I tend to agree with you, Rich.
http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/products/detection-signaling/bdl168/documents/BDL168.pdf
Page 18 has a diagram showing how to wire the BDL168 to a PM42
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Phoebe Vet I tend to agree with you, Rich.
As I mentioned earlier in this thread, the OP is not making it any easier to help him with his infrequent and disingenuous replies.
There have been a lot of carefully considered and intelligent replies by other members that have been contributed on this thread, yet we get no sense that the OP is paying attention to, or acting upon, this advice.
How frustrating !
Rich
Alton Junction
Now I understand. Just wanted to cross check. When you mentioned mechanical ways of choice "including bus bars, terminal strips, wire nuts," That's when I got it. Thanks for your help anyway.
I apologize for all the misunderstanding. I get the whole mechanism now. Thanks to the members of this forum.
alloboard I apologize for all the misunderstanding.
I apologize for all the misunderstanding.
alloboard, it's not a misunderstanding.
It is a lack of understanding...................
..........................on our part, about what you are trying to accomplish.
If you would take the time to describe your layout, perhaps provide a track plan, and describe in some detail the number of power districts that you plan, we could all provide more meaningful help and advice to you.
The problem with this thread and the other related threads that you have recently posted is that you have not followed up with us on our advice, our questions, our comments.
You take the correct approach in asking questions on this forum in the first place, but once a question has been posed, any interested members of the forum who take the time to read and follow your thread deserve to have some closure. These threads either end abruptly or fade away into oblivion without resolution.
Keep us informed as to your progress as a result of this thread and the other related threads.
Yes I will try and do better. Now I see where I go wrong. I will provide a closure and keep you guys updated. I blame myself for my bad social skills, like they would tease me about it where I work, thus never too late to change that and prove them wrong. Trains, science,and technology are are among the few things in my life that makes me jubilant. I will provide more info for you guys within the next day or two on this forum and other threads one by one day by day.
Good man, alloboard.
Hopefully, we can all work through this together.
Yes, thanks. I'll do better.
As for now, everything in my layout is wires and working correctly.
This is the link to my previous thread and the pictures and videos of my layout: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/209714.aspx?sort=ASC&pi314=1
According to my map, where would you suggest for me to put the Digitrax RX4's? I assume the turnouts? I have decided to use terminal strips to splice the ground (common) power, and the rail A and B wires, but I don't know how to correctly wire terminal strips that will splice one wire into two more wires "i.e. 6 position terminal strip for rail A and B, 3 position for ground, and 3 position for the ground (common) wire." Could you help me out please?
8 position terminal strip.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103229&znt_campaign=Category_CMS&znt_source=CAT&znt_medium=RSCOM&znt_content=CT2032231
3 position terminal strip:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=18083106&znt_campaign=Category_CMS&znt_source=CAT&znt_medium=RSCOM&znt_content=CT2032231
8 position jumper:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103227
You can cut the jumper down for less positions. The half round slots go under the screws on onw side of the terminal strip.
The RX4's need to go in a location relative to the BDL168 as diagrammed in the Digitrax manuals for them. They are very sensitive to stray currents so the directions must be followed precisely. There ar eno physical wire attachments to the RX4 - the cable plugs in to the BDL168 and the wire(s) from the BDL168 pass through the hole in the RD4 that will transpond those blocks.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I just looked at the diagram at the BDL168 manual. I now understand and will use that as an example. I thing I now how to use terminal strips now. Thanks for your help.
Do I have to make spade connector wires suitable for 24 gauge wires? Won't I need a crimping tool to connect my wires to the spade connectors for terminal strips?
Where are ther 24 guage wires? The wires from the RX4's should not be in any way cut, they should all be leading to the 10 pin connector that just plugs in to the BDL168, no additional connections needed.
To connect between your breakout board from the PM42 to the BDL168 for the track power, you want much more than #24 wire. To put spade or ring terminals on the wire, you will need a crimp tool, those are cheap. ANd you need the correct terminals to match the size ire youa re using - they insualted ones are color oded. The cromp tools typically come ith a small assortment of a couple of each type, and then you cna buy packs of just the size you need. I crimp AND solder mine.
