DCC Circuit Breakers For Your Model Railroad (97)
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- čas přidán 4. 08. 2024
- Are you tired of shorts on your model railroad shutting down your operations unexpectedly due to folks running through closed turnouts or even as a result of derailments? Well there's a fix for that--circuit breakers. Yes, circuit breakers that function similarly to those in your house and kill power to affected circuits during a short. In this video I'll show you a selection of devices designed to work with DCC to isolate sections of your layout and prevent a short in one area from killing power to the others. Let's get started!
I discussed some of these devices in my DCC Corner column in the June 2017 and February 2020 issues of Model Railroader magazine. And here are some promised links:
www.voltscooter.com
www.tonystrains.com
www.ncedcc.com - Jak na to + styl
Really appreciate this one Larry. Your explanations make good sense.
Larry, great video on such an important topic with DCC. Looking forward to the upcoming video soon the items in this video. Thanks for sharing and stay safe. Ken
Excellent. Watched many videos. This is the best to explain DCC breakers.
Excellent overview Larry, thanks.
Great video... thanks for the info
Thanks Larry!
Great Video thank you
Thanks Larry! This is a very interesting topic. I look forward to the rest. PS- You didn't include the link to your MR article at 16:00. Have a great day.
Yes, I discovered I couldn’t ‘t do that once I had uploaded the video to CZcams so I included that in the description.
Hi, Larry, I like to know how I can connect the Atlas turnout track to the controler DCC DS64 Quad Stationary Decoder?
Hi.DCC GID
Thank you for your support to my request. You agree to this switch to my DCC System.
A quick question I now use the digitrax board you showed ....I used one circuit as a reverser...can you do that with the others shown? I plan to add another circuit beaker to the upper level and am wondering how to hook up the next one hope you go over adding it.
As far as I remember the Digitrax PM42 is the only one that can be used that way. However there are plenty of reversing circuits out there.
Great video but are you going to do a review of the NCE wireless pro ho scale DCC controller.
I’ll have to see if any of my friends with NCE layouts have a wireless system I can borrow. They don’t often give those away to CZcams reviewers.
Very good info...
I recently added a removable shelf extension(it's a railyard) to the end of my layout, and it has an easy two wire connection to my power bus. It all works fine...but consistency of 13.5 with 2-4 amps measurements occasionally.
1st Question: Is this new section considered as block?
Would you recommend putting the circuit breaker between my main bus and the extension connection?
Thank You for your fine work.
2nd) How much is TOO MUCH Amps for DCC?
3) Do you have a website and email where we can share pictures?
The primary reason to treat it as a separate block protected with a circuit breaker is that would isolate the rest of the layout from short circuit shutdowns common in yards. If you find that to be an issue then consider making it a block using either the revised ballast lamp or one of the fast acting electronic circuit breakers.
@Model Railroading Thank You So Much! That is exactly the approach I will be taking. Here is a link to my build.
I already have bus and Tam Valley frog juicers in place. Just need to add a Circuit Breaker: czcams.com/video/o0j3T4h4P5c/video.html
Hi Larry - I bought two PSX circuit breakers. It says Digitrax users should use jumper wire from J7-3 to J7-4. Dumb question, but does this mean I need to solder a wire between those two holes on the board? Do you do that on yours?
Yes, I just ran a thin bead of solder between the two holes on the board. Make sure to look closely at the markings on the board and the instructions as it is easy to get 3&4 confused with 1&2.
Thank you! I appreciate all the help.
Hi Larry, I am an avid devotee of your CZcams videos. Based on this video I purchased a PSX4 for installation on my DCC layout. However it seems that it in not just a simple matter of wiring them into my NCE booster and bus wires but I have to program each circuit breaker as well according to the instruction booklet. Is this correct? I am a novice at this and if programming into my NCE system is required could you please explain in another video if you have not already done so? Thanks for some clear, helpful and insightful
...insightful assistance. Regards Ernie
So we would want to use breakers....
How would circuit breakers, boosters and command be connected?
An update to my further email to you last week.
I have a NCE power cab. I joined current set jumpers 1 2 and joined them together for the power cab and changed the CV 49 to zero.When ever a short occurs on any of the circuits the whole system shuts down. My next test was to disconnect the current set jumpers and change CV 49 to 001. The same thing happened, the whole system came to a halt. Can you tell me what I'm doing wrong. The circuit board was connected to my layout and it did the same thing . So I disconnected the whole unit from the layout and did the same tests as before with the same results.I look forward to your reply. Sorry for being such a bother but been trying to solve this problem for about a year Cheers David Kidd
Well it seems you have set the unit for the lowest trip current value as I would have suggested. At this point you should contact the designer, Larry Maier, using his email address larry@tonystrains.com . It is possible that you have a defective unit and he can best help you if that is the case. Good lick with it and get back to me if you have trouble contacting him, this is a new address-Larry
I would like to build my own breakers. I have divided my layout into like 15 PD's (power districts) and need independent power for all. But the commercial ones are pretty expensive and the inexpensive commercial ones seem easy to build if schematics could be found. Are there any true schematics for breakers fairly simple to build that are more than lights? Thanks.
I don’t know of any and to be honest it is probably cheaper and easier to buy commercial ones unless you are an EE.
