Digitrax BXPA1 - Review Of Auto Reversing & Occupancy Detection Unit
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- čas přidán 14. 08. 2024
- The Digitrax BXPA1 is a DCC auto reversing, occupancy detection, and power management unit all in one. I have had many request from viewers to review this unit since it is a fairly new device.
There are some features I would like to see added, but overall, it's a great replacement for the AR-1 with additional features.
Link to BXPA1:
www.digitrax.co...
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FYI... You can use that Opto Isolated Detector Output to ground out a LED to turn it on or off. The same way you would use it to activate a relay or turnout etc.
So you can use it to light an LED on the panel when something is in the block.
Thanks for the info. When I first researched this item the people at Digitrax were not that helpful, they just repeated the information in the supplied material and could not add anything more to explain the features.
It devices like these that make me glad I have a smaller layout. Good video Tom.
Thanks Mark. You'll get hooked on a bigger one some day.
Thank you, Tom. Very helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Good job Tom
Thank you Debbie.
Thanks for the info. My layout uses JMRI to monitor the location of trains using block detection with BDL168 units. When you have a reversing section, the block detection is more complicated because you reverse the A/B power and so the reverse section must be completely isolated from other block detection sections. This is why I bought the BXPA1 and am about to install. It handles the reversing as well as the block detection in the reversing section! The AR1 doesn't do that! The answer to your question is that the BXPA1 will send a signal to JMRI through the loconet that the block is occupied. I can use that to display on my monitors with a change in track color for that section. While I haven't gotten to looking at the info the BXPA1 sends, I am assuming it is like the BDL168s that send info on 16 sections each. JMRI lables the signals for those 16 sections as "sensors" and they are numbered as a function of that address you set up, as you did with100 for the BXPA1. If you have more than one BXPA1 or BDL168, you need to change the address so that you don't get multiple sensors with the same ID. I'm about to find out how the BXPA1 works and what "sensor ID" it sends with the default, out of the box, address! Anyway, it DOES send a signal via loconet that you can use to show whether the block is occupied. I'll let you know what I've learned after I get it hooked up, but I'm glad to know that it worked well without additional tweeking!
I was a little disappointing in the answers I received from Digitrax about the isolated output. Haven't tried it yet but they claim it will trip a Tortoise switch machine. I can see that with the momentary contact feature on the DS64 but one would get a signal on both ends of the reversing circuit. Mort testing to come on this.
Keep me posted on what you find with your. Appreciate your input.
@TomsTrainsandThings Hey. So im struggling to understand the wire routing between DS74's, bxp88, and this unit BXPA1. There is a 10 pin connecter head on the ds74 that says its for 4 switch/occupancy areas. how is this routed ? Really just trying to figure out what I will need for my layout. Crazy how they dont give you enough information. Maybe we can chat. Thank for the video Tom!
send me an email with an explanation on what you issue is
It sounds complicated but it really isn’t. I’ve used two of these devices and they work great. Just follow the instructions and everything will be fine.
I was impressed with it from the beginning.
HI there. Great video! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Do you use the DIgitrax transponding features like the RX4, etc. ? If so, have you thought of creating a video showing how to setup Digitrax transponding with the BDL and RX* transponders?
I've been searching for a how to video on this, but haven't found anything helpful.
Cheers!
Do not use it and do not plan on a video on it either. I am using DCC-EX to run my new layout. The Digitrax system is there underneath in the event I want to use it again, but for now, it's strictly DCC-EX
My Bxp1A burned up just out of warranty. Just bought a DT602D throttle and that is giving me problems. And I have two of their decoders that also burned up. Digitrax is taking all of the fun out of the hobby for me.
Your having a run of bad luck there. Unusual for Digitrax
@@TomsTrainsandThings I took the bxp1A back to my local train shop where we figured out that it had been repaired by digitrax and sold as new so he swapped it out for me. As far as the throttle goes I'm hoping a firmware update helps with some of the glitches.
thanks tom! guess I'll look into picking one up!
Glad I could help Michael.
Hmmmmm, a Solid State Auto reverser from Digitrax. That sounds great. The AR1 (and the AR component of the PM42) switches WAY too slow. In fact, too slow for it to be usable on my layouts so I went with other AR units. The issue I had was with earlier Digitrax Sound Decoders, when they hit the AR section the polarity switchover was so slow the decoder lost power and as a result the engine HAD to go through its sound power up routine before it would move!!!
Solid State AR units don't have the above timing issue.
I have 4 Ar-1s on my layout and everyone of them have given me problems. Tried using 1 district of a PM42 for auto reversing and couldn't get it to work from the beginning. Hopefully this a step in the right direction for Digitrax.
Hey Tom, what gauge of wire would you use for wiring. Using 24 gauge and I don't feel it's wide enough. It hesitates when going over the point where it would normally short out. Tried adjusting the pots but I'm guessing it may be the gauge of wire. Thinking I may need to use a lower gauge. Thanks, George.
I have a video that discusses the recommended wire size for bus wire & feeders. Fo HO I use 14 gauge for bus wires & 20 gauge for feeders.
