Programming track wiring cautionPART TWO

[Blind_Bruce]

There was a post a long time ago regarding safe wiring a siding as a program track. It cited a possible short when a loco was powered into the gapped siding. I now need that information and can’t find it. Can anyone help? Thaks in advance

[Stevert]

Bruce,

Is this what you are looking for?

http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/1130757/ShowPost.aspx

In that thread, check out Tom’s post of 05-29-2007 at 11:42 PM. He captured diagrams from Joe Fugate’s DVD that show exactly how it’s done to add the “dead section”.

HTH,

Steve

[Blind_Bruce]

Yep, that’s the one. I have it in my favorites now. Did you use the dead sections?

[Stevert]

Bruce,

Actually, no not yet. My layout is in the midst of an oft-delayed reconstruction so it’s something I haven’t done yet. It’s definitely in the plans, though, for when the re-wiring phase starts.

Steve

[jfugate]

By the way, here’s a 4PDT toggle switch, for less than $4. It will let you wire your programming track as shown here.

[davidmbedard]

The programming track needs to be seperate from the layout. Ideally OFF the layout.

David B

[NZRMac]

The programming track needs to be seperate from the layout. Ideally OFF the layout.

David B

I find it better on the layout as a siding or off the turntable, the less time locos are handled the better.

I have yet to wire it properly too I just have a DPDT switch with the siding as common.

Ken.

[spidge]

I used the dpdt with no protective gaps, yet. I am just very carefull and I put something accross the rails to keep the loco from crossing. I plan to go with the 4 point switch some day but for now it works. I usually don’t program when the layout is running so sometimes I power it down.

[Vail_and_Southwester]

The programming track needs to be seperate from the layout. Ideally OFF the layout.

David B

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a programming track on the layout, the way it is diagrammed here. There is zero risk of shorting the main line to the programming track by putting ample dead zones in. You can drive the loco onto the programming track, take care of business, and drive off without ever having to handle it. I can think of zero advantage to having the only programming track off the layout. I do think that having a separate programming/test track from the layout would be nice, but it is a luxury that might not fit into the physical or practical situation.

EDIT:

Guys, put the dead zones in. If you don’t do that, I’ll say the programming track should never be on the layout. You are just asking for trouble with a capital T. Not a good place to take a shortcut.

[claycts]

By the way, here’s a 4PDT toggle switch, for less than $4. It will let you wire your programming track as shown here.

Gee Joe, I would have never thought of that. I just created a siding (Brewery in my case) put the dead track then 24" of program track which is the siding. Used a D.P.D.T. and (2) Lamps WHen one is on the layout is normal, flip the DPDT and both on showing you are in the program mode. At my age a visual is a GOOD THING.

[selector]

I just have a gapped lead to my turntable. The bus that looks after that rest of the layout comes off the single output of an SPDT. Also wired to the inputs to the SPDT are the feeders to this programming track segment. If I want to programme a decoder, I simply flip the toggle and the rest of the layout goes dead, but the programming segment gets the signal directly from the controller. Should the gap inadvertently close, there will be no short because the toggle precludes it by virtue of its open position. All that will happen is the rest of the layout will come to life.

[cwclark]

By the way, here’s a 4PDT toggle switch, for less than $4. It will let you wire your programming track as shown here.

Gee Joe, I would have never thought of that. I just created a siding (Brewery in my case) put the dead track then 24" of program track which is the siding. Used a D.P.D.T. and (2) Lamps WHen one is on the layout is normal, flip the DPDT and both on showing you are in the program mode. At my age a visual is a GOOD THING.

You might want to invest in some of Joe’s videos…There are a lot of great tips for modeling , especially DCC tips …chuck

[Vail_and_Southwester]

By the way, here’s a 4PDT toggle switch, for less than $4. It will let you wire your programming track as shown here.

Gee Joe, I would have never thought of that. I just created a siding (Brewery in my case) put the dead track then 24" of program track which is the siding. Used a D.P.D.T. and (2) Lamps WHen one is on the layout is normal, flip the DPDT and both on showing you are in the program mode. At my age a visual is a GOOD THING.

You might want to invest in some of Joe’s videos…There are a lot of great tips for modeling , especially DCC tips …chuck

I’ll second that. If visual is good for you, Joe’s DVDs are something you should get. I think they are well worth the money, and fun to watch besides.

