I have a Digitrax DB150 with a 5 amp transformer. Over the last several weeks I have been running the engines for several minutes then the engines stall and the DB150 starts "chirping". Can't find any shorts so I turn off the unit for several minutes and fire it up again. Things run fine but then the process starts over again.
I will confess I have several engines on the side lines and some are idling.
So the question is: 1) Do I still have short? 2) Too many engines drawing too much current or 3) the DB150 is getting old and needs service?
Your thoughts are appreciated.
Fergie
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If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
CHeck the voltage of the power supply feeding the DB150 - while under load. It could be this is what's failing, rather than the DB150.
How many is "several"? 5 amps should easily run a dozen locos, even with sound. And probably more.
Also check to make sure all your wiring is still solid. You might have a high resistence short somewhere sucking part of your power, leaving less for the locos.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Along with checking the wiring that Randy mentioned, have you checked for excessive heat around the aluminum fins in the back? My DCS-200 can get pretty warm at times and I use a small computer CPU fan to cool it off even though the ambient basement temperature hangs around 60-65°F most of the time.
Here's another thread that might have some ideas for you as well:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/p/227868/2541725.aspx
Just one more thing to look at... Ed
My clubs DB150 shut down several times at a show. It wasn't a short as the track power light just faded out without the five beeps and everything stopped. I had to shut the DB150 off for a few minutes until it cooled down some. It was unusually warm. The DB 150 will shut down when it gets overloaded even if it is not near the current level to cause the circuit breaker to trip. I installed a four inch diameter cooling fan from an old computor to blow air across the heatsink keeping the situation from reoccuring. Use a seperate DC power supply for it.
Yeah heats not a problem as it's hovering around -14C (0F) and the basement though heated is a nice 70F. Saying that your responses are all good to know.
I'm now thinking I may have an engine with a intermittant ground. This problem seems to have occurred during several additions to the MESS.
Another thing to try is the "quarter test," or rather, since you're in Canada, perhaps the "loony test." Take whatever coin-of-the-realm you've got handy and place it across the tracks. Make sure that the circuit breaker trips immediately. Do this all over your layout, particularly at the ends of spurs and sidings, and far away from the DB150.
If you have inadequate power distribution to your tracks, either from depending too much on rail joiners or simply from a loose wire on a well-designed bus-and-feeder system, you may have an intermittent high-resistance path. If a real short should occur, it may not draw enough current to trip the breaker.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Fergmiester Yeah heats not a problem as it's hovering around -14C (0F) and the basement though heated is a nice 70F. Saying that your responses are all good to know. I'm now thinking I may have an engine with a intermittant ground. This problem seems to have occurred during several additions to the MESS. Fergie
Fergie,
If your basement is heated to 70F, that should mean your system is running at least 70F+. The power supply and electronics will make some heat, so after just a few minutes at power your system will be warmer than surrounding air temp... How were you able to get a reading of -14C/0F? Did you install some kind of after cooler? If so, please inform us of what it is and how it works! I could think of more than just train layouts that would benefit from that....
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
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