I'm about to insert a new Digitrax PM42 power manager for 4 sub-districts into my wiring after my booster, and am wondering how best to mount it so the sub-district status LEDs and RJ12 Loconet connectors can best be seen and accessed. I have a 12" fascia board around the edge of the layout and I am thinking the front of the PM42 should show through the fascia so any shorts can be seen. However how to mount it behind the fascia is the problem. Just cutting a hole in the fascia and sticking the front of the board out seems like it will look "dorky" and could get bumped. The board has four vertical mounting holes and the edge connector has two horizontal mounting holes. It seems like using only one or the other will put a strain on the connection between the two but but the two seem incompatible with one surface. There are also the ID and option buttons to contend with. If you have successfully mounted a PM42, please share how and where you mounted the board and connector. Thanks.
Capt. Brigg FranklinUSCG Licensed Marine OfficerCertified crazy train chaserCEO: Pacific Cascade Railway
I think the right thing to do would be to remove the LEDs from the board and mount them on a panel in or just below the fascia. I don't have one of these, and the online documentation doesn't show enough detail to let me see if there are extra parallel holes to add wires for LEDs, or if you'd have to actually remove the ones that are installed.
That way, though, you could mount the circuit board securely in an out-of-the-way place and still see the lights.
I've got a PSX-4 quad circuit breaker unit from Tony's Trains. It's mounted beneath my layout. To see the lights, I have to duck under the layout. I never look at the lights. This doesn't cause me any great distress, though.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
My PM42 is mounted under the layout, like MisterBeasley's PSX-4.
I used sheet metal screws in the PM42's mounting holes, with fiber spacers underneath to support it. The edge connector is more or less supported by some tiny 90-degreee "brackets" I had in my junk hardware drawer. I think they were salvaged from some sort of circuit board assembly.
For me, the LED's and the option buttons are a non-issue. Once the board is set up, the option buttons are seldom if ever used. If I ever do have to change a setting, I use JMRI or Loconet-Checker (It's been so long I don't even remember which one I use for the PM42!).
And the LED's are easy to extend if you really want to. Just unsolder, or even clip the leads and extend as you see fit. I never look at them so I haven't bothered, but I am thinking of setting up the "PM4Announce" script in JMRI to have the layout computer "tell" me when a section is shorted...
I just have mine under the layout on my "DCC Shelf". Since it's attached to the Loconet, I plan on setting up indicators on my JMRI control panel to show status. There are some pictures in the Yahoo Digitrax group of someone who made up a label and a panel to attach to the front to make a neat appearance, if you want to go to the trouble of cutting up a piece of aluminum and making up a label to fit. It does look nice, but definitely takes some work. It looks quite professional, the LEDs are completely covered, the label is clear over the wholes with a ring around the hole, and of course the Loconet jacks are uncovered. I think it attaches to the two screw holes on the edge of the board with right angle brackets.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
See my reply on the Digitrax Yahoo Group.
Martin Myers
I have mounted a PM42 on my clubs portable Digitrax command station. I installed it horozontaly with the LED's towards the rear so they can be seen incase problems occur. The programming buttons are accessed by turning the command station around. You could cut a slot in your facia, mount the PM42 on a hinged mount that allows the LEDs to be seen through the slot, but can be swung down to access the buttons for programming. Cover the facia slot with clear styrene or plexiglass.