[jfugate]

The programming track needs to be seperate from the layout. Ideally OFF the layout.

David B

Having a programming track off the layout means you won’t run the risk of ever burning out your command station circuitry, but now you have to handle your locos to take them off the layout, rerail them on the remote programming track, take them off the programming track, and rerail them back on the layout.

All that handling is hard on loco details, not to mention if you get butter fingers like I get once in a while, you might even drop the loco – if it’s a brass steamer, well all I can say is [:O] [oops] [xx(] …

The best is to have the programming track on the layout and protected with a dead section as shown in the link above. That way you handle your locos less and you won’t risk burning out your command station circuits. To me that’s the best option of all. [swg]

[TA462]

I program my loco’s off the layout. Handling diesel loco’s isn’t so bad, I just grab them around the fuel tank. Steam engines on the other hand need special care, I’m thinking about buying one of those cradles that you see in MR just for my steam.

[Blind_Bruce]

I am having “brain fade” trying to trace the 4PDT schematic from the computer screen.

First, does anyone have a printer friendly diagram?

Second, If I only have one dead space as in a stub siding, do I still need a 4PDT or will a DPDT work?

[Vail_and_Southwester]

I am having “brain fade” trying to trace the 4PDT schematic from the computer screen.

First, does anyone have a printer friendly diagram?

Second, If I only have one dead space as in a stub siding, do I still need a 4PDT or will a DPDT work?

You still need to 4PDT. Two poles are controlling both dead sections, two poles are controlling the programming track.

In words:

In position 1, the dead section and the programming track get track power.

In position 2, the dead section gets nothing (look for the switch terminals that are bare) and the programming track gets the program track output.

[spidge]

I am having “brain fade” trying to trace the 4PDT schematic from the computer screen.

First, does anyone have a printer friendly diagram?

Second, If I only have one dead space as in a stub siding, do I still need a 4PDT or will a DPDT work?

You still need to 4PDT. Two poles are controlling both dead sections, two poles are controlling the programming track.

In words:

In position 1, the dead section and the programming track get track power.

In position 2, the dead section gets nothing (look for the switch terminals that are bare) and the programming track gets the program track output.

Jeff, I think you got that backwards. The safety section should have no power when programing yet have power when you want the siding for main layout use.

Or did I missunderstand you?

[Vail_and_Southwester]

I am having “brain fade” trying to trace the 4PDT schematic from the computer screen.

First, does anyone have a printer friendly diagram?

Second, If I only have one dead space as in a stub siding, do I still need a 4PDT or will a DPDT work?

You still need to 4PDT. Two poles are controlling both dead sections, two poles are controlling the programming track.

In words:

In position 1, the dead section and the programming track get track power.

In position 2, the dead section gets nothing (look for the switch terminals that are bare) and the programming track gets the program track output.

Jeff, I think you got that backwards. The safety section should have no power when programing yet have power when you want the siding for main layout use.

Or did I missunderstand you?

It think you misunderstood me…

What I called position 1 would be the run position, both the programming track and the dead sections get regular power. What I call position 2 would be the program position, the dead sections get nothing, the programming track gets the program track output.

I think that’s what I said, if I wasn’t clear I’ll try to fix it!

To me the diagram says it all, but I know that different people see things best in different ways.

[davidmbedard]

Having a programming track off the layout means you won’t run the risk of ever burning out your command station circuitry, but now you have to handle your locos to take them off the layout, rerail them on the remote programming track, take them off the programming track, and rerail them back on the layout.

All that handling is hard on loco details, not to mention if you get butter fingers like I get once in a while, you might even drop the loco – if it’s a brass steamer, well all I can say is [:O] [oops] [xx(] …

The best is to have the programming track on the layout and protected with a dead section as shown in the link above. That way you handle your locos less and you won’t risk burning out your command station circuits. To me that’s the best option of all. [swg]

1. You only need to program your locomotives once for it’s address…thats it. All other programming can be done on the main.

2. All it takes is a bit of a brain fart to short across your main and your programming leads. Who knows what that will do to your command station.

3. The argument of having the programming track on the layout because you dont want to ‘handle’ your locos is just silly. If you cant handle your locomotives once without breaking them then you need a more durable hobby.

The best is to have the programming track on the layout and protected with a dead section as shown in the link above. That way you handle your locos less and you won’t risk burning out your command station circuits. To me that’s the best option of all.

Unless, of course, the wiring