
My programming track is more than 40 feet from the Digitrax DCS 100 command station. Physically it's less than 6 feet, but due to the layout configuration, I had to run a little over 40 feet of 22 gauge stranded wire, and have had no problems programming with Decoder Pro. I am using a Soundtraxx PTB-100 programming track booster, which may help overcome the distance.
Errol
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Modeling Canadian Pacific's Okanagan Branch In The 1950's
If you use a heavy enough gauge of wire to the programming track section there should be no problem with this, but it would certainly be better if you could put the programming track somewhere else. Even a piece of main line track near the command station would be better than having it that far away. The programming signal does not go through the power booster, but connects to separate terminals on the command station.
Sometimes it's more convenient to have the programming track near the command station so you can see what's going on with the locomotive during the programming sequence. With some decoders, the locomotive surges slightly as each programming command is acknowledged by the decoder, and it would be difficult to see this happening with the programming section so far away.
I have an NCE system which I've installed at the mid-point of my layout so that I can run power busses in both directions and keep the runs as short as possible. However, this has created a dilema. I'd like to set up a toggled engine lead/programming track in my engine terminal. But, the run between the booster and engine terminal is about 25 feet. Will there be too much loss between the booster and the programming track over this distance?
Thanks for any help you can give.