Randy, thanks, I got this figured out.
Though if truth be told just about every time I've ever said that it has come back to haunt me. Nonetheless, I think we're in a sweet spot. Thanks much for your advice.
Robert
You don;t really need any additional circuit breaker if there are no other sections of the layout to keep powered. The booster has a circuit breaker that will work just fine. If you later make the layout bigger and want to not have the whole thing shut down because someone ran a turnout lined against them and shorted, then you would install circuit breakers and feed each district from a seperate breaker output. If you plan on using stationary decoders for turnouts, then you also might want to add a breaker, feed the stationary decoders directly fromt he booster and the rails through the circuit breaker - that way if you cause a short running against a turnout, the track power will be cut but the stationary decoders will still have power and you can still control the turnout to flip it and undo the short.
While you CAN combine outputs ont eh Frog Juicer to make a breaker out of it, a purpose built circuit breaker is a better option, something like the DCC Specialties PSX series. They have them in single, dual, and quad units (1, 2, or 4 districts) plus autoreversers for reverse loops if you have any on your layout - with DCC the polarity change can be automated.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Ed, thank you for your guidance. I saw the Tam Valley Dual Frog juicer on their website and I believe that is exactly what I need.
While I have you "on the line" what would be your thinking for a small, one district layout powered by an NCE Pro Cab 5 amp system: should I install a circuit breaker between the booster and the bus?
I think the answer is "Yes", but not necessarily because I need to keep other (non-existent for now) districts powered when one district shorts and resets. It would be needed because the booster needs to be protected from shorts. I think it was Alan Gartner's site that gave that information. Would you agree?
And if so, which circuit breaker is enough (but not too much) for me? I saw one on the Tam Valley website, and would aim there unless your thinking is otherwise.
Again, thanks.
Hi, Robert
Can you provide a link to where Alan mentions using an auto-reverser on a crossing?
I don't have any Peco's but generally, each route through a crossing is isolated so that rail A and rail B remain independent of each-other, yet continuous from one end of the crossing to the other.
Perhaps Peco uses a different wiring method than what I'm familiar with.
The Digitrax AR-1 has an adjustable trip current pot so that may be what Mr. Gartner is referring to.
http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/products/autoreversing/ar1/documents/AR1.pdf
[edit]
OK, I found a reference to the electrofrog crossing here:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/60796.aspx
Now I see that due to the "hot" frogs that there would be a necessary way to switch the polarity to the frogs.
Personally, I have had excellent results with a "Hex Frog Juicer" in situations like this. Actually Tam Valley has a Dual Frog Juicer that would be just the ticket!
Just my 2¢
http://www.tamvalleydepot.com/products/dccfrogjuicers.html
Have fun, Ed
Allan Garter's "Wiring for DCC" is a most significant source of help and advice. But I need to refine the advice there.
I have a Peco n-scale code 55 electrofrog crossing. The recommendation is to use an auto-reverser (something new for me so this will be part of the learning curve). Gartner recommends an adjustable AR. What is an "adjustable AR"? I see that some ARs have the ability to "program" them, but that seems beyond my pay-level.
How do I determine which available models (Digitrax, NCE, DCCSpecialities for example) is best for me?
I see that ARs also come with or without circuit breakers and the ability to control a Tortoise (which doesn't seem to be anything I need). So I think the question is how much do I need and what is more than I need?
I also noted that NCE's AR is not available, would think it's being retooled and redesigned, right? If I find one on the LHS shelf should I grab it, or is it being re-worked to make it better for my particular situation. Basically love NCE, if you haven't picked that up.
In advance, thanks for the advice and guidance.