New Electronics

Digitrax PM42s mounted

About a year and half ago, I converted my N-scale layout to Digitrax DCC, but left my DC bus in place as well so that I could switch between the two. I have not found myself using the DC, so out it went recently. Along with this change I installed some short circuit protection for the various sections (electrical blocks) in the form of a pair of Digitrax PM42s. Included in this modification to the electrical system was the addition of a couple of automatic reversing controllers and an additional Booster in the form of a slightly used DB150. This should really make a big difference during operating sessions, since a short in one block will not shut down the whole railroad. The original Zephyr DCS51 now controls the lower reversing loop, interchange yard, and Stafford yard, while the DB150 booster powers the towns of Darlington, Noble Mill, Thomas Run, and the reversing loop at Bel air and Hickory. It took a little work to get the crossover from one booster to the other to work, but it has been well worth the efforts. Lastