Ok I am iterested in splitting up my layout into power districts and since I am right at the beginning of wiring I figured now would be a great time. What are the differences, pros and cons, etc... between these two products?
In my opinion the psx beats the PM42 Remember the psx-4 is only 4 single psx boards that happen to be joined by a sprue, all work independently of each other, so if you are only planning on 2 power districts then you only need to buy 2 psx's. 1 - it is solid state so does not rely on relays. 2 - if you need to add another power district you only need to buy one psx 3 - it has far more options for different settings 4 - you could position the single psx's any where so you could cut down on wiring, i.e. run your bus wires all way round your layout and before your power district insert the psx T'eed off the bus wire. 5 - if you do have a short the board can be set to latch off so it does not keep trying to reset itself if the short is not obvious, I have a manual / auto switch so if the short is not obvious I switch into manual and the board shuts power off and waits, once the short is found and sorted switch back into auto and immediate reset. My tuppence worth hope it helps. Alexander
Ok I am trying to picture this in my head (might need a photo to help). If I understand this correctly then the psx-4 is 4 separate boards compared to one on the PM42. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
Correct, it is essentially 4 PSXs that were not separated. The are attached along the long side, so all the inputs are on one edge, all the outputs on the opposite edge. Look at the PSXS instruction sheet and that can give you an idea. I had started my layout with a PM42, and quickly switched to a PSX-3 and two PSX--ARs
The PSX-4 is four PSX boards in a row that can be snapped apart (I do not remember a sprue). The four to the left are the PSXs and the two to the right are PSX-ARs
Yes, that is the auto reverse version of the PSX. I have two reversing loops on my layout. The board is in the center of the layout so I have all districts starting there. I am not sure I would call them power districts as I am thinking each power district would have a separate power supply while my layout is with a single DB150.
Paul You can call them power districts since the signals do not cross, a short on one section of track will not affect the others. The PSX is far superior to the PM42. Mechanical relays are not as fast or as reliable as solid state. On the PSX-4, you can use them as separate boards or you can leave them as a single board and use jumpers from one board to the other for the power from the booster/controller. This feeds all the boards in parallel.
You are right, they are not a sprue as such but the best way I could think of how to describe what is essentially 4 separate items connected together. Alexander
Kevin, I mount all of my boards using 1/2in nylon tubes to raise them up for better airflow/cooling. And as David mentioned, wiring them in parallel with jumpers makes for less wiring mess.
Jumpers to set the short detection level. I experimented with these and shouldn't have. The default (no jumpers) is 3.81 amps and that is perfect for N Scale
Potential heat issues with the PSX boards? Well RBrodzinsky, you did it I am building a 4x8 HO layout with a folded dog bone and an outer loop. I had decided to use the PM42 then discovered the PSX boards a few days back. I waffled back and forth about which boards to use. After finding this forum and your statement above, I decided to go with the PSX boards even though they are more expensive. I do have a question about mounting the boards. Is it OK to mount the boards flat horizontally, with the tops of the boards facing down? I will mount them on 1/2 to 3/4 in spacers, and the boards will be mounted to a panel under the sub roadbed, but below the roadbed by about 3" in open air. Will I have a heat problem?
The PSX card has 4 connections for power, J1. Terminals 3 & 4 are labeled as From Booster. Terminals 1 & 2 are labeled as To J1 Connector of Next Circuit Breaker. I am thinking of organized and neat wiring here. Does it really matter if Terminal pairs 3/4 and 1/2 are used as Input or Output? I would like to wire Terminals 3 & 4 as From Booster, and Terminals 1 & 2 as To J1 Connector of Next Circuit Breaker. Thanks,