LOL, I don't have RX4's yet. I'm using terminal strips to splice and share the power and ground cables for my two PM42's Instead of buying another 18V power supply. In the Digitrax manual it does not specify what gauge wires are needed. On page 9 of the Digitrax BDL168 manual it says: "For example, a 12AWG zone connection to the booster should be less than 10 feet for best performance." Remember that I'm using the breakout boards from LWH3. The LWH3 manuals for PM42 and BDL168 says that a 12 AWG to 26 AWG solid or stranded wire may be used. I've already ordered 24 gauge wires for this entire project. Did you take a look at my map and video's for reference?
alloboard Do I have to make spade connector wires suitable for 24 gauge wires? Won't I need a crimping tool to connect my wires to the spade connectors for terminal strips?
That's what I thought! Thanks for the info. I rather speed this project up already and do as you mentioned.
#24 is fine for the power supplies for the PM42 and BDL168, and track feeder drops, but it is NOT sufficient for the track power buses.
Thanks for the advice. What exact gauge do you recommend for the track power bus rail A and B? I ordered 24 gauge 4 color coded wires for easy reference of the DS 1-16 sections within the zones of the BDL168. All my zone wires whatever gauge you recommend, A and D will be color coded gray for easy reference.
Based on the videos of your layout, #14 should be sufficient. Run #14 from the BDL168 outputs to near the track it will be monitoring, and then use multiple sets of smaller feeders to connect the track to this bus wire. #14 will be fine between the PM42 outputs and the BDL168 inputs.
Using ring or spade terminals will get a solid connection to the screws on the breakout boards with overtightening or having stray bits of wires hanging out to cause shorts. Rings require the screw to be removed to attach, but then even if the screw comes loose, the wire stays attached (although making a rather poor connection - but the wire won't come off and rub against somewhere it shouldn;t and burn something out). Like I said, I crimp mine on then solder them as well - they definetly are reliable that way. I use my high power soldering gun for that, heat the terminal and wire at the ring end, and feed solder in the back. Result, solidly attached terminals that won;t pull out like just crimped on ones sometimes can. You can get an idea of the neatness afforded by the terminals instead of just plain wire in this pic of my DB150's connections:
I will use No.14 then which will be color coded. That's a very nice picture. I have a DB150 and that same Magna Force power. I just bought the same terminal strip.
rrinkerLike I said, I crimp mine on then solder them as well - they definetly are reliable that way. I use my high power soldering gun for that, heat the terminal and wire at the ring end, and feed solder in the back. Result, solidly attached terminals that won;t pull out like just crimped on ones sometimes can.
We have done a lot of testing, using various methods and this is the absolute best connection possible. Nothing beats a crimp / solder joint.
Jim
I noticed on your picture that your DB150 has a jumper cable from config A to ground. I don't have a jumper connected to my DB150. Should I connect a jumper? and what does the jumper do?
The jumper makes my DB150 a booster. I have a Zephyr that is the command station. If you only have the DB150 you do not want the jumper, it needs to be your command station. If you add a second one, one of them will need the Config A to Ground jumper. Command stations in DCC are like Highlander - there can be only one.
I understand it now. Why not get a DT402D duplex wireless throttle like I have? Sell your zephyr .They are very convenient. I highly recommend it. Is your system hooked to your PC like mine is via Locobuffer and the Java Model Railroad Interface software plus RR and Co software?
The Zephyr as a command station has more features than a DB150. I don;t use it other than as a command station, it's under the layout too. I have multiple other throttles I use. I'll never be able to fit 12 trains on my layout at the same time, so the ability of the DB150 to run 22 isn;t something I need. The Zephyr's track output powers my stationary decoders, only the DB150 goes to the rails, via a PM42.
I have a Locobuffer connecting the system to a computer, I also have a PR3 on a standalone program track. The program track is on a piece of shelving and has Kadee couple gauges on the ends and is also marked off in NMRA weight graduations so I can use to to check coupler height and car weight as well as program locos. And it has a Loksound programmer so I can program sounds in Loksound decoders.
I will upload a revised picture and video of my layout and the work that I did splicing 5 wires with the terminal strips.
OMG! I know that a model railroad layout is usually on a table but this is temporary. I'm not that stupid, I put bubble wrap beneath the electronic components. I'm no carpenter to build a custom table. What should I do then? and thanks for the warning.