The terminal maked GROUND on the back of the DCS52 and the instructions in the manual have me confused. Further, the help desk tells me I can connect the terminal to an earth ground, but the person who answered me says he doesn't ground his. Anyone using a DCS52 with or without an earth ground by way of the terminal please help. I'm beginning to think the plug on the power suppy provides the safety needed.
I use the grounding screw to connect other Digitrax boosters to a common ground. I would not ground this to the household wiring. It is used only if other Digitrax boosters or accessories are added to your command station.
It should be labeled "Booster Common" or something other than "Ground" which most people relate to Earth Ground which it is not.
https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/home/technical-discussions/boosters/booster-ground-commons
Here's more about why a booster should have a common:
https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/home/dcc-general-best-practices/booster-connections-power/multiple-booster-wiring
Additionally, the DCS 52 allows for "Jump" throttles which are add on DC power packs that can be used as limited throttles that use the ground terminal for one side of their output.
Good Luck, Ed
Put me in the "do not connect to actual earth ground" camp. You DO need to connect multiple boosters together with a heavy wire (same size as used for your track power bus), and certain Digitrax devices like the PM42 and BDL168 also need a connection to this common to function properly.
The system is isolated from the mains power by the power supplies. The proper power supplies supplied with the system are double insulated so neither side of the line are connected to the low voltage side.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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