Randy, thanks again for responding to my questions. Based on your, Robert and Stevert's response I understand to use a ground 14 gauge wire from the CS to the booster or boosters and not cut anything on the LocoNet cable. I also think all of you are telling me not to connect the UP5s to the track bus and if needed to use a separte power supply to them if I will be leaving throttles connected. Will use the #20 feeder wire for the frog power as you indicate.
Thanks again for your help.
Gary
Hey Coastie71,
A track plan would really help sorting out your questions.
My first question would be where would you place the command station? Using a track plan would determine the arrangement and length(s) of the buss(es). From that we (you) can determine whether a booster would be needed.
My second question would be how do you plan to power and control the Tortoises?
I agree about not connecting track power to the UP5s.
Good luck. We'll see how this thread progresses.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
Coastie,
As a long-time Digitrax user with a similar-sized (HO) layout, I'll offer my opinions:
1) Use stranded instead of solid for your bus. MUCH easier to work with!
2) Consider 22 or even 24 gauge for your feeders (keep them short). Depending on how you solder them to your track, the smaller gauge will be less noticeable.
3) Unless you'll have a zillion sound-equipped N-scale locos running at the same time, you probably won't need a second booster.
4) Use one (or more) Digitrax BXP88(s) instead of the PSX. For roughly the same price as the PSX4 you'll get twice as many breaker sections, PLUS detection if you ever decide to add signals or automation, PLUS transponding. (Okay, very few folks use transponding so you'll probably just turn it off in the BXP88 anyway.)
5) Yes, you need the "ground" (it's actually a reference ground, not an earth ground) between the CS and the booster (if you need one - see #3). Do NOT depend on the LocoNet ground conductors to provide that function, as it must be able to carry the booster's entire output amperage.
6) Do NOT cut any of the LocoNet wires unless you FULLY understand the reason for doing so on YOUR layout. For the vast majority of layouts that's something that not only isn't needed or recommended, and it could cause other issues.
7) I recommend that you don't connect your UP5's to the power bus. Use a dedicated DC power supply in the side 2.1mm coaxial jack instead. I use a 15VDC regulated supply.
8) Use the same wire gauge for powering your frogs as for your other feeders.
You want to connect the ground (really a common) between the command station and booster with at least as heavy a wire as the bus. This is pretty important, as any slight voltage difference when crossing the gaps from a section powered by one to a section powered by the other needs a path, and without the heavy common, it uses the thin wire in the Loconet cable. Do NOT connect any of these to the easrth ground, such as the ground pin of an electrical outlet.
Do not connect the UP5's to the track power, if you ever intend on installing block detection. Depending on how many throttle you plan to use plugged in, you may want to supply aux power to the UP5 via the power socket on the side.
For frog power with the Tortoise contacts, the same #20 feeder wire is fine. The frog is small and can never have more than one loco on it at a time, so there will be no high current involved. You can use the sam colors as the feeders for the two bus lines, and green for the frog because, as Tony Koester says, frogs are green.
--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'm just starting in model railroading having only created a N scale on a 4x8 back in the late 1980s. I'm right now constructing the benchwork for a 18'x24' E shaped (middle peninsula) double main track layout. No reverse loops, cross overs or wyes, except a wye for entering a yard as I couldn't get a regular turnout to work. I'm thinking about using Digitrax Command station (DCS 240), a second booster and I'm guessing PSX power managers so I can keep my buses to under 30' I've read various books and websites and of course I'm not totally clear on how the system should be hooked up. I'm going to use 14 gauge solid wire for the buses and probably 20 gauge solid for the feeders and solder the feeders every 6' and most if not all the rail joiners. Using Atlas code 83 for all track. There will be one small yard. I believe I understand that I have to have a LocoNet cable running from the command station to the booster and another for the cab bus. Not sure whether I have to also have a ground wire connection also to the booster as Wiring for DCC Alan Gartner website kind of indicated not to as this causes a loop since the LocoNet cable has a ground built in, but then he shows something else about cutting two of the wires in that LocoNet cable instead and running a ground??? He also mentions about not connecting your booster outputs together, but not sure what he is referring to. Also, I guess I can run the bus wires to the PSX device and run the bus wires from there to the individual power districts (gap'd) so that I can get by with only one extra booster. I'm also confused about the cab bus setup and whether or not I need to have UP5s connected to the main bus wires for each power district??? I may also use a IR panel/throttle too, as radio wouldn't work out since this system will be in a steel building.
Going to use Tortoise switch machines for all turnouts and I believe I can connect a wire to the turnout frogs from them to power them. My understanding is I can solder to a screw for the #6 turnout and directly to the #8 and curve turnouts and avoid having to purchase frog juicers also. Not sure what size wire should be used for this.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
Coastie71