Hello. So I have a layout and a programming track. The programming track is separate from the layout and until I get a new house with more room, the wife said no more expanding the layout… so I cannot build a new programming track into the existing layout… for now.
I have a digitrax dcc system and it is getting annoying having to disconnect the track bus from the command station terminal everytime and then connect the programming track leads to utilize my programming track… and then going through this again in reverse to go back to operations on the main.
Is there some kind of easy way I can just wire up both the layout and the programming track to the command station with a switch or something in between so I can just press a button or a throw and go from one to another and have them be independently isolated?
I have done operations programming on the main before, but one time I forgot to select that in my throttle menu and accidentally changed CV’s on all 26 of my locomotives at once… that was not fun to reprogram all the speed tables.
Any help, suggestion or diagram here would be most appreciated. Thank you in advance. Cheers!
Which Digitrax system do you have? It sounds like you are using a DB150 as a command station if you were able to accidently program all the locos on the layout.
A DPDT toggle would work, with one side connected to the layout, the other to a piece of track just sitting there, and the center to the DCC system. But if you forget to throw the DPDT switch - the same thing will happen and all loocs will get programmed.
NCE has a little device called the Auto SW. This will work with the DB150 as well. It automatically detects when the system goes to program mode and switches which output terminals the signals come from - so one set go to the layout, the other to the program track, and when you go to program, the layout is automatically cut off and the program track activated. It’s under $30.
On my layout I have the house track at Coatesville as my programming track because its a spur track right above teh command station.
The track has insulating gaps in both rails.
I have a DPDT toggle mounted, recessed in the fascia, to control it. The center poles of the switch are connected to the track, with the programing track leads connected to one side and the regular DCC attached to the other.
When I want to program an engine I run/place it in the house track, throw the toggle to the programming position and then can program away. Since the track is next to the command station I can plug in my laptop to the command station and use Decoder Pro.
When I’m not programming, the toggle is in the DCC position and the house track is just another track. Since the toggle is recessed, its never used in an op session and nobody operates it by accident.
My Lenz system does have separate outputs for the programming track and regular DCC. So, it’s a simple matter to have an electrically isolated stub track and use a simple DPDT to decide whether the siding is a programming track or part of the layout.
This also has the advantage that I can run an engine on to program it and finish he job without touching the engine.
That is correct. You hook up the DPDT switch so setting it one way connects that section of track to regular track power outputs, setting the toggle the other way connects that section of track to the programming outputs. Or to say it another way, the two “output” connections on the DPDT toggle (usually the middle two) are connected to the track. The two input terminals on one side of the toggle switch are connected to track power, the two on the other side are connected to the programming connections on the DCC system.
I like to use a ‘center off’ switch so I can make the section of track dead when putting an engine on there.
I think the DPDT is my best option. My digitrax is an old model. A DB150 that has since been retired and does not have a separate programming feature. It also does not have the ability to read back CV’s… which at the time of purchase I was not too serious into my railroad and deemed it no big deal. If I knew then what I know now… oh well. Thanks for all the advice everyone. As always it is appreciated. Stay healthy.
This is considered a “dead-end” system. I’ve expanded it as far as I can adding a 5A booster and the Pro Box with Infra-Red antenna extension.
With the addition of the Pro Box, theoretically a programming track can be added for the options of Programming On the Main (POM) or Programming On the Service [programming] Track (POST).
After “Franken-cabling” a fitting from the Pro Box to the programming track it never really worked.
When I saw this unit I immediately ordered one.
Installation was straightforward with the included instructions. Gaping both rails to the programming track and running a separate set of feeders will be necessary.
This unit is an NMRA DCC compliant device- -it is compatible with any DCC system that adheres to NMRA standards.
When programming I do have to choose from the DCC system POST.
If I try to POM the unit will not allow the programming packets through to the entire system, thus avoiding programming all the decoders on the layout and having to re-program each decoder.
When not programming- -even though the programming track is gapped- -the non-programming packets are allowed to pass-through this device allowing “normal” operation of this section of track.
The NCE Auto SW is a great option for those NMRA compatible DCC systems that don’t offer a dedicated programming outp
Not the older DB150, which I use, along with the DT400 throttle, but I have a small layout, with maybe only 2 locos on the tracks, not 26, so programming is no big deal.
Had to run out and look at my DCC to tell if I had it wired wrong.
Bought the Digitrak system about 10 years ago, wired it in but never plugged it in yet. Still run every thing DC.
Mine has separate outputs for program and the track. DCS200 so beleive I’m good to go if and when I start to use the DCC.
Had bought couple Bachmann 3 truck Climax engine for my mountain route, with DCC but when I tried the first one on DC, it didn’t have enough power to climb up a 1% grade. Found out it wasn’t the power that was the problem, it was the only truck that power went to was the front 2 wheels of the front truck. The drive shafts turned to all trucks but only 1 pair
[quote user=“irishRR”]
Hello. So I have a layout and a programming track. The programming track is separate from the layout and until I get a new house with more room, the wife said no more expanding the layout… so I cannot build a new programming track into the existing layout… for now.
I have a digitrax dcc system and it is getting annoying having to disconnect the track bus from the command station terminal everytime and then connect the programming track leads to utilize my programming track… and then going through this again in reverse to go back to operations on the main.
Is there some kind of easy way I can just wire up both the layout and the programming track to the command station with a switch or something in between so I can just press a button or a throw and go from one to another and have them be independently isolated?
I have done operations programming on the main before, but one time I forgot to select that in my throttle menu and accidentally changed CV’s on all 26 of my locomotives at once… that was not fun to reprogram all the speed tables.
Any help, suggestion or diagram here would be most appreciated. Thank you in advance. Cheers!
One other advantage to a center off DPDT is that it prevents accidently routing track power to your programming output and possibly damaging your base station
As the OP of this thread, I figured I should give an update. At first, the Auto SW seemed very attractive, so I bought one from my local hobby shop. As I got home and started to plan the wiring, I realized the terminals were too small to fit my 14 gauge bus wire into… this presented a problem as I was not comfortable using different size gauge wires for my bus power (I’m no master electrician, but this didnt seem like a good idea). Also, the Auto SW does not activate the programming track when in operations mode programming. I built my dual programming track long and straight with the intention of speed matching locos for consist set up. (I do not have JMRI… yet). So speed matching would have to have still been done on the main, which puts the risk of accidentally programming all of my engines at once, which was the whole purpose of me building the programming track.
So I decided on the DPDT switch. It works like a gem. Same gauge bus wire and the program track completely isolated from the layout. Thanks again for all the insight.
It’s considered acceptable to solder on a short piece of smaller gauge wire for that connection. Those terminals can only accept wire so large. When you think about it, you are putting a round wire in a square hole. You don’t have 360 degree contact in the terminal anyway.
Glad you wrapped it up for us.