Phoebe Vet Both data and telephone cables are flat and six wires and use the same plug. The difference is telephone is wired pin one to pin six. Data cable is wired pin one to pin one. I just want to sure you understand that. The Loconet signal is symmetrical and most Digitrax accessories can use either, but I believe that the PMs require data cable all the way from the command station to the PM42.
Both data and telephone cables are flat and six wires and use the same plug. The difference is telephone is wired pin one to pin six. Data cable is wired pin one to pin one. I just want to sure you understand that.
The Loconet signal is symmetrical and most Digitrax accessories can use either, but I believe that the PMs require data cable all the way from the command station to the PM42.
Yep I gotcha, it's data cable I have tons of it in my house. But again I appreciate the explanation and the willingness to help. Also the PM42 does not require a Loconet connection at all, actually the only time you need to connect to it is if your going to program it, which you can do by plugging directly into it. But yes it does require a data cable if you were to plug it into a computer interface to program it.
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SMassey The wiring you are doing appears to be good but I will double check it when I get home. I for some odd reason cant access Digitrax's website from my work computers. I believe this issue is with your ground referance at the 44 pin connector. Before I hooked the ground up on my system I had the same issue. Once I fixed the ground it functioned perfectly. I keep thinking about HAL when reading this post. I think the creepiest thing he said was in 2010 after they powered him back up and he said "I am completely operational and all my circuits are functioning perfectly". Massey
The wiring you are doing appears to be good but I will double check it when I get home. I for some odd reason cant access Digitrax's website from my work computers. I believe this issue is with your ground referance at the 44 pin connector. Before I hooked the ground up on my system I had the same issue. Once I fixed the ground it functioned perfectly.
I keep thinking about HAL when reading this post. I think the creepiest thing he said was in 2010 after they powered him back up and he said "I am completely operational and all my circuits are functioning perfectly".
Massey
I'm of the opinion that it's the ground too but I have yet to find out if it is on the 44 pin connector or the base station.....
HAL was kinda creepy wasn't he LOL! Sometimes I feel like that since my computer is prepped to be connected to the layout
Phoebe Vet I believe that the PMs require data cable all the way from the command station to the PM42.
I believe that the PMs require data cable all the way from the command station to the PM42.
The PM4 and PM42 can operate as a stand alone unit with DC or DCC with out a loco net. The loco net allows you to program the PM42 and it can also provide feedback to computer systems using JMRI.
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I found that I can access the new digitrax site so I downloaded the PM42 manual and double checked your wiring. The only thing that is missing is the power for the PM 42 but you state that is connected. Your wiring shows that all should work fine. I would if I were you move the ground from pin B to pin X and see what happens. Also check the 44 pin connector for anything that does not look right were it slides into the PC board. IF this does not work then take the BODs out of the ground and have just the PM42 in the ground directly into the booster. Also remove the plug in the booster to make sure that it does not have a bent pin on the ground. You can also ground the PM42 directly to the case of the DB150 for a ground referance.
SMassey I found that I can access the new digitrax site so I downloaded the PM42 manual and double checked your wiring. The only thing that is missing is the power for the PM 42 but you state that is connected. Your wiring shows that all should work fine. I would if I were you move the ground from pin B to pin X and see what happens. Also check the 44 pin connector for anything that does not look right were it slides into the PC board. IF this does not work then take the BODs out of the ground and have just the PM42 in the ground directly into the booster. Also remove the plug in the booster to make sure that it does not have a bent pin on the ground. You can also ground the PM42 directly to the case of the DB150 for a ground referance. Massey
Yea I soldered the power line son last night, forgot to try the different ground PINB 'X' so that will be on my list for tonight.
I'll check the Booster pins as well. AND will also try just grounding it to the case of the booster
Thanks for all your help.... more to come
Ok guys, well I tried disconnecting the power (PS14) and tried running trains. Well.... nothing happened, no track power, almost like the track power wouldn't pass through the unpowered PM42.
I tried grounding it to the DB150 frame, no luck there still tripped.
Then I had to go do something else and never got back to it so I'll try again tonight with some of the other experiments.
Hang in there
Thanks again for all your help
Dont forget to move the ground to pin X. Me is thinking that is the problem.
There is a problem somewhere with the connector then. There should be track power passing through the PM-42 when they are powered down. Our club layout has 5 PM42's installed and we occasionally have to power them down and we are still able to run trains. If you have a second 44 pin connector i would try using it and test each block as you go. I would start with the ground power and first block. If that works, add the second block. Test. Add the third and so on.
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Agree on the grounds. Make sure there is a ground between all of the boosters and command station. This is the same ground that hooks up to the pm-42.
Another problem you might come across is false detection with the BD4's I see in your earlier diagram. Both the BD1 and BD4's have a known issue with false detection when using modern high frequency decoders, including sound decoders. They have a fix but it has only been implemented in the BDL168.
