Installed new Prodigy DCC system yesterday

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
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[Y] I spent the morning building a new work area next to the layout for my MRC transformer and MRC’s Prodigy. I could not find a DPDT switch but at Lowes I advised the salesman as to what I was doing, wanting to swtch back and forth from the transformer and the DCC unit. We came up with the idea of using two wall light switches, one for the transformer and one for the DCC unit.

The power from each unit first went to the light switch then two wires went to the tracks. It worked, I can switch back and forth without changing wires. All twelve of my decoder engines worked great on the DCC, programing was not that difficult, just followed the directions.

Robert Sylvester

Newberry-Columbia Line, SC

2

Sounds like there is a possibility that both switches could be on at the same time.

Less than $6 with shipping on ebay

3

[bow] Big Daddy:

Good point, however I designed the new work bench shelf for the transformer and the Prodigy which sit right next to each other. I have a sign to remind me to check the switches, also the power scource for both is right next to the units and each unit can be quickly unplugged.

I also have a green and red light attached to each unit, when the red light is on I know the unit is on, when the green light is on I know that the power for a unit is off, kind of a back up system.

Robert Sylvester

4

Please don’t use two switches, that’s asking for an expensive fix not covered under the warranty. Before using two switches go with connectors to make sure only one can be connected at a time.

EDIT:

http://led-switch.com/

Mel

My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

Bakersfield, California

I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
&n

5

[:-*] Mel:

I can do that, I m having a time finding a DPDT conector, can you use single pole connectors, one to interupt each wire. I have several of those, I figured two for each unit, what do you think?

Robert

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[|)] What could the light switches do that could harm the units that a connector would not do?

Robert Sylvester

7

Connectors are better than wall switches. DPDT toggle switches are easily found on line, most cheaper than wall switches. Most DPDT switches are break before make so it isn’t as necessary to have center off but I would feel warm and fuzzy using a DPDT center off switch, both off line in the center position.

You could be very good using wall switches but it’s easy to accidently bump a switch or some one else flip it for you and then it’s too late.

Mel

My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

Bakersfield, California

8

The BIG mistake usually follows some other unpredictable distraction.

You reach to turn off the DCC and your wife comes down to chew on your caboose about something or a visitor knocks one of your rolling stock on the floor or drops his adult beverage on the floor and glass flies everwhere.

After you sort that out, not looking at the lights, you reach over and turn the DC on while the DCC is on and you’ve fried your Prodigy. That Ebay switch can be delivered by Tuesday in the US. $6 of insurance for a $260 system.

9

Robert, one problem inherent in aging is lack of mindfulness. We get absorbed in a task or a detail and we forget steps, important ones. That’s why aging drivers have more driving infractions, even if we get away with them. I’m talking about missing red lights, or missing pedestrians who have already stepped into a crosswalk.

Your two switches will eventually trip you up because you’ll forget one of them when you activate the other. You’ll fry your DCC system or all the decoders getting power to the rails.

A toggle is ‘on/off’, ‘either/or’, yes/no’. That binary nature makes it foolproof (if you wire it correctly). It makes it impossible for you to have both types of electrical power attempting to get at the motors and decoders concurrently.

Get a DPDT, and use it.

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This is where the loss of a place like Radio Shack hurts. While not the cheapest place on earth, they would have a DPDT toggle switch. You won’t find such things at Lowes or Home Depot. But there’s eBay or Amazon, you just have to wait a day or two.

-_andy

11

Lowes does have one that they can ship to store. An Ace might carry them- I know when I worked for them a while back one was in the standard set for electrical. Home Depot and Menards if there is one in your area carry them in stock. Another place to check is one of the auto parts stores.

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Waiting a day or two for the propper switch and time to install it is far cheaper than the possiablity of replacing your DCC system.

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[8-|] Thanks for everybodies input. I will disconnect the two wall switches and order some DPDT switches and install them. Do I need separate wires going to the tracks or can both DPDT switches be connected to the two wires to the track for the Transformer and the Prodigy. You still have to make sure one of the DPDT connectors is in the middle to block either unit, or do you just use one DPDT conector to conect both the tranformer and the Prodigy. With only one connector only one power system can be activated, right?

Robert Sylvester

14

You only need 1 DPDT switch and one set of track feeders.

This is how a DPDT switch works. My graphic skills are lacking. The back of the switch looks like this

o o connect these 2 to DC terminals

o o connect these one to each rail

o o connect these to the DCC terminals

With the switch handle pointed upward to DC, the DC and track power are connected, when it is pointed down to DCC, the track power and DCC terminals are connected. When it is in the center, nothing is connected.

The switch doesn’t power up the DC transformer nor the DCC. It directs power from one of those power sources to the track. I suppose you could still use your light switches to power each source on and off.

15

Hello All,

In my experience; more so with big-box stores, the sales associates- -despite their enthusiasm- -don’t have the expertise the advertisements tout.

Especially pertaining to non-traditional solutions in areas of expertise they know noting about.

One particular occasion comes to mind…

I needed O-rings for a particular project.

These were previously kept in the Specialty Fasteners pullout-drawers in the in the hardware section.

I was in a hurry as “She who must be obeyed” was waiting in the car.

Of course they had been moved.

I asked an overly effusive sales associate, “Where are the O-rings now?”

The sales associate, rather than just pointing me to the said location, kept asking me, “So, what is your project?”

I knew they wouldn’t understand, and I didn’t have the patients to explain why I needed them.

After several go-arrounds of “Where are they?” Met by “What is your project?” I finally relented and said, “I am mounting a computer to my bicycle.”

The overly enthusiastically sales associate asked, “Is that a laptop or a desktop computer?”

I walked away mumbling to myself…“I’ll just find them myself!”

Their reply was, “O-rings for faucets are in isle X and general ones are in isle XX.”

I hope this helps.

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I always said that if I got bored in retirement, I could get a job at Lowes or HD telling people the wrong place to look for things.

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[bow] Again thanks to all. After I said what I said about the DPDT conectors I realized you only need one and I got it, thanks. So, I ordered one, $4.00, it will be here Tuesday.

My wife Debbie had a stroke last night, she is Columbia, SC, she is now stable, she also had a heart attack at the same time. I had mine just two weeks ago with a small stroke, as they say when it rains it pours, but she will be o.k., she really supports this hobby and for that I am most greatful. She is always asking what I did to the layout, one thing that bug her though is when I buy a brand new frieght car she ask’s, “Why do we model railroaders dirty them up?” She likes them new out of the box, we laugh about it. She is my partner, life would be difficult without her.

I will install the DPDT connector as soon as I get it.

Robert Sylvester

Newberry-Columbia, SC

18

Hello All,

So sorry to hear!

Glad you and your wife have model railroading to share.

Here’s to a speedy recovery for you both.

Hope this helps.

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Robert,

Your wife and my wife were cut from the same bolt of cloth. She just doesn’t get weathering either. [(-D]

Praying she and you will make a speedy and full recovery…

Tom

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Prayers for Debbie and yourself