Oops, near simultaneous posts.
Yes, connect the DB5 to the SB5 that you already have.
Rich
Edit Note: Connect the DB5 to the SB3a that you already have.
tomcat,
STOP! LOOK! It’s time to stop all the confusion and tell us EXACTLY what hardware you have — an NCE PowerHouse Pro, PowerCab, or something else.
Start over with a clean slate, stating by exact model number copied from the front plate of what you have so we know for sure what we’re dealing with.
Doesn’t the diagram in the NCE SB3a manual (pg 6) describe how to expand a system using an SB3 as a command station with additional DB3 boosters.
I am getting confused too. Which command station is tomcat using?
The PH Box is a Power Pro command station with an integral 5 amp booster.
The SB3a is a 5 amp “smart” booster that can be used as a command station but relies on a Power Cab as its throttle and programming track capability.
The CS02 is a command station without an integral booster.
To my knowledge, these are the only three NCE command station setups.
In my case, I have the PH-Pro command station with integral 5 amp booster and a second 5 amp booster, the DB5, connected to the PH-Pro command station. This gives me the capability to divide my layout into two booster sections which, in turn, divide the layout into seven power districts each controlled by its own circuit breaker.
Rich
OK… I Started with the NCE starter system right out of the box = Powercab and a PCP with no booster
Added a SB3a smart booster which plugged into the back of the PCP which I connected the Powercab and a Procab.
Just want to add another booster, I just dont know which one !
I dont have a PH-Pro box or a DB5
Okay, thanks for clarifying what you presently have on hand.
You’re going to need the SB3a smart booster powering the first level of your proposed triple-deck layout.
For the second and third levels, you can use the CVP Products’ Zone Master Dual mentioned earlier; two separate DB5 or SB5a boosters; two separate SB3a boosters; or one DB5 and one SB5a – the choice is yours.
Note, too, that the difference in the boosters is their power output: DB5=5 Amps; SB3a=3 Amps; SB5a=5 Amps; CVP Zone Master=two separate 4 Amp outputs.
But you definitely need a separate booster for each layout level, and each level must be totally separated electrically from the other levels through the use of insulated rail joiners.
I don’t have one but I think that the SB3a is 5 amps, not 3 amps.
Rich
Rich,
The SB3a (discontinued) was 3 Amps output – the newer version that replaced it is the SB5a, which is 5 amps output.
Tomcat said he has the SB3a.
Here is what NCE had to say about the SB3a when it was in production.
The SB3a Smart Booster adds expanded and updated features to a Power Cab DCC system. The first and most noticeable feature is additional power (5 Amps) to run trains and accessories.
Rich
The original SB3 was 3 amps, the SB3a was 5 amps.
Tom,
I believe you are calling the track power from the booster to the track as the track bus.
It’s simple. Daisy chain the boosters using the COMMAND BUS. Each level will have one set of power leads from the booster to the track. (Although I recommend breaking out each level into power districts using a couple of zone breakers)
Now why double gap each level at the track? If you don’t the current will add together. So 5 amps from one level will add to the 5 amps on the next level, and 5 amps on the 3 level. That’s 15 amps. If your train shorts a gap, that’s a potential for a fried decoder.
This plus slight differences in voltage between the boosters can burn them out early. When you double gap your track between levels, be sure to do a voltage test between Level 1 and Level 2 rail voltage. It should be < .1 V. If it isn’t you need to either run more feeders to reduce voltage drop, or adjust the voltage using the trim at the booster. The investment in opto isolated boosters is also worth it.