A search in the YAHOO digitrax group will find this and answers to most Digitrax issues.
Jim
Springfield PA
@Massey: Yep it's on my list@Renegade: I'm now of the opinion that is where my problem lies @Hamltnblue: I only have 1 base station/booster whatever you want to call it, also the PM42 does this before you even connect track to it, but I am aware of the BD4 issue (which I personally have not seen happen on my layout, I have 1 BD4 functioning right now). As for the Yahoo Group, yea they suggested I talk directly to Digitrax.
I'm gonna work on the new connector after switching the grounds. Keep your fingers crossed gentlemen. Thanks for all your help!
Also remove the BODs from the ground loop for the time being. If they are floating a voltage on the ground circuit then you have been chasing your tail for over a week for nothing. Once you get the PM42 up and running then add the BODs. If the PM42 starts acting up with the BODs in place then you have your answer to the issue. If this does happen then a cap and diode on the ground going to the BODs will prolly solve the problem.
Remember, he's tried this with NOTHING connected to the 4 outputs of the PM42 - so no downstream devices at all, at least that's what has been conveyed in several messages, and I have no reason to doubt this.
As for the supersonic detection issues, it's also supposed to happen with BDL16 and BDL162 boards - only the BDL168 is supposed to work right. Tell that to my friend's layout, where he has a BDL16 working 100% reliably for automated operation. EVERY decoder is high frequency/supersonic, although only some are actual Digitrax decoders, but one of the automated units even has a Lenx Gold Mini with the USP model installed. I'm more convinced it's sloppy wiring rather than an absolute defect in the device.
Same with the idea that a PM42 can;t reset with sound locos because of the inrush current. I've now tried the following locos all in the same PM42 section: Stewart F7 A, powered, no sound, TCS T1 decoder; Stewart F7 B dummy, SOundtraxx LC sound decoder with a big speaker; Stewart FT A, powered, no sound, TCS decoder; Stewart FT B, powered, Tsunami sound decoder; Walthers FA, no sound, TCS decoder; Athearn RS3, powered, MRC sound decoder; PCM T-1 Northern, Loksound 3.5 sound. With all those locos sitting int he same power zone of the PM42, I shorted the rails with a coin, the PM42 tripped. I removed the coin, the PM42 reset and all the locos powered back up. In case you lost count, that was 4 sound plus 3 non-sound in the same section. The PM42 is set for default settings, the only thing I changed on it was the board ID.
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Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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I( was not talking about the BODs as attached to the rails I was refering to them attached to the ground circuit. He has them hooked up to the Booster at the ground. This may be enough to create a floating voltage at the ground and trip the PM42. I went through this once already and after hours of looking at the PM42 we found out the PM42 was not the issue. We then put an RF filter on the ground and the problem went away. That was all I was suggesting, its a could be senerio.
My PM42 has been able to not trip on the power up of sound engines. 3 sound engines on the same district caused it to trip once and then power up normally. I have set my trip speed to the max tho.
Just Curious to know if there has been any changes?
Not yet guys, Christmas happened and interrupted my plans.... but I did get a PR3 out of it :)
Stay tuned, once the holidays settle I'll be back at it.
Woohoo on the PR3 Good to go there. Now lets get the PM42 going.
The no power pass through is rather telling. Even though the photo and all showed the wires are all on the proper pins, something's not right. With power off the relays are held in one position by their internal springs - power will flow through those terminals., fromt he input to the output. If you look carefully on the relay case you can see the pinout, and then you cna trace the circuit board runs to the edge connector to see this.
Just checking - you ARE putting the PM42 in the 44 pin connector such that the componend side of the board is on the NUMBERED pins side of the 44 pin connector, right? If I remember the picture, it shows the numbers on the top row, the PM42 shoudl plug in with the components facing up.
Any news or updates? Just wondering!
SMassey Any news or updates? Just wondering! Massey
Weeeellll. I guess the quick way to say this is, I over stepped my "borders" in the basement.
Sooooo I'm using this opportunity to modify bench work ( a lot ) and re-lay track. Which means I'm re-doing the wiring as well because (what's left) of my layout currently was originally wired for analog and was "quickly" modified for DCC and I just keep coming to the conclusion that by doing this I can eliminate any additional problems I have. The good news is I have EVERYTHING I could possibly need to build a layout and decent amount of money just sitting there to handle extra parts if need be. As for the PM42 I started on a new terminal connector with just temporary connections set up, so far so good. going to be testing it with track power tonight again but from what I have tried it's looking like the issue has been the blue terminal connector.
Stay tuned, and also stay tuned for another tread in the layout building section of my new track plan, I'd love all of your input.
Thank you all for your help with this
If you were following this thread, please join me on another to review my new track plan for this layout. You can see it here:
http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/201669.aspx
I'd love the feedback, Thanks guys!