I am building a new layout (HO with NCE) which will be a 3 level shelf around my shed which is 9x6 mtrs.
My layout will run sound and non-sound engines, passenger trains, freight trains (consisted 3-4 units) , steam and yard switching, plus local industry switching ,
So there will be lots of trains running and a few people in a OP session as well, so I will need ample power. I want to add 3, 5 amp SB3 booster to each level…so heres my question
Should I join the boosters to the main track buss at each level separated by an EB1?
or
should I have the 3 boosters connected to each other by the control bus socket at the bottom level and just run the track buss all the way around and up to the top ?
IF i do it this way would there be voltage drop over such a distance to the top level? How would you guys go about this?
The only common connection between boosters is the control bus cable. If you’re going to fabricate your own control bus cable, be sure to read the instructions carefully about crimping on the connectors. If you crimp one on wrong, that booster’s output will be out of phase.
We have 4 boosters on our large HO scale club layout plus the main PowerHouse Pro Command Station. All track wiring is through PSX circuit breakers so the entire layout doesn’t shut down if there’s a problem.
If you don’t already have it, the NCE DB5 user manual in .PDF format can be downloaded from the following site:
Connect each booster to the track bus in the middle of each level, so the distance from booster to the furthest tracks is minimized. 9 meters is quite a run, but 4.5 meters isn’t a problem. Of course, you must isolate each of the levels from each other.
Consider breaking each level into several zones, each protected by its own breaker. That way, the whole level won’t shut down for a short in one zone. Be sure you get breakers that allow you to set the trip current below that of the booster.
You must have both rails gapped between boosters. You could put all 3 boosters in a central location and run the bus wiring up to the appropriate level, and then T off in both directions.
Where we plug in the flat cable from one booster to the other booster, Control bus is written above the socket on the booster , which links the boosters together.
Sorry if I confused you,
I assumed that if there has to be gaps in the rails between boosters, there needs to be gaps in the track power bus, so that each booster I use will supply its own track bus . Is that right?
The diagrams in the SB3a manual (pg 6) seem pretty clear. Are you referring to the same thing when you say gap between the rails and gap in the track power bus? (perhaps i’m nit picking words, but there seems to be some confusion).
Don’t understand why you said “gaps in the track power bus”. When using more than one SB3a, you want each to provide power to separate sections of the layout (track) that are completely isolated from one another with gaps on both rails (possibly 4 gaps). Each isolated section of track is connected to the track bus terminals of a single SB3a. (the track bus connects to the rails. the rails have gaps).
The idea is that each SB3a can supply 5 amps of power in each section of the layout. Hopefully that is sufficent for the number of locomotives in that section. If there is a short, power will only be lost in that section of the layout while locomotives can still run in other sections.
If I’m reading the diagram correctly, track power from the port marked “track” on the booster connects to the track. You will cut insulated gaps in all track seperating it from other levels/districts. The port marked “control bus” supplies the decoder signal. This will already be isolated by the rail gaps for the district/level you have the track power connected to.
Go by the wiring diagram shown on pages 82-83 of the NCE Power Pro System Reference Manual.
For your installation, the PH Pro would be the first layout level, and the two PB105 boosters would be the second and third levels.
Note where they show two hash marks to indicate both rails gapped (insulated rail joiners). For your installation, these would need to be between each level so each booster’s output is isolated from the others.
You could use PSX devices in place of the EB1 and EB3 shown on their schematic, but separate power supplies (PS15 or equivalent) for each component is critical. The PB3 has been discontinued, according to the NCE web site.
On our large HO scale club layout, we do not have a common ground wire between the PH Pro and PB105 boosters due to the distance they are separated, and this has had no apparent effect on the system for almost 10 years of operation, but each component is grounded through the electrical mains.
it sounds like you have a PowerPro, bought an SB3a, that you’re plan on running lots of trains in the future and that you may need additional boosters at that time.
for now, why don’t you isolate each level of your layout by adding gaps in each rail as others have suggested and connect your single SB3a to each as shown on page 6 of the SB3a manual without the circuit breakers.
If you want to prevent a short in any one section from shutting down the entire layout or help isolate the short, you can add circuit breakers between the SB3a and each section as shown in the diagram. In the future, you can add more SB3a (and optionally circuit breakers) and each can power one or more isolated sections of the layout.
of course, you don’t need to do any of this. You don’t have to have isolated sections of track, you don’t have to use circuit breakers and you don’t have to use multiple boosters.
I should hav been a bit clearer in my last post. I started out using the Sb5a on my last layout for a couple of years now . I dont own the Powerhose Pro 5 amp system.
So I guess I should have said Do I need to get the DB5 and connect it to the booster I already have ? sorry for confusing the issue.