How Do I Add A Booster to Digitrax and Power Districts?

[Aikidomaster]

I have the Empirer Builder Digitrax set. I want to add a power booster and power districts. I am not certain how to proceed. Help, please. Remember, when it comes to electronics, I am a 4F. I would like step by step help, Thank you>

[Comrad_Durandal]

I have the same set, and as I understand it - you'd go about it this way:

All power is supplied to your power buses (-) and (+).  You can have more than one source for that power hooked up, as they are all using the same voltage (in N scale's case, 12V; your mileage may be different).  The command center that came with the Empire Builder would be your master command center, then your secondary command center/booster/whatever would be configured in Booster Mode and tied into your LocoNet configuration so it can repeat and take commands from your command center.  Do this to get the amount of amperage your layout needs.

Districts can be done electronically, as DigiTrax has a number of circuit breaker/power district products for this purpose.  From my understanding, you just feed the power into these devices as necessary, and district from there.  The advantage to this is that each district will have circuit protection as well as auto-reversing available.

[rrinker]

 You need another DB150, and a power supply. Try to find another of the same you have - the new replacement unit Digitrax sells doesn;t have the exact same output voltage so you might get surges moving from one power district to the other. If you have the Digitrax PS15, the NCE P515 is the same thing.

You also need a Loconet cable to connect between the existing DB150 and the new one. You also need a short piece of wire to connect  between the config and ground terminals on the new DB150, to make it a booster only. You should also run a fairly thick (same as you track wiring) wire between the ground terminals of both DB150s.

Cut both wires of your existing track bus at both ends where you want to have the two power districts. Also gap both rails at the same place. Hook the track outputs of the new DB150 to the now isolated section of track bus. Order does matter - if you wire it backwards you'll get a short when a loco crosses the gaps. If this happens flip the Rail A and Rail B wires on the new DB150.

If you're interested in getting another throttle, buy another whole Super Empire Builder set rather than just the DB150 - it's cheaper than the DB150 and the throttle seperately, plus you get a UP5 in the set.

                                    --Randy

 

[jamnest]

 

4.5 Adding a DB150 Booster

Your DB150 is a command station and booster in one unit. When you are ready

to expand your Super Empire Builder Set, we recommend that you add a

DB150 Booster. Be sure that you follow the directions below when you add

DB150s to your system so that they are set up to run as boosters. See section

4.7 below for information about setting up your DB150 as an auto-reversing

booster.

 

 

 

To add a DB150 booster to your Super Empire Builder Set:

1. Start with an un-powered DB150.

2. Connect the DB150‘s CONFIG A & GROUND terminals with a short

length of wire

3. Set the DB150’s MODE switch to RUN .

4. Power up the DB150. The DB150 will automatically convert to booster

only operation when you power it up.

5. Connect the DB150 you just set up to run as a booster to your DB150

that is already running as a command station on LocoNet via either

LocoNet Jack A or B using LocoNet Cables that have been tested

with the LT1.

6. You can add more DB150s by “daisy chaining” additional DB150

boosters via the LocoNet Jack A or B on any DB150 in the system.

If you experience problems with operation after you add a DB150 to

your system, check to be sure that you have actually set it up as a

booster by going through the steps above again. We have seen this

simple mistake cause operating problems with modular layouts when

a DB150 set up as a command station is added to a layout that was

already up and running with another command station (DCS100 or

DB150). In this case, two command stations can be trying to run the

same layout causing some undesirable operating results such as

trains that appear to be running away.

[MisterBeasley]

When someone professes ignorance of electronics in no uncertain terms, and then says he needs something, the first thing that comes to my mind is, "Do you really need it?"  Your Empire Builder is already a 5-amp system, which should conservatively run a dozen locomotives, even with sound.  It's got plenty of power for most home-sized layouts.  Generally, the layouts that really need boosters belong to clubs, not individuals.

You can divide your layout up, though, and protect different sections with circuit breakers.  I bought the four-breaker version of Tony's Trains equipment and used that for my room-sized layout, along with a pair of auto-reversers (also Tony's) which double as circuit breakers.

 

[Aikidomaster]

Randy,

Thanks. I have a 2nd DB 150, the 20 amp power supply, and two PM 42's. I also have the power for the PM 42's. I had never been certain about cutting the power bus wires (but I thought that that was what one had to do, but I was a chicken). I read about converting the 2nd DB 150 into a "booster only" and have done so. I have also connected the two DB 150's with a Loconet cable. That is where I stand at the moment. I am going to gap the track into districts next week. I have a yard that has one mainline, 2 arrival/departure tracks, 5 classification tracks, a lead to the roundhouse (three tracks), and will have a turntable. Obviously, the turntable will be on a separate power district so that it can reverse directions. Should I divide the yard in half with an east and west power district? There will be a few industrial leads such as to the icing platform, and industries. Your opinion will be helpful. Thanks again. 

[Lake]

To use a PM42 you will need to do a LOT of soldering. I used two of them when I set up my layout some for breakers and some for auto-reversing. Other then for the auto-reversing I would not use them if I knew what a pain it would be. If I had to do them again I would just buy the two A/R units I needed.