Hello AllCan the output of the LNRP (Standard Loconet) feed boosters or do the boostersonly go on the protected loop?Thanks
Springfield PA
Well the idea is that they shoudl go on the protected segment, that way if somethign happens like a jammed throttle jack, the booster can continue to function. If you put a booster on a regualr Loconet segment and that segment has a proble that booster is goign to stop alogn with all trains in its power district. Or worse, with no sync signal it could cause any loco with automatic analog conversion not turned off to take off. In short, a booster on a regualr loconet segmetn fromt he LNRP will behave the same as a booster in a system with no LNRP, and have problems if the segment is corrupted somehow.
SO while you CAN do it, you SHOULDN'T do it.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
In fact I think the question at the bottom of the LNRP product page on the Digitrax site answers the question when it talks about the Railsync copy on the 'standard' ports - it is indeed a copy of the Railsync signal ont he protected Loconet and thus should drive a booster just fine - but if a problem is detected on that segment, the segment gets cut off to prevent issues with the protected network, and so the booster will lose its drive signal.
Thanks
If put on the segment with only boosters then it should be fine.
I'm doing some troubleshooting of a weire problem that cropped up on the layout today and still not solved.
I think it's one of the hundreds of connectors on the loconet.
The LNRP's aren't in yet but will be soon.
Another question. Is the loconet optically isolated in the DB150 booster and if not does it have any reference to the track voltage?
No, it's not optically isolated, although Digitrax used to by special order make boosters with optically isolated inputs. What generates the booster output is the Railsync signal, the only thing Loconet does for a booster is pass GPON and GPOFF command to turn the track power on and off. Railsync is not isoalted, the ground is common with the output H bridge - this is why you MUST run a ground wire between the command station and all boosters on the GND terminal - withotu this, the onyl ground reference is in the Loconet cable. If there is any phase mismatch between power districts, or if it is intentional, say using a booster as an autoreversing booster, that ground becomes a return path. That ground is also needed with PM42s. The second run of the club layout with DCC, the first time DCC was used around the entire layout, there was a problem moving from the command station's power district to the next one, with a DB150. The DB150 would short every time a train crossed the gaps - and it wasn;t out of phase. I suggested a ground wire, but no one believed me, until I pulled up some posts from the Digitrax Yahoo group and also the Digitrax web site on my iphone. They grabbed some spare wire and ran it between the ground connections on the DCS100 and DB150 - and it started working. Now if I could just convince them to use DigiGroupSetup and DigiMon and set up the UR92's properly, especially when we do Timonium and there are other Digitrax clubs around (simplex is right out as we are ALWAYS next to Four County which uses NCE and their radios kill Digitrax simplex), I'd have it made. I guarantee every issue we had with lost comm at the last show was because we were on the default channel and probably the only ones NOT were Martin's N track guys. Almost every other show we participate in, we are the only operating model railroad so it doesn't usually matter. Me, I just take my wired DT402 and plug in, although it is a pain for a continuous run. I spend a lot of time switching cars in the coal yard though, working from one spot. Maybe I'll splurge on radio for home.
Radio at home is well worth it.
I just recently hard of DigiGropuSetup and am considering bringing my pr3 to the club to give it a try. I may just bring my home UR92 along and hook it up to a laptop to make it easier. The same can be done if traveling.
Our next thing will be to run a dedicated Loconet and use the 2 LNRP's we haven't installed to get everything but the Boosters and BDL168's off of the main net. We don't have a common ground bus but we minus well run that the same time.
The problem that popped up is the BDL's indicate no track power randomly although the power is there. We're also getting random beeps from the boosters. I'm thinking a cable connection is bad causing a railsync problem but the ground thing is intriguing. Maybe the lack of one is causing the problem since the BDL's reference ground from the booster they're attached to for track power detection.
Well, my layout is only bedroom size - I can plug in on one side and reach the other with the standard coiled cord on the tethered throttles. Once I finish the cement plant penninsula, I iwll be able to reach all areas of the layotu from a single UP5. Plus I have JMRI and WiThrottle. Sending in my DT402 for radio upgrade is on the list but not at the top. I have a DT400 I can send it as well, but I have yet to need sound functions above 12.
A bad Loconet cable could definitely cause issued with the BDL168 - in fact they are the only other thign besides boosters which are fussy about the railsync polarity - so if there is a phone cable in the chain you could have problems.
You'll still need a UR92. Chances are Lins has them in stock
Or just make an extension cord and use plug in at home and use the DT402D wireless at shows.
Unless I get a bigger room for a bigger layout. If I had a bigger space I'd have radio for sure.