Hello,
I am having a very confusing issue with trying to implement a DB210 as a booster in a new section. I have added an 8x8 horseshoe perpendicular to my 16x8 oval layout. I am using a digitrax Zephyr Extra as my command station. I am getting to the extra section from my main section with Kato manual #6 switches. I have gapped the Kato track about a foot inside the new sections. I have double checked all the feeders and the wires are consistant in each section as well as to the track inputs on the DB210 and the Zephyr.
The issue I am having is on one side of the new section when a Loco crosses the gap between sections the DB210 indicates a short. The loco will run though from the new section to the old through the switch without hesistation, despite the DB210 beeping 4 times and blinking. In the other direction the loco will stop as soon as it crosses the gap while the DB210 indicates a short. Then repower and continue. On the other side of the new section the loco goes across the gap without any issues.
Most of the Kato manual switches are set to power routing, could this be an issue?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve B
Did the addition/revision create a return loop?
No It leaves one side of the large section via a switch and returns through another switch keeping the same polarity. I double checked with my brass passenger truck I use to check for shorts.
SB
Hello All,
blabrideMost of the Kato manual switches are set to power routing, could this be an issue?
Yes, but...
It sounds like somewhere in the new section there is a reversing loop/polarity shift causing a short.
A track plan would be helpful.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
blabrideI am having a very confusing issue with trying to implement a DB210 as a booster in a new section. I have added an 8x8 horseshoe perpendicular to my 16x8 oval layout.
is the AUTO REV switch on the front of the DB210 set to OFF?
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
Thanks for the reponses guy's, I heard back from Digitrax and they seem to think like you guy's. I also think the switches may be causing a reverse polarity issue. I will in the AM take the three involved and take them out of power routing mode. The weird thing is I ran a tap from the new sections bus wires to the old section bus wires and everything worked normally, strange that it only has an issue when the new area is seperated.
Yes the reversing switch is off.
Ill let ya'll know how things go.
Changing the switches involved had no effect. However I changed the scale setting to N from HO and the issue went completely away. It is an HO layout so there must be a Voltage issue between the Zephyr Extra and he DB210. Not sure the N scale setting is going to be enough power though in the future.
If I'm not mistaken doesn't the Zephyr put out 2.5 amps? With the DB210 putting out 5 amps, could that power discrepancy cause confusion? Just a thought
Just rememdered I have not replied with the solution to this issue. Yes for some reason the DB210 set to the HO mode at 3 amps did not like the power output of the Zephyr Express. The Express at that gap was putting out not quite 11 volts. While the DB210 was at almost 12 volts. Once I set the DB210 to N scale the voltages were almost identical and there have been no more issues.
Thanks for all if the help and advice.
blabride Just rememdered I have not replied with the solution to this issue. Yes for some reason the DB210 set to the HO mode at 3 amps did not like the power output of the Zephyr Express. The Express at that gap was putting out not quite 11 volts. While the DB210 was at almost 12 volts. Once I set the DB210 to N scale the voltages were almost identical and there have been no more issues. Thanks for all if the help and advice. SB
Something wrong here. You have a bit of voltage drop from the boosters to the track. Zephyr voltage should be about 13.8 volts. HO output on the DB210 should be about 14 volts on the N Scale setting. N scale setting will be 12 volts. No matter the voltage output should not cause a short at the boundaries. Shorting at one boundary but not shorting at the other end means there is a phase issue at the boundary where the short occurs. A quick check for this is to jump the rails at the boundary to see if there is a short circuit. If there is, the adjacent rails are out of phase.