Did the quarter the test the other night. I left the quarter on the rails for 2 minutes, booster never shut down![:(!]
Add breakers? Or just buy a driffrent DCC system?
Ken
Ken,
I think it’s time to move up to the new DCC system. [:)][tup] I know that Simon will do a good job talking you through the workings of the Zephyr.
My [2c]…
Tom
There are a couple of things you can do. You don’t have to change systems. One is to wire in a Auto tail light between the booster and the track. the model number of the light can be found on the NCE site. They suggest it with their power boosters. Another is to get an after market protection set-up. Digitrax and NCE both have one available. I’m sure there are others. The last thing you can do is keep quarters away from the tracks 
A booster not tripping when you do the quarter trick is a BAD thing. It means you can weld your wheels, melt axles and easily destroy decoders.
I strongly suggest you go with a system that will serve you well. Ive mentioned this in the past, but it has fallen on deaf ears.
David B
Did the booster fail or the wiring and track? Try shorting the nbooster right at its terminals. If it don’t shut down there, contact the manufacturer.
Martin Myers
Dave, it never went on deaf ears. I just need to see for my self that the booster was not shutting down, which I have now. I like the idea of having more power than I need, after all there is a reason Digitrax offers system with 8 amp boosters. If 8 amps in it self was the problem then why does Digitrax sell them? 8 amps is 8 amps no matter who make the booster. I just need to keep it under control.
Simon 1966 and I where talking about it tonight on the phone. Next test is to hook the booster to my test track and see if it shuts down. Simon is all so going to do some research on the booster it self.
Remeber Dave, if the booster is defective does not mean you are right. It just means I have a efective booster. When I was selling on E-bay for my LHS I sold a new in the box Zepher, when buyer got it, it was defective and had to go to Digitrax.
Cuda Ken
Yes, try it with a test track to see if it really is a defective booster or somethign lacking in the track wiring. If it shuts down with nothing more than some short wires to a section of track, the booster is functional and there is too much loss in the wiring, keeping the load below the trip point even with the quarter across the rails (or a derailed loco). That could mean right up to 7.9 amps going through the short, if the breaker doesn’t trip til 8 amps. However, if the breaker in the booster is defective, then no amount of heavy duty wiring is going to save you.
–Randy
Check your wiring. If it is not up to the task, it can fool the protector circuit which will not interpret a large current flow as a short. It is looking for a sudden increase, and bad wiring can interfere with the rise-time. Do your quarter test in a few other locations too. Forget all the old DC remedies, they will in fact defeat the overcurrent protector too. It doesn’t take much current to melt something.
For what it’s worth, I’m with Betamax on this one. Still, test the booster right at its output terminals, and then move further and further down the line.
Can you run trains where you’re putting the quarter? Suppose you’re running a train there and then you put the quarter on the track. What happens?
I would use a clip lead with a pair of alligator clips instead of a quarter, by the way. If you’ve really got 8 amps there, putting a quarter across the top of the rails could weld the quarter on, or at least pit the rails. Connect the alligator clips across your track bus below the layout - same thing electrically, much less potential damage.
Yes, the first step is clearly to short the booster right at the terminals. If it trips off there, then the problem is in the wiring. The real purpose of the quarter test is to test the wiring, anyway. If the the booster is not at fault, then failing the quarter test generally means either the bus is not heavy enough, or there are not enough feeders. Or, there is a poor connection somewhere along the way. By the way, in my opinon, any of these things could (and would) have caused the problems that led you to get the (unneeded) 8A booster in the first place. When you find the root source of your troubles, I think you will find a lot of your troubles go away.
I had a long chat with Ken about this last night, and at some point in the near future will be visiting Ken to see what I can observe. First step is undoubtedly to determine if the failure in short protection is the booster, or some quirk in the wiring? Based on my conversation with Ken, I have a fairly good idea as to how we can break down the wiring to see where the trouble lies, if in fact it is a wiring issue. I’ll probably also take my Zephyr over, to see how it handles the layout. Anyway, one way or another we will get to the bottom of this thing and get Ken back up and running safely
Simon,
You are ‘Da Man’ - One of the best thing about hobbies is getting folks together!
Jim
I am very happy to report that Ken’s MRC booster does in fact shut down upon a short as it should. In previous threads Ken has talked about his 3 main lines, A, B and C. When all three were hooked up, the booster did not shut down correctly. In particular, his new C line would very nicely cook the quarter. Having tested the booster not attached to the layout we proceeded to isolate his three lines and found the culprit. A thin piece of wire connecting the power bus from one line to the other. Replaced that with a thicker gauge and the quarter test now works all over the layout. Hopefully this will be the first step in eliminating some of Ken’s decoder issues.
It was enjoyable seeing Ken’s layout in person. Ken has added to his layout over time and you can see a tremendous improvement in modelling skills as he has grown in the hobby. The newest part is really coming together well, with some carved rock faces, nice grade transitions and some interesting industries.
Ever had bad luck turn into good luck? My wife car today started having problems, starter would not engage at the gas station. She finally made it home, I went out and same thing, engine would not turn over. If finally did start and took it to my local repair shop to drop it off. As luck would have I was going over to Simon’s today, but it was going to be a while before I could get a ride home. So I called Simon to let him know I could not make it. He was so kind to offer me a ride home, and take a look at the track as well.
First we pulled the bus lines off the booster and jumped it at the terminals, it shut down! Next we hooked the A line up and did the quarter test, booster shut down! Added the B line and it shut down again. Now, the C line is free standing bench and not hooked to the main bench with any track. It power bus is hooked to the A line terminal blocks not to the booster.
Hooked up the C line and booster did not shut down! C line wiring was temporary, but like lot of things in life was never finished. When I hooked it to the A line blocks, I used the 18 gage wire I was using for the feeders. Had power so no problem and sort of forgot about it. We installed the 12 gage wire that I had for the bus and tested again. Booster should down on the A, B and the C line!!!
Then we did the test with a PK 2000 BL 2 with a DH 123 decoder running on the C line and shorted the A line. Engine shut down as soon as the A line was shorted! We all so tested it at the far end end of the A, B and C line, again it shut down just like that! Simon found the specks on the MRC booster and it said booster should shut down in .10th of a second and it now seems to.
You kind folks where giving the right answer all a long, I just forgot about the thin wire I used to jump the C line to the A line blocks and
You are being to kind Simon. I hope the lads are enjoying the Class J. What address are the Mono F 3 by the way?
Hope to see you Wensday and will bring over the passanger cars.
All so thanks for the ride.
Ken
You are welcome Ken. 06 for the Monon’s I believe. Crispy just confirmed that. The Class J is great. It has been pulling the Zephyr passenger train this evening. It sure is loud!!
Simon, I sure wish I was there to see Crispy enjoying it. Feel free to change CV’s as you see fit. Chuff rates seem a little fast compared to the other steam engines I have. I all most feel bad about getting the Monos F 3 back. Well they will come back maybe on a lend leas program after my bench is Cuda Ken Proof! [:D]
Ken your friend
People who dispute the need for heavy gauge wiring for the track bus READ THIS THREAD!
–Randy
I don’t know…
Was the one below on the “C” loop?
Kudaken wrote:
Decoders ate 1. Athearn RTR UP Dash 9, have no clue why it stalled
in the tunnel and melted the wires from the tucks to the PC board. It did
take a year of heavy run time before it did the BBQ. It has been doing
well for some time now.
I’ve welded a jumper cable to a ground connection before[:|]. Come to think of it maybe I should have someone else do the wiring when it comes time.