DC/DCC Wiring

Donstaff Mar 7, 2014

  1. PaulBeinert

    PaulBeinert TrainBoard Supporter

    622
    1
    13
    Bob,
    That makes sense as it would flip the polarity of all sections at the same time
    Might need some training sessions for members of the club :)
     
  2. PaulBeinert

    PaulBeinert TrainBoard Supporter

    622
    1
    13
    Don,
    Have you implemented this yet?
     
  3. Donstaff

    Donstaff TrainBoard Member

    215
    28
    16
    Paul,
    I have the dpdt latching relay but have not tried installing it yet. The relay has a 24 volt coil and I'm wondering if the Kato switch control's pulse, which it received from a 16v. transformed tap, will be enough to power the relay.
    Don
     
  4. Donstaff

    Donstaff TrainBoard Member

    215
    28
    16
    Bob,

    Thank you for your explanation and conversation with Paul Beinart of PB&J. I believe that the only question I have left has to do with exactly how the DPDY relay gets hooked up. M relay is a SCHRACK RT424A24 (http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/TE-Connectivity-Schrack/RT424A24/?qs=8wHch9UpSvZgqR2p%2bwbZCA==). Could you explain or illustrate on your drawing exactly how the wires from the bus, the Kato switch control and the relay all get connected?

    Thanks again,

    Don

    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

  5. Donstaff

    Donstaff TrainBoard Member

    215
    28
    16
    [​IMG]

    Bob and Paul,

    More specifically, the attached is what I need to know.

    DonStaff
     

    Attached Files:

  6. PaulBeinert

    PaulBeinert TrainBoard Supporter

    622
    1
    13
    Don,
    As I do not have any of these components, I am not sure how it would all connect. If I find some downtime, I will locate the documentation for the components and see if I can figure it out.
     
  7. RT_Coker

    RT_Coker TrainBoard Supporter

    516
    32
    13
    Don,
    Because you are presently the only person with the parts, I would incrementally test the setup first.

    Please be aware that there is always the chance that something could go wrong and one or more of these parts ruined.

    First, temporarily connect the Kato-switch-control (turnout not connected) to the relay coil (pins A1 & A2). Use an Ohm-meter to check that the relay is switching both ways (and staying latched). Also use an Ohm-meter to check that this is a DPDT and not a DPST. (The documentation that I found was confusing on this point.)

    Next, add the connection from the Kato-switch-control to a crossover-turnout. Use an Ohm-meter to check that the relay is switching both ways (and staying latched). Switch it 4 or more times and watch the turnout to make sure it is switching the rails all the way over.
    Bob
     
  8. RT_Coker

    RT_Coker TrainBoard Supporter

    516
    32
    13
    This should have been: Also use an Ohm-meter to check that this is a DPDT and not a SPDT.
     
  9. Donstaff

    Donstaff TrainBoard Member

    215
    28
    16
  10. Donstaff

    Donstaff TrainBoard Member

    215
    28
    16
    Bob,

    I temporarily connected the Kato-switch-control to the relay coil pins A1 and 2 and to check that the relay was switching both ways and staying latched. I also confirmed that the relay is DPDT.

    Assuming that when I add the connection from the Kato-switch-control to a crossover-turnout, the relay is switching both ways and staying latched and the turnout is switching the rails all the way over, how do I connect the other 6 relay contacts?

    Don
     
  11. Donstaff

    Donstaff TrainBoard Member

    215
    28
    16
    Bob,

    First sentence should have read, "I temporarily connected the Kato-switch-control to the relay coil pins A1 and 2 and confirmed that the relay was switching both ways and staying latched.

    Don
     
  12. RT_Coker

    RT_Coker TrainBoard Supporter

    516
    32
    13
    Don,
    The wiring is the same as using a DPDT-toggle-switch on a DC layout. Here is an example: http://modeltrains.about.com/od/track/ss/Reverse-Loops_2.htm. All of the track on the left side of the double-crossover is your reversing-section.
    After you get it connected (and before running any locomotives) you will need to check that there is no significant voltage across the left and right top rails when the crossover is set as a loop and not a figure-eight. If there is, then you will need to reverse something (like the two wires to the relay-coil).
    Bob
     
  13. Donstaff

    Donstaff TrainBoard Member

    215
    28
    16
    Thanks Bob,
    The illustration shows 4 contacts for the DPDT toggle, bridging from the isolated loop to the rest of the tracks, the way that a 4-wire reversing module would be wired. Since my DPDT relay has 6 contacts (besides the 2 contacts that connect to the Kato switch control), I still do not understand how to wire this.
    Don
     
  14. RT_Coker

    RT_Coker TrainBoard Supporter

    516
    32
    13
    Don,
    The illustration shows the 2 wires of the power-bus going to 2 contacts and then crossing-each-other and going to 2 more contacts. The other 2 contacts (of the six) go to the reversing-section and select either “in-phase” or “out-of-phase” power when the relay is switched. You relay is the same as a DPDT-toggle-switch except for the 2 added contacts for the coil.
    Bob
     
  15. Donstaff

    Donstaff TrainBoard Member

    215
    28
    16
    Bob and Paul,
    I got the system set up about a month ago as per Bob's original dpdt latching relay explation. It works perfectly as described for dc and doc. This is the first solution I've seen for the age old problem of making dc and doc play nice together, I want to express my thanks once more and encourage you to write about it on the TrainBoard.

    Don
     
  16. RT_Coker

    RT_Coker TrainBoard Supporter

    516
    32
    13
    Don,
    Thanks! It is nice to have the positive feedback!
    I recently made a stupid mistake on my Bluetooth project that cost me about 2 months of wasted effort barking up the wrong tree.
    Bob
     

Share This Page