Decoder protection

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jennifer RR

Good tip on the light bulbs...Been doing that since the 1960s, of course on DC back then. About the NCE system billoburst has ....I doubt it is a 5 Watt unit, but rather a 5 Amp unit, just shy of a hundred Watts [ Watts = Volts x Amps] Assuming an 18 volt DCC rail, and a 5 amp maximum power delivery capacity, the maximum wattage of the setup would be 5 times 18, or 90 Watts.

Cheers, Jennifer

Jennifer: You're correct it's 5 AMP not 5 Watt. Thanks Bill

[Anonymous]

Good tip on the light bulbs...Been doing that since the 1960s, of course on DC back then. About the NCE system billoburst has ....I doubt it is a 5 Watt unit, but rather a 5 Amp unit, just shy of a hundred Watts [ Watts = Volts x Amps] Assuming an 18 volt DCC rail, and a 5 amp maximum power delivery capacity, the maximum wattage of the setup would be 5 times 18, or 90 Watts.

Cheers, Jennifer

[NZRMac]

Hey thanks Joe I've seen that tip before (maybe in your DCC post? ) I'll have to do that on my wee layout.

Ken.

[jfugate]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NZRMac

I don't see how decoder electronics can get shorted, is a loco derails the short circuit current runs through the wheels. How does the short current get to the decoder?

Ken.

Ken:

I know it doesn't make sense, but it happens. Nothing in the electrical world is absolute ... when a short occurs, there is a tramatic electrical transition that takes several milliseconds to complete, and each event is different. Something happens during that tramatic transition once in a while that blows electrical components. It's difficult to predict because each event is unique.

I've lost one or two decoders to shorts over the years (12 years now on DCC). I've also had about a half-dozen decoders get their settings scrambled while being part of a short.

However, in my experience, you don't need the expense of Tony's power shields ($30 each) to get short protection on your layout. You only need to reduce the tramatic transtion in a short to something non-tramatic -- more of a minor blip. I use 1156 auto tail light bulbs ($1 each) and I get short protection on my HO layout that works very well. No more burnt out decoders, and no more scrambled settings.

To see it in action, check out this video clip:
http://mymemoirs.net/preview.php

[NZRMac]

I don't see how decoder electronics can get shorted, is a loco derails the short circuit current runs through the wheels. How does the short current get to the decoder?

Ken.

[cacole]

Call or send an e-mail to Tony's and ask them. Tony is a very honest person and will not try to sell you something you don't need. They also have a lot of experience with NCE and other systems.

On our club layout, we have 12 Volt Halogen lamps wired into our power feed to protect against incidents such as yours.

P.S. -- Your original file was not deleted, it has been bumped back to page 3 already.

[Anonymous]

Posted - 08/28/2005 : 11:05:19 Show Profile Email Poster Edit Topic Reply with Quote
Sorry to post this again but Ithink I deleted the first one by mistake, Bill I recently had a Lionel HO Challenger to stop working after derailing going over a turnout. After Lionel repaired it I noticed the work order stated "replaced blown electronics" I assumed this was caused by a voltage spike that I have read about that can happen when a engine jumps the track and shorts out. After contacting Tony's Electronics about purchasing something from them to protect against this happening again I was advised to use one of their Power Shield circuit boards in each district or with each booster for protection. They also make a combo Power Shield and Reversing unit combo. Does anyone out there have any experience with the product's or any suggestions? I'm using the NCE Power Pro-R 5 AMP system with one extra 5 AMP booster and 2 districts with a reversing Wye. I assume I would need 3 boards one for each booster and one for the Wye.. Thanks Bill
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