I'm wondering if my Digitraxx DB150 is starting to, how do I say it, "Getting old and weary". I "fired" up the layout yesterday to do some wiring checks. The system seemed to work for about 30 minutes then I had a short. the unit chirped and I removed the short, I continued to run the train and the shorts seemed to get more frequent, thogh no shorts could be found. I finally had to walk away as the chirping was constant.
So now I'm wondering if I have one of the following problems:
1.g A "minor" short is present but very minor
2. The Booster is getting old and can't handle the draw for extended periods.
3. The Layout is too big for one Booster
The layout has been expanded this past year to 2 main lines that are both over 60' in length. There's a yard and a few spurs.
I will be installing two PM42 power managers in the near future but will this solve the DB150 problem?
Thanks
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
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
4 How many locos are on the track?
The link in your signature doesn't show us your layout if that is what it is meant to show.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I wonder if a reset is in order. Assuming it isn't somehow heating up inside due to current throughput, and not shorting with temp rises internally (is such a thing possible?), is there some information that is confounding it, something a throttle is communicating to it?
Randy should chime in soon and suggest some tests or an Ops Sw reset.
You can quickly check #1 by simply disconnecting the DB150 track outputs from the layout.
I'd also check for a LocoNet issue by disconnecting it from the DB150 as well.
Finally, if it's actually "clicks" instead of "chirps", check OPSW 41. If it's closed, the DB150 will click every time it receives a valid LocoNet command.
More info here:
http://www.digitrax.com/tsd/KB505/command-station-audible-beeps-dcs100-dcs200-db150/
First thing when it acts up - do a reset. Mode switch on the DB150 to Ops, then connect a throttle and select Switch, 39, and Closed. Disconnect the power and put the switch back to Run mode, then turn it all on again.
This will wipe out any consists, but like a computer - sometimes a reboot is what is needed.
Also, when running trains, check the voltage at the INPUT to the DB150 - it could be your power supply, not the DB150 itself. If the voltage is dropping under load, it will make the DB150 do strange things.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
well it’s been over two years now (1 yr in my life as half of it is at sea) Annd after installing two PM42 and one AR1 the problem still persisted... Finally! the source of all my “short” aggravation has been discovered! I recently fired off a detailed account to digitrax as the problem was getting more frequent. They came back with two possibilities; 1, the DB 150 was having issues or 2 the power supply was going belly up. Sure enough the old PS 515 after 16 yrs is slowly fading. New one has been ordered!
Fergmiesterhttp://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
That link in your sig line takes me to dead trainboard page
I had a ps515 that did the same thing.
I use imgur.com, lots of people are happy with imgBB.com.
It real easy in imgur to find the BBlink (bulletin board an archaic internet feature) that directly pastes into the text without needing to use any of the posting icons.