Well after waiting almost 1 1/2 years I finally received my Walther 90' built up turntabale. This is the new DCC version.
Looking at the wiring diagram it shows both a DC and DCC wiring diagram. There are four leads on the Turntable control box. #1 and #2 are for the rails on the bridge of the turntablel. Leads #3 and #4 are for the power supply of the control box for the turntable motor.
With the DC wiring diagram you need two DC power sources. One unit you hook up to the #1 and #2 connections which are the leads of the power supply to the rails on the turntable bridge. The second unit is connected to the control box leasds #3 and #4 which turn the turntable.
The DCC wiring diagram indicates one wire from your DCC unt connects to the leads #2 and #3 and one wire connecting to leads #1 and #4.
Can I not use a DC transformer as a dedicated power supply to leads #3 and #4 which are the leads for the power supply for the control box which turns the turntable. I would then connect my DCC unit to the leads #1 and #2 which are the leads for the rails on the turntable bridge.
I know I would not be able to access the turntable control with my DCC unit. That would be fine as direct access to the control box for the turntable would be fine.
That should work just fine - the #1 aned #2 wires power the bridge track, which cna be DC or DCC. The #3 and #4 leads power the electronics which move the bridge, which cna be DC or DCC. They do not have to be the same power source. The diagram for DCC merely parallels the two sets of power leads, which menas the electronics and bridge motor are powered by DCC, but you don;t have to do that. The DC instructions, except substituting DCC track power for the bridge track power, is what you want.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Randy
Thanks for the quick response.
I have another idea, since I have a spare DCC unit, could I not use that for controlling the turntable motor?
Seeing that the unit would only be powering the turntable it would not be in conflict with the other DCC unit powering the track.
The reason I did not want to use my main DCC unit is that it just handles what is on my layout now. I do not think it could run the turntable as well as my engines without running out of power. It is a Zenith. I have a spare EZ DCC unit.
Don't see much point in it, since you would need to use the buttons on the controller box to move the turntable anyway. I'd just get a power supply that's in the recommended range and use that.
Just thought that as I have a spare EZ DCC controler and a spare DC transformer I might use the DCC EZ unit so that the whole layout was DCC.
As I said the DIgitrax Zephyr unit can just handle what is on the layout so I thought if I used it for the Turntable as well it would likely could not handle it.
I haven't seen one of the new ones so I'm not sure what exactly they mean by "DCC"
IF it means you cna controlt he movement of the bridge via DCC commands, and you want to do this, you'd have to hok it to the Zephyr. If you hooked it to the EZ, it would run, but you'd have to switch over to the EZ to send commands - if it even can, because if it operates as an accessory decoder, the EZ can't control accessory decoders anyway. In which case, control would be via the control box, as as if you just hooked a DC pwoer supply to it.
IF what they mean is you cna power if from DCC (which means all they did was put a rectifier in the power input so it can run on AC or DC poiwer), then it doesn;t matter which you do. ANy supply that meets the requirements listed int he instructions would work equally well, with all control being via the control box.
You can get an idea of how much power it takes by looking at the instruictions and what it requires for a DC power supply if you go that route. That's probbaly a good idea of how much the table electronics and bridge motor would draw if you connected the power to yopur Zephyr. If it is controllable as an accessory decoder so you don;t have to touch the control box, and you want to do this, the only way it will work if it's connected to the Zephyr.
Woops, I made a mistake.
I checked the instruction sheet again and just noticed that the DCC diagram indicates that you power the turntable #3 and #4 from the DCC "Booster". You also connect the bridge connections #1 and #2 to the DCC booster.
Does that mean one could not run it from a Digitrax Zenith which does not have a booster unit.
As per the DC instructions the power supply is 18v maximum.
Yes, they are being generic. THe Zephyr is a command station and booster. Most systems anymore are integrated. There is one and only one command station, multiple boosters cna be added if you need more power. If the base unit connects to the track - then it includes a booster of some sort, as well as the command station functionality.
I just hooked up the new 130' TT. I ran 4 feeder wires from the main DCC Power buss to the control box (2 each from each Buss). I have had no problem with power (Command Station is Zephyr Xtra - 3 AMP). The only thing I needed to change when I ran my first loco on the bridge was to switch leads at the control box because the loco would short going on the bridge. Once switched there were no issues. In other words:
Connections
1 & 4 originally attached to the Red Buss -- Switched to Black Buss
2 & 3 originally attached to the Black Buss -- Switched to Red Buss
My DCC system has 12VAC on the track when metered.
Hope this helps you.
Curt Webb
The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad
http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/
rrinker I haven't seen one of the new ones so I'm not sure what exactly they mean by "DCC" --Randy
Randy,
The new turntables have a built in decoder as well as the controller that was previously included.
Personally I think it's a waste. So much easier to just press a button on the included controller then to start fiddling with the throttle.
Peter
Pretty much my thoughts. My turnouts are controlled with servos using Tam Valley Singlets, which have buttons and LEDs as well as act as decoders. I pretty much NEVER operate them from the throttle, it's far easier to just hit the button on the fascia.
So that pretty much answers things - if the OP does wish to control the motion via DCC then it must be connected to the Zephyr's track bus Connecting the old Bachmann to provide DCC to the logic pwoer will allow it to be operated from the control panel, but the Bachmann cannot operate accessory decoders, nor would it be possible to control it from the Zephyr in such a configuration as the two DCC systems cannot be interconnected. If DCC control of the operation is not needed, than any appropriate power source can be connected to #3 and #4. In all cases, #1 and #2 must be connected to the Zephyr's track bus so that locos can move on the bridge track.
CNR378 rrinker: I haven't seen one of the new ones so I'm not sure what exactly they mean by "DCC" --Randy Randy, The new turntables have a built in decoder as well as the controller that was previously included. Personally I think it's a waste. So much easier to just press a button on the included controller then to start fiddling with the throttle. Peter
rrinker: I haven't seen one of the new ones so I'm not sure what exactly they mean by "DCC" --Randy
That is why I asked the OP,
As you have the turntable control as a seperate item, which you need to mount on your layout.
Why would you want to control the turntable from the throttle?
Just one of those things that makes the DC guys go "see how complex DCC is?". Jut because you CAN do somethign doesn;t mean you SHOULD. I'm all about gadgets and things, but there has to be e benefit. I don;t see a benefit from controlling the turntable via DCC commands vs hitting the convenient button to spin the loco to the desired stall track.
One use I can see for the DCC control would be to automate the turntable operation - but this wouldn;t be control from a DCC throttle, but rather DCC control via a computer application like RR&CO or JMRI. For display purposes, perhaps you woudl liek to have the turntable rotate and a certain loco pull out of the roundhouse, then be spun around and the loco drive to the ready track - automated hostler. Being able to operate the turntable via DCC commands is essential for that. Limited audience and appeal, I think.