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DCC Power Booster Question

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  • Member since
    May 2008
  • 4,612 posts
Posted by Hamltnblue on Friday, March 18, 2011 3:24 PM

It's been pretty much covered.  Make sure you follow the instructions to isolate both tracks as well as jumper config A to ground.  Also make sure you match track A of the booster to the same rail as the Track A of the command station.  If you don't you'll have a short when a loco bridges the isolated section.

Springfield PA

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 1,206 posts
Posted by mfm37 on Thursday, March 17, 2011 5:24 PM

You are creating a second power district. Similar to  block when using DC power. The new power district's power bus, feeders , and both rails will need to be completely isolated from the district powered by your first booster.

Once isolated, the second district's bus wires will be connected to the A and B terminals of the new DB150.  The A and B wires should be connected to the same side rails as those of your first power district. 

Install a jumper per the manual between the "Config A" and "Ground" terminals. This makes that DB150 a slave booster.

Next connect a decent size wire 16 or 14 gauge to the ground terminals of your command station and the second DB150. I like to use green color  insulated wire for this connection.

Last, install a 6 wire loconet cable between the command station and additional booster(s). This needs to be a straight through data style  (pin 1 to pin 1)cable. Not a telephone style (pin 1 to pin 6) cable.

Test run a loco across the gap between districts. If everthing is wired correctly, it should cross without stalling. If it does stall, swap the rail A and rail B connections on one booster.

Martin Myers

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Charlotte, NC
  • 6,099 posts
Posted by Phoebe Vet on Thursday, March 17, 2011 5:17 PM

The booster has to be in booster mode if it is also capable of being a command station.

The two need to be connected together with a Loconet DATA (pin1 to pin 1) cable, not a telephone ( pin 1 to pin 6) cable.

The track powered by the booster must be electrically isolated from the track powered by the command station.  You need to gap BOTH rails.

If you buy a Digitrax booster it should come with instructions.

Do you really need a booster?  If you are not running a lot of trains at the same time a PM42 would be much cheaper.

Dave

Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • 66 posts
DCC Power Booster Question
Posted by tpd0418 on Thursday, March 17, 2011 5:07 PM

Hello,

I need to know how to connect a power booster to my layout. I have one 5 amp power supply connected to my Digitrax Super Chief. I want to put another booster on the opposite side of my layout, but I'm not sure how to connect it. Do I connect the two wires from the booster directly to the rails?

Thanks for your help.

PDickens

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