Let's say that I want to divide my layout into separate power districts.
Does a multiple circuit breaker like the PSX-4 permit me to create 4 sub-districts in addition to the main line?
Or does the main line become one of the four sub-districts?
When I look at wiring diagrams, they show the booster wires as inputs to the PSX-4 and then four sets of output wires, one pair to each sub-district. That would suggest that the main line is one of the four sub-districts.
But, could the booster wires serve as the main bus wires, feeding power to the main line, then tap off the main line to the input side of the PSX-4, thereby creating four sub-districts in addition to the main line?
Rich
Alton Junction
You could rely on your DCC system's circuit breaker to protect the main line, and use the PSX-4 only for the additional power districts as long as your main line track has sufficiently heavy gauge bus wiring that the system can handle it as a single district, but when the main DCC system shuts down it's going to shut down the entire layout, including the PSX-4.
A better choice would be to use a separate PSX for the main line, with its input separate from the PSX-4's input. In other words, two sets of output wires from your booster to the two PSX modules.
Thanks, cacole, I have even thought about the main line shutting down, having focused on the yards and servicing facilities as sub-districts.
The PSX-4 is four individual units with the PC boards all attached. They can be cut apart. There are screw connectors on each unit that allows them to be daisy chained together with one set of feeders from the command station. If you need more than four just connect another one to the previous one. There's no need to feed each one with separate feeders.
just note that if you did the mainline direct connect and the yards/sidings on the 4 PS outputs, a short on mainline would shut everything down while shorts on other areas will keep the main going. If this is not a desired result, I would consider putting the mainline on one if the districts while grouping two of the yards into one district.
Rich.
You may think about the On guard breakers over the PSX. Unless you are going to need the features of the PSX the OG will do a great job and cost a lot less. http://www.dccspecialties.com/products/psx_vs_onguard.htm your PH/Pro would handle the OG perfectly.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
locoi1sa Rich. You may think about the On guard breakers over the PSX. Unless you are going to need the features of the PSX the OG will do a great job and cost a lot less. http://www.dccspecialties.com/products/psx_vs_onguard.htm your PH/Pro would handle the OG perfectly. Pete
Pete, thanks for that link, I will take a look at the On Guard breaker as well.