Programming decoders can be easy or extremely frustrating. In this video I'll show you how to improve your programming setup and share with you my methods so you can get reliable programming with just about every decoder made today.
In preparing the Programming Track Booster I was totally mystified as to "why" such a small gauge wire was included, and with such short run! I wanted to use an 18 AWG to insure reliability on programming. Thank-YOU for this video--now I can continue setting up the DCC!
I have a Digitrax Chief (20 years old) and have never had a programming problem with any decoder from day one to now. I only use the Command Centre outputs.
I just learned that wire gauge really makes a difference. I had very thin wire (28 gauge) on my stand-alone programming track, and couldn’t get the control system to read the loco decoder. Going to change the gauge to 18 or 20 and give that a go. Been watching a number of ur videos and just subscribed. Good info here. Much appreciated!
@@TheDCCGuy Well, after a lot of troubleshooting, I figured out my issue. Poor solder connections on my ez track (using lead free solder, now replaced by better solder), which has led to good continuity between ez track sections, replaced the 26 guage wire with 20 guage wire connected to alligator clips instead of soldered directly to the rails, shortened the length as you suggested, and switched over to maintrack setting, and that ran all of the DCC locos I tested perfectly. Have ordered the PBT-100 to improve the reliability so I can switch back to programming track mode. Thanks for the good ideas borrowed from a number of your videos, Larry.
If I understand correctly, you use the PTB 100 to do the initial basic set up and then you use the Digitrax Decoder Computer Interface to programme other functions. Would be so kind to confirm when you would use the PTB 100 versus the Digitrax PR4, Thank you for assistance as I am new to this whole concept of programming.
The PTB 100 is a programming track booster and that’s all it does. You wire it in between the programmer and the programming track. That could be a command station with programming outputs or a PR4 used as a programmer. Depending on what system you use and the specific decoders you program you may need it and you may not. I have mine installed between my DCS240 and the programming track. I do basic programming with that setup then move the loco to the main track and do a lot of the programming using ops mode. The reason I use the service mode track first is because it allows you to read back the CVs, you can’t do that with ops mode.
@@TheDCCGuy Thank you, all this is new and initially somewhat of a steep learning curve. I have set up my programming track and PTB 100 with the Digitrax command station as per your video. The PR4 will then be used on the layout with JMRI to do additional programming if I understand correctly.
Is it possible and/or desirable and appropriate to use the PTB 100 in association with the PR4 and a Digitrax DCS240? This probably just demonstrates my lack of knowledge in relation to DCC systems and programming as this is all new to me.
Question Larry...I set up a Digitrax PR4 connected to a dedicated programming tract & I want to use my Tech II Railmaster 2400(DC controller) as the power supply to boost up the power to my PR4(or an ESU Lokprogrammer). The question is where do I connect it? There are 3 options at the back: First is VAriable DC, Second is Accessories AC & third is Fixed DC. It says on the back of the unit:INPUT: 120VAC 60HZ OUTPUT; 14VDC; 18.5VAC ; 15VDC Total-17VA. So, do I connect it to Variable DC, Accessories AC or Fixed DC? Thanks in advance...
You would use the fixed DC output. The Digitrax PS14 is rated at 14.9 VDC so you are likely safe on that since your fixed DC is 15VDC. However you will need a barrel plug to connect your wires to the PR4 which has a barrel plug socket. The PS14 is not marked as to polarity but is likely center positive, but I would confirm that with Digitrax and also ask them the size of the barrel plug itself as they do vary. To avoid all the uncertainly you might want to just buy the PS14, I did.
@@TheDCCGuy Thanks for the reply Larry. The PR4 that I bought came with a PS14 power supply. I just thought that if I use the DC controller, I will be giving more juice to the PR4. I noticed that when Im programming with the PR4 using DecoderPro/PanelPro, the sound coming from the speaker is very weak even when I set the volume to almost maximum(bell & horn). I dont know if its normal or not.
Not sure what you mean about the volume when programming. You should not be getting any sound on the programming track. Also I think they tweaked the voltage to the programming track some to get better results with non-Digitrax decoders, which they are optimized for. LokSound decoders like to have 13 volts on the programming track and capacitors on sound decoders can suck up a lot of juice.
Hey Larry, does the PTB 100 work with other DCC Command Stations from other Manufacturers, when programming my locos onto programming track? Thanks, Ingo
Question: Trying to get a 'blinking LED' to work on DCC track voltage. A non-blinking LED works perfectly so what can I do to get 'blinking LED's' to work???
When you say “working on DCC track voltage” just what do you mean? Are you attempting to power it directly from track power using a dropping resistor or is it operating off a sired function on a DCC decoder?
I am wondering if it is an interaction between the blinking component in your LED setup and the AC frequency of the DCC track power. Adding a bridge rectifier may work since it will give you straight DC to power the LED
I covered that beginning at about 6:20 in the video. The following is from the instruction sheet. Note: The maximum input voltage for the PTB-100 is 18 VAC or 22 VDC. Minimum input voltage for reliable operation is 12 VAC or 14 VDC. Optionally, you may purchase and use a dedicated power supply rated at 15 volts DC, 500mA.
I have a PowerCab and it is a very reliable programmer. The big difference is that the PowerCab has a combined track power and programming feed so there is full power on the track until programming commands are sent out so capacitors are fully charged. The downside is there is full power on the track unless you are programming so don’t place a loco with a newly installed decoder on the track unless you as very sure of your installation. NCE developed the Auto-SW to avoid this issue. This device automatically switches the track feed to a dedicated programming track as soon as it detects the programming signal, however you still can only program or run trains but not both at the same time unless you use ops mode programming.
@@TheDCCGuy I have a nce power cab also. Would you recommend using the nce auto sw or the soundtrax ptb100 with the power cab for programming / testing a brand new decoder install?
The PowerCab by itself is a very reliable programmer and I don’t think you need the PTB-100 with it. The Auto-SW allows you to safely place a newly installed decoder on an isolated programming track where it will not receive full track power, only the limited programming commands. I wrote about this device and setting up programming tracks in the June 2019 DCC Corner column in Model Railroader magazine. BTW, NCE sells a very reliable USB interface for use with the PowerCab that allows you to use it with a computer and DecoderPro.
