Zephyr and PM42 and 6 conductor wire

[jjackso8]

I am in the process of installing my Zephyr DCC system. I have divided my layout into five sections (no reverse loops) and set up a Digitrax PM42 for four of the sections as circuit breakers and a PSX1 for the fifth section. I read somewhere that I need to change the CV's on the PM42 to reflect a lower rating for the amperage due to using a Zephyr, so that the PM42 trips before the Zephyr. In order to do that I must connect the two (PM42 and Zephyr). So I bought some 6 conductor wire yesterday from a local electronics store. I noticed when I went to set up that the conductor wires were not in the same order as some wire that I got from one of the Digitrax dealers in my area. Two questions:

1) do I need to change the CV's on the PM42 at all?

2) will the new 6 conductor work to connect the Zephyr and the PM42?

Thanks for your patience!!

[Arjay1969]

I found this tech bulletin on the Digitrax web site regarding using the PM42 with the Zephyr:

http://digitrax.com/appnote_pm42_dcs50sync.php

It looks like the only settings that need to be changed are on the PM42's and the PSX1.

As far as the 6-conductor wire, all of the cables need the ends put on the same way.  In other words, on every end connector, when looking from the top, the wires should always be in the same order left to right.  If one end has the blue wire on the left, then the other end must also have the blue wire on the left.  If that's not how the cable is wired, you'll need to snip the connector off of one end (doesn't matter which...the colors are arbitrary) and put a new connector on it the opposite way.

Hope that makes sense to you.

[CSX Robert]

jjackso8

...

1) do I need to change the CV's on the PM42 at all?

2) will the new 6 conductor work to connect the Zephyr and the PM42?

...

1) Yes.  The default setting of the PM42 is 3 amps, which is more than the Zephyr's 2.5 amps, so the Zephyr's circuit breaker should trip before the PM42.

 2) Probably.  Compare the two ends and if the colors are in the same order or, which is more likely the case, if they are mirror images of each other, then the cable will more than likely work.  The Loconet standard is for the wires to be in the same order, and it is definitely best to keep all of your Loconet cables this way; however, with most devices the cables that flip the ends will work fine.

[jrbernier]

 

John, 

  The default value for each of the PM42 power districts is 3 amps.  You will need to lower this(the Zephyr only puts out 2.5 aamps).  If you have a DT400 throttle, you do not have to cable up the Pm42 to the Loconet.  There is a program jumper on the PM42 thatr must be moved, and you can plug your DT400 into the Loconet port on the PM42 and program it.  There is no need to cable up the PM42 to program the device.  Our club has 16 PM42 devices spread over three 8 amp boosters, and none are attached to the Loconet.   While you are programming it, read the manual.  You can also set how fast the power district breaker trips.  We have set each power district to trip fast at maximum amperage.  This means that a power district will trip before the booster does(so only trains in the power district are affected).

  As far as Loconet cables, check them out with the LT1 tester device included with you Zephyr.  Loconet cables are basic RJ12 wiring.  Pin 1 & 6 are Railsync, Pin 2 & 5 are Ground, and Pin 3 & 4 are Loconet.  No matter which way you crimp the RJ12 connector onto the cable, it will work.  Most folks suggest inverting them.  For example:

Crimp end A with a Rj12 connector so that pin 1 of the connector is on the white wire(pin 1) of the cable.  Now go to the 'other' end of the cable and crimp another RJ12 connector on that end so that pin 1 of the connector is on the white wire.  You will notice a 'twist' in the cable.  If you mess up and do not have the 'twist'(pin 1 of the connector is going to pin 6 or the blue wire), it will still work.  This is because pin 1 & 6 are the same!  Some folks have told stories about stange problems because of an inverted cable.  The inversion is not a problem - usually it is poor workmanship in cable construction.  Wiring with the 'twist' so that pin 1 is always on the white wire just makes for a cleaner wiring job, and makes it much easier to trouble shoot!

Jim Bernier

[rrinker]

 Kind of cool to hook them to Loconet though since they send messages when a section trips, and you can also manually control the power with switch commands sent to them. Of course this means you have to set a board ID on each one so it has a unique address.

 16 PM42's..Perhaps you could help out the one or two people who contantly have problems with the PM42 and post on the Digitrax list. I've only ever installed one, on a friend's layout, and it just plain worked. Which was amazing since I built the board to plug it in off the layout and wired up a terminal strip to the edge connector and it was probably 2 months later we actually got around to hanging the board under the layout and chopping up the track bus. He also has 2 AR-1's that have worked just fine from the moment of installation, even with his N scale locos (sort of combining from the thread on the Easy DCC) - I have just not had this wierd 'problems' with the Digitrax equipment I have worked on, my own Zephyr with Hans Deloof Locobuffer and LocoIO, or my friend's Super Chief with PM42 and AR-1's.

                         --Randy