I’m installing a Tony’r Trains PSFour on my new DCC layout and find the instructions a little confusing. I am using a SINGLE input from my DCC booster to the PSFour and FOUR outputs to the power districts. The insturctions indicate that you can use it as it comes from Tony’s but then gives some more insturctions. I think I need to install jumpers from DCC1A and B to DCC 2A and B when using a single input but then there is a line after that saying “DCC1A and 2A between DCC1B and 2B” and that’s confusing (at least to me). I’m fairly sure that all I need to do is connect two wires from the booster to DCC1 and 2 inputs, jumpers from DCC1A and B to DCC2A and 2B, and the four outputs (Rail1A and 2A) to the tracks and thats all.
I need some guidance from someone who has used these. Thanks.
The PSfour is really two dual PS2s on the same printed circuit board (they call them Section A and Section B on the documentation). There are two ways to wire the inputs. The first is to wire the booster to both sets of inputs along the edge (DCC1 and DCC2 on each section). The other option is to wire the booster just to DCC1 and DCC2 in sectrion A and then install jumpers from DCC1A & 2A to DCC1B & 2B to power section B of the board. I prefer the first method most times. That way if I ever get another booster and want it to power section B, I only need to move the wires going from the DCC1 & DCC2 inputs from the old booster to the new one.
Yes, they can be confusing. I had the same questions the first time I hooked one up. I’d also recommend that if you plan to run sound locomotives that you change the trip speed from the default to 30ms or .03sec (JP3). I found it helps. Lastly, you didn’t say what type of booster youw ere using but I generally recoomend setting the PS4 at or below the output current of the booster. This allows the PS4 to do the work instead of the booster. One limitation of the PS4 is that the lowest trip current setting is 4.3A . That makes little sense with 2.5A boosters and such.