@@TheDCCGuy I think you're right, but with 15 proposed pd's, I may look a little more. I also have this book "Electonics for Model Railroads" written a while ago, am mentions DCC (once) and I may find something buried in there. But I may go for the cheapo, a step above the simple light. Thanks.
I have a friend with a HUGE layout. I think he put in about 50 of the tail light bulbs and they work OK. Take a look at my video on the improved light bulb breaker.
@@TheDCCGuy I will look for it. Plus regarding the reverse loops (1 reverse loop module controlling multiple reverse looping situations), is that I sometimes toil willy-nilly on my design software - 3D Railroad - and before I know it there are several rl's, sometimes in surprising places. So I just plug in into the nearest module. Just another quick thought... I would like a set up to check the polarity/phase difference of two adjoining districts, specifically those going into and out of rl's. Thanks.
If you wire a light bulb across the gaps on a reverse loop entry or exit the bulb will only light if the track phases are different.
That's an old electrician's trick, lol. In the days of actual fuse boxes, we'd screw light bulbs into the fuse positions in the fuse box. A short would just cause the bulb to light up.
When I was a kid folks would just stick a penny in the slot when a fuse blew!
Larry where can I get the PSX4 circuit breaker board thank Robert Guzman
www.tonystrains.com and various eBay sellers among others.
So can I connect a PM74 directly to my DCS210+ or do I need to get a booster?
Yes, that way you can essentially divide up your booster output and have 4 blocks that are individually protected from shorts in another block. I suggest you download the manual and read it thoroughly before committing to it. Make sure you understand how it works and is set up. Tnese are more complicated than the usual power managers and include transponding and block detection.
Can I switch an analog deisel engine and convert it to dcc? this Ho scale. If so how?
There are a number of videos on this channel that shoe hoe to convert a DC loco to DCC.
I have just watched your video on circuit breakers. I have a problem with my psx-4(by tony's trains). when ashort occurs on one of the circuits it does not just stop the loco on the track where the short circuit occurs but on all other cuircuits. The whole layout comes to a halt. My controller is the NCE Power Cab. can you help. I have exhausted all possibilities. Thanks in advance cheers david Kidd
Have you activated the low power options on the PSX? Also make sure you have set the trip currents low enough for the PowerCab. Otherwise instead of one PSX tripping to contain the short it will pass through and shut down the PowerCab.
@@TheDCCGuy I have put jumpers on pin 1 and 2 and change the CV49 to zero. it still shorts all the block and every thing comes to a halt. sorry to keep bugging but been trying to fix this problem for over a year. Thanks again for your help cheers
@@davidkidd2291 Hi David. Just an idea, are all your blocks are isolated?
Larry
In #97 circuit breaker issue you have talked about the doc specialties psx4 boards
You said you would revisit it at a later date
I cannot find it.
Please spend some time on a single unit and walk thru the component more clearl
I have 6 separate locations and I have shots occurring
There is a all led on the bottom section that lights up
Please spend some time explaining the make up of the unit
Thank you
Kevin ONeill
I suggest you contact Larry Maier who designed these boards via Tonys Trains (larry@tonystrains). There were several versions of the software and he would be most familiar with your version and any implications on operations.
@@TheDCCGuy
I will give him a call
Thank you
Can i add a buzzer into the system
Some from DCC Specialties may have a spot to add one but most do not that I am aware of. It’s a pretty good clue when your trains stop running that power is off. With others you would have to cobble up a circuit to turn on the buzzer when power goes off.
@@TheDCCGuy Thanks, but i was thinking of when you in another room
How do-you hook up the volt scooter to track ??
One DCC track bus wire goes directly to one track rail as usual. The other bus wire is connected to one screw terminal on the VoltScooter and then another wire is fed out of a second screw terminal and runs to the other track rail. Simple and no soldering required except your track feeders.
The DCC Guy OK but it was confusing there’s four terminals, on the voltscooter that’s why I couldn’t understand the diagram
There are two versions. One has two terminals and the other one has four. On the one with four terminals two are for track power and two are for adding a warning buzzer.
The DCC Guy thanks !!!
The DCC Guy I believe I hooked up the circuit breaker, and removed the proper jumper , but the toggle switch stays on and shorts out, And I know there’s no shorts because my train is running properly without the circuit breaker hooked up...
CB try
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Hi my name is Neil Schwerdt I married to Nora Puckett in west valley city it.
Is she part of your Puckett family. She has a cousin his name is Bobby Puckett he live in Ohio .
I've got a HO lay out 18x14 out in my garage .
I run Montana rail link the years are 1989 throw 2020 I watch you on U tub
There are Pucketts all over Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and a few other scattered locations but they started out in Virginia in the 1630s so we likely are distant cousins.
@@TheDCCGuy Hi Larry could you help me on a HO BNSF ( B unit ) I need help with getting the LED lights. Hooked up I do not know how to do that.
So would have some time to help with that .
I can send the unit to you and pay you for your help on the ( B ) unit.
This is my cell number > 801_906_1072 I really like watching your show you put on you tub.
I hope that you & wife have a nice weekend.
From Neil Schwerdt
Check out my video on installing LED lights in locos.