hello i am in the process of starting to build a new layout, on my last layout i had 5 ds 64's hooked up to track power, i just had to order 3 more to power my kato #6 switches i am using nce with the usb connector and jmri. it read them fine i was able to control switches from the throttle and push buttons, now i am told not to power from the track. i am confused as to how to power them and still have nce power cab recognize them. i cant use the the digitrax power supply because i would need 8 of them and when you use that power supply you have to connect them to loco net which is not compatible with nce . has anyone else had an issue with this or know of a way to make this work. thanks
Who told you not to power them from the track? If you don't have Loconet, you have to power them from track (well, it doesn't have to be from the track, they could be on a separate booster, but it does have to be the track DCC signal).
They only pull power when you activate a switch. The rest of the time, they are minimal. Are you throwing switches on all of them simultaneously?
They do also draw power when first powered up, but they have a built-in delay based on the output 1 address, and that delay can be doubled by programming an option switch if needed.
In a similar situation... Another option to consider is to separate or isolate the stationary decoders or track with something like the TAM Valley DAB002 so as not to draw all from the 2A max track power. It will also prevent issues if track shorts.. eg. derailments, running into points. Use a larger power supply for both the base station and booster is recommended.
Thank you I was asking the same question on a Facebook group and every reply was not to wire the to the track. I had 4 connected on my last layout and never had a problem. I didn’t understand how they could connect to jmri . Now they I need more I will test it out. I am saving up to either get the nce pro cab or the digitrax e ox. Thanks once again
I use tortoise switch controls, over 100, and all use my track power albeit in different districts. I have never had an issue with a 5 amp digitrax system - Nscale YMMV Regards, Brian
There are two main problems with powering the DS64s from the track bus directly. Under some circumstances (i.e. a short,) they can lose their configuration (e.g. address assignment.) Also, when a locomotive runs against a switch (enters the non-selected route), it will short the track bus, and thus render the means of clearing the short (throwing the switch to the occupied route) unavailable. You can run the DS64s from the command station outputs, if you use a booster to power the track (then the booster shorts and shuts down, but the command station keeps its DCC bus alive.) You may be able to use a circuit breaker for the track power, but a booster is probably best.
Very true about the problems of powering off of the track bus. I have never had a decoder lose their configuration but I have had the infrequent occasion of an engineer run against a switch tripping the district circuit breaker. I hate when I...I mean "they" do that... If I were to build another layout (Nope as I swore that this is the last "unfinished" layout that I'm going to really complete) I would not power off the track bus. Brian