Thanks Tom. I just located the manual after much searching. I read the 14 and 22 gauges for bus and feeder wires. I guess maybe I'll try 16 to 18 gauge directly into the bxpa unit. Once again thanks for helping a fellow modeler.
Thanks Tom, most helpful. Regards Charlie
Glad it helped
Hey Tom... Great article.. I have had a BXPA1 for about 2 years, along with AR-1- and have been very confused about the difference between the two. It has been replaced/rebuilt once under the digitrax "No Hassle Warranty"
Question- Can I then use an opto-detector input?? - for my detector activation.
The 2 pins OP & ON go high when the circuit is occupied. I showed the response from Digitrax when I questioned the function of these pins. I showed a meter hooked to it and the results when occupied and when not occupied. I have done no further tests with it but plan on trying to drive a Tortoise switch machine since it appears these pins are nothing more than like the pins on a relay.
Can a BXPA1 change both switches at the same time when a reverse loop enters through one switch and exits through another switch?
BXPA1 changes the polarity of the reversing section. Nothing else
Thank you for this video! I got 3 of these for my layout for Christmas. Question: can the address be programmed via a JMRI with a PR3 or PR4, and transponding relay back via the same?
I'll be running more test on this. I'm assuming one could since it says in the documentation that it can be programmed with software. It doesn't say what software.
@@TomsTrainsandThings
Awesome! I can't wait to see it.
Does the BXPA1 change the polarity in a loop or on the mainline as the engine crosses the break in the track?
Only in the loop
Is there an auto reverse loop setup for dc trains?
Not sure if anyone produced an automatic one. DPDT switch will do the trick.
I have a video on this also
So where does the power manager come in? This item came up in a live chat when i complained about my circuit breakers....
There is a Trip Amps Potentiometer on the device to adjust how fast it will shut down the circuit. Not sure how that would work with NCE if at all. The documentation states it needs to be programed with a Digitrax throttle, but unless you want to give it an address, you don't need to program anything. I'll talk more about this on the Monday Stream.
Hello Tom, nice video on this Digitrax unit, could you please do a video on the Digitrax BXP88? Thanks!
Thanks Dylan. I don't have a BXP88, so there will be no video on that unit unless someone would like to donate one.
Hello Tom...Hopefully someone will...one day.
hi tom so you set a address. I use this for detection you set a board address. like use address 5 so the formula is board address X2 SO 5X2 IS 10 -1 IS 9 Detection is #9 let me know if this helps Greg
Nope! Have no idea what your formula is about
@@TomsTrainsandThings its what you need to program the bxpa1 also the default is one not three
@@TomsTrainsandThings its for detection
I can verify this formula is how you set the detection section number in the BXPA1. I was very frustrated because I could not find anywhere what address to use. I came across this post to the video and it works perfect. The number you must enter into your software for recognition is the board address you assign the unit times two, minus one. In my case, I assigned the BXPA1 as board address 251. So the number I entered into Train Controller was 251 times 2, minus 1. This gives me 502. I put this in and it worked perfectly. I don't understand why there is nowhere in the documentation how to do this. I hope this helps everyone. And thank you Greg!
Sorry, didn't reread before posting. The number I needed was 501.
tom do you hook this directly to a booster or come out a bdl 168 ???
It's more of an auto reversing unit than anything else. You hook it up to the reversing section of track. The occupancy detection is a led on the unit itself which tell you the direction of the loco. I couldn't get anything else out of Digitrax about any other function than that!
Aren’t resistor wheel sets part of occupancy ID?
Occupancy detection, yes.
Does it need to have a loconet connection?
It appears that it does. I haven't tested it with anything other than Digitrax.
@@TomsTrainsandThings I was going to use it in my Arduino with JMR layout .
@@TomsTrainsandThings I have bought a DB150 and want to hook it up to it. What do i need to do?
@@bradlegault5731 Go to my playlist page and find the playlists on DCC & Digitrax. There are a few more on wiring your DCC lyout.
Hello. I've seen many of your videos and you clearly know what you're talking about. Can you help me? I've pasted a UTube link with my problem. Can you solve it? I just want to get my dream railroad done. Thank you.. "@"
Responded on your video
@@TomsTrainsandThings Thank you, Thomas for your help. Here's a followup video on testing for voltage on the turnout. Who knows. Perhaps you'll create another video about what I'm going through. You had about a possible dead rail. But I found another problem. Here's the link: czcams.com/video/IDE13v2VkVQ/video.html
I seriously do NOT UNDERSTAND !!!! everything is so different from when I was a kid. I'm frozen with fear, I don't know where to start or what to do or what to purchase to get started on a layout.
Buy anything. Then you'll have to buy something else that goes with the first purchase. And the cycle continues. One step at a time and have fun!
I'd recommend a good layout book as a starting point. That's where I began my journey.
Too complicated!
Two wires in----Two wires out. The rest is just bells n whistles.
anything you aren't familiar with can seem too complicated. I bet if you got your hands on it and tried it you would be a pro in no time at all.
Probably right Naked, i'm just not ready for that yet.