DCC........Getting frustrated and would like CORRECT AND PROVEN answers....

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Ok.

This stuff is making me seriously angry. Fun my rearend…

First, everywhere you go on the internet has conflicting informtion unless someone knows a site I haven’t found yet.

What I have::::::

Whopping 45 inch test track[:D]!

Digitrax Zephyr Extra

PR3Xtra

DecoderPro

Current setup is pc to pr3 to zephyr along with a DPDT switch from the Zephyr to the tracks with the switch to choose between run and program obviously

What works:::::

JMRI throttle on computer

Wireless throttle setup with cell phone.

Can enter addresses and control said locomotives on pc and Zephyr alone

Was able to pull up(read) and program a long address on a Digitrax controller using DecoderPro

What doesn’t work:::::::

Unable to read 4-8-4 Genesis loco Tsunami

Unable to read U25B with QSI

They tend to make some low pitched hum/squawk when trying to read them

Both have been used at the LakeShore Model Railroad club without issue to function or programming when set up.

Basically trying to duplicate a home set up so I can learn all the ins and outs that having a 6 year old at my side does not allow me at the club.

I also ordered a Tsunami PTB-100 booster today for programming, since that seems to be the issue…(maybe?)

I want to find out what I am doing wrong since I find conflicting informaion between Digitrax, online sources and even some recognized modelers. 50/50 split on using boosters or not, have to program from PR3, have to go thru the Zephyr, etc… I can only tell you what I have experienced directly.

I just want to get a setup that works so I can clean up the mess that it is and get it all mounted on a smallish board for ease of use.

I would love some plain English correct information and maybe even a wiring diagram or two. I am not technically inept or averse, but I cannot find 1

2

Sound Decoders are notorious for problems, the solution is a program track booster such as the one you ordered.

They just need that little bit more juice to accept programming commands. The original specs for the programming track pre-date sound decoders, so they were not written with power hungry decoders in mind.

3

Betamax is correct, most likely you need the booster. It will definitely work for the Tsunami, pretty sure that’s your QSI issue as well. It just wires in between the track leads and the leads from your command station on the side of the switch that is for the programming track.

Why did programming work at the club and not at home? They either have a booster already wired to the programming track. Or they are using a DCC source that is capable of handling the higher power needed on it’s own. The NCE PowerCab is one such source, although there are others.

4

At my club and home I use a PR3 in standalone mode and JMRI. I can read and program all make of decoder presently on the marketplace. I am using a 16 volt power supply and don’t need a booster.

5

I’ll second Jack’s reply. I am also using a PR3 with JMRI, and have no problems whatsoever when it comes to reading/writing to sound decoders. No programming booster needed!

The “trick” is, as Jack has explained, to use a slightly higher voltage DC power supply for the PR3. Jack mentions 16VDC, and I use an 18VDC regulated supply with mine (the max per Digitrax is 20VDC).

As to where to find the information about using a more powerful power supply with the PR3 to avoid problms with sound decoders, I and others have been posting this info on the Digitrax and JMRI Yahoo groups for years…

6

Found out club was using a booster after the fact… Sometimes you can’t win.

Do me one favor and thanks to all those who replied before I forget, make sure to post proper information like this on any other forums you visit. It will save folks coming back to the hobby or new to DCC a lot of heartache[:)]

I’m still trying to do one model train projectt that doesn’t turn into a pile of doo doo. Trying to squeeze in anything working 12 hr nights and 28 of 32 nights at work and juggling family in spare time…

7

That’s interesting to know. In my case, I have a group of Blackstone C-19s running the Micro-Tusnami-750 and track power on the layout is dialed down to 12.5 volts to keep them cool. Having the higher power to supply the programming track would still be acceptable, because without a load on them this shouldn’t cause any problems in the short time they spend there.

8

Mike,
My advice is specific to the Digitrax PR3 when it is being used as a stand-alone programmer (no command station or DCC system needed).

I do not have any knowledge of whether raising or lowering the track voltage on any given command station would also cause it to be raised or lowered on that command station’s programming track.

9

Hi,

I run a 5 amp Digitrax Super Chief with a second booster. My layout has a dedicated programming siding and it works great. That is, with the exception for certain locos with sound decoders - which has been hit or miss.

I broke down and bought a Soundtraxx PTB-100 decoder programming booster (Ebay - $40) and with fairly simple installation, all my programming miscues went away. I confess I really fought having to spend the extra money to do some simple programming, but the thing works perfectly and my sanity is preserved.

10

See this is where things will differ. I have a desidcated program track made up with a PR3 in standalone mode driving it. I use the PS14 power supply that Digitrax supplied foor the PS3. I had one Tsunami and one QSI loco, the rest are all various Loksounds - I no longer have the Tsunami. But I have taken it to club shows to help others program their locos with JMRI and that setup has read every decoder that’s been thrown at it with no issues whatsoever. No booster. No special power supply.

Now, Digitrax does not make the PS14, they are standard off the shelf wall warts that they buy in mass quanity so one batch may not be exactly the same as another batch, so it’s possible some put out a little more voltage than others. Connection to and a clean program track are important - mine is Atlas Code 83, basically 3 rerailers in a row to make it easy to put stuff on the track, with a half section of a 9" straight (I just cut one in half, I didn;t buy two of the short pieces) and then a Kadee coupler gauge at each end (on rail gapped, I have the old, better, metal Kadee gauges which would otherwise be a dead short). All the rails are soldered, and there is a ttoal of about 6 inches of #18 wire going from the PR3 to the rails, also soldered to the rails. Now there’s actually a DPDT toggle in the line, to select between the PR3 and my Lokprogrammer, but still, VERY short total wire length, and everything well soldered.

The other thing I do differently than many is I rarely if ever read all sheets or write all sheets in JMRI. I only read the page I’m working on, like if I want to set motor control, I’ll go to the motor control tab once in the programmer and read sheet. Then I’ll adjust what I want to adjust, and write sheet. Not all sheets. I sometime think that is the issue many people have with it. Decoders IMO just aren;t made to have every CV read or written quickly in a row like that. Yes, all JMRI does in mimic the throttle, but how fast can you dial i

11

hmmmm…I don’t have a booster, PR3 or use JMRI.

I have a Digitrax Zephyr Xtra and a DT402. The majority of my decoders are Tsunami’s and yes, there can be a slight issue with programming. The only issue I have with programming is the address. To overcome this, I merely put the zephyr in the “blast mode” and do my programming. I also do my programming on the main and have very few issues with this.

I also use LED’s (which take different CV programming), ditchlights, speed matching and advanced consisting, all with no difficulty.

Oh, I know I can’t read CV’s with the zephyr. I just do things the old fashioned way…I have a spreadsheet that I write down the CV’s that I program.

12

The Zephyr DOES do reads - just not when in blast mode.

I sometimes had trouble with programming sound decoders with the Zephyr - UNTIL I got a DT400 throttle, then the address programmign worked fine.

–Randy

13

My bad

14

Well, the OP has been given “TRUE and PROVEN” answers…

Now I would like to know which one he will take to heart, and of his success.

15

I’m still alive and working a lot. Have more important stiff to cram in with only 2 nights off once every 7 or once every 12 days like its been…

I picked up a Tsunami booster. It will be going between the Zephyr and the tracks on the programming side. Might get a chance to work on it some tomorrow going to the movies with the lady in the morning.

Once it gets tested and proved out I am mounting all the DCC stuff on one board and get switched and booster in their own cases from Radio Shack so it looks purty and is clearly labeled.

I will report once I get it running/working with the booster