Hi everyone, My local train shop DCC expert is suggesting that I install a “power booster” to use on my program track. I currently use the Zephyr DCS 50 power supply. He says this booster will add power so that all commands “will be fully sent”. Apparently some systems do not always send all commands to some decoders on a program track unless you use the main track with the OPS mode to program your decoder. Some of you had suggested to me last week of the advantages of using a program track, which I do. What is your opinion then on using a power booster (actually a circuit board model 'PB100" and cost about $50 bucks)? I would have to cut the DCS power cord and splice this circuit board wiring into the DCS cord in order to use it. Thanks. John
John,
Are you having problems programming your decoders that a programming booster would resolve? That should be the guiding question.
Some folks swear by those boosters, and others, such as myself, have no problems programming decoders (on a programming track) and would simply be wasting money by purchasing such a device.
It really depends on your situation.
HTH,
Steve
I agree. These units will help you in certain situations, but if you have to ask if you need one, you probably don’t.
The programming track serves a couple of purposes. The first is to isolate the engine you’re programming from the rest of the layout so you only program that engine, not your entire fleet. The second is to test your installation with low voltage before you put it on the rails, and give you an indication that the wiring is wrong before you apply full power and possibly fry the decoder. When DCC first came along, the programming track was developed with this low-power constraint built in. Now, though, some decoders just require more power. In particular, some of the QSI sound decoders started this trend, and I suspect others have gone down the same path. But, if you don’t have a decoder that you can’t program, your old programming track is fine. And, you can still program engines on the main if you have to.
I have a Zephyr and use the program track all the time. I have never met a decoder that I could not program and I don;t use a booster. I have one or two finicky decoders, like some cheap Lenz LE1000 decoders and I have to put a 1K ohm resistor across the program track rails to get it them to read, but that is it.
I have a Digitrax Super Chief system and never had an issue with any decoder until I got one of the new Atheran Genesis locomotives with the Tsunami decoders. I could program the decoder but not read it back on the programming track. Everything was fine on the bench with my PR3 programmer. I ended up purchasing the DCC PowerPax for my programming track.
http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/powerpax.htm
If you end up with a choice of buying a PR3 vs. a PowerPax, I’d buy the PR3. You’ll need to program “problem” decoders on your workbench and want to use something like JMRI but I find that a better option than a programming track and manual programming.
I have a Digitrax Super Chief, Decoder Pro, and a PR-3. I have never met a decoder that I could not program on the program track.
It sounds like your local hobby shop DCC expert is just trying to sell you a booster. I’ve been able to program every type of decoder made with an NCE 5 Amp Power Pro system.
I’ve programmed over 300 loco’s with my Zephyr and never had a problem with any of them. I have heard though that some Tsunami sound equiped loco’s need a bit more power to program them then the Zephyr’s 2.5 amps offers.
The problem is not the 2.5 amps, that is way more than is needed to program any decoder out there. The problem is the reduced current on the program track(which is done that way to protect the decoder from a faulty install).
I agree with the others. Unless you have a locomotive that is refusing to be programed on the programming track a power booster is not needed. If you do have a specific locomotive in mind then there are specific power boosters that might work better for it than others.
Usually ones that need boosters are those that have sound units or “life saver” capacitors. The issue is that these extra circuit suck up a huge amount of power right when turned on. On the programming track the programming signal can get sucked up into charging a capacitor, or the programming unit can sense this as a short circuit.
The programming track power booster has helped me program BLI and other QSI sound equipped units. The programming track power booster did not help at all with MRC Brilliance decoders. The solution there is to just avoid MRC sound decoders.