I am using a Digitrax DB150 as a command station. There is no output from the Config A - B terminals. I understand these terminals are lower in amperage to protect mobile decoders when programming and should be connected to an isolated programming track which is what I have done. However, no power of any kind is present. Measured with a vom meter. Nada.
Any ideas?
Cheers
Dennis
CDN Dennis
Modeling the HO scale something or other RR in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies Alberta, Canada
Dennis,
The DB150 does NOT have an output for a dedicated programming track. Config A is wired to Ground to make it a non-command station booster. IIRC, Config B is to configure the booster for auto-reversing...
Here is the link to the manual:
http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/products/command-stations-boosters/db150/documents/SuperEmpireBuilderXtra.pdf
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
jrbernierThe DB150 does NOT have an output for a dedicated programming track.
Thanks Jim, after I posted the message I did some more digging and discovered that exact thing. I also discovered that the DB 150 is much less shall we say "talented" than the DCS100. I ordered a DCS 100 today because I'm not so good at programming the decoders with JMRI without the command station having the ability to let me read the decoder in JMRI.
I know, one can use the throttle to program but the simpler the better. I'd rather have simpler and not worry about the extra $$$$. The DB150 I'll use as a booster because I'll have it so I'll use it. Does that make sense??
Regards
A lot of folks buy a Empire Builder 'starter set' because it is far cheaper than buying a DB150 booster and an extra throttle. The DB150 is sort of left over from the previous Digitrax technology. Even the DCS50/51 Zephyr series has a separate program track output, and it has a 'Blast Mode' for sending program track commands to the main line if needed. And like a lot of new products, updates to the firmware can be down-loaded off the Internet and sent to the Zephyr via the computer interface.
Being able to fully read/write via JMRI is the only way to program engines.
I have a DB150 for my command station. I like it because I haven't met a decoder I couldn't program. I also have a PR3 set up as a stand alone programmer hooked up to my computer. I use Decoder Pro with it for programming decoders. I even take my DB150 to my friends house to reset his decoders if he has trouble. His system can read decoders, but it doesn't always work. Joe
I find t Read back overrated. That may be because I started with a Digitrax Big Boy system with no read back. When decoder didn't work, you just reprogram it. Once you have read a CV and found it to have the wrong value you have to program the correct value. I skip the read part because I already knew it didn't work and just write the CV. And as already posted, Empire Builder will program anything out there because it uses full power to program.
Martin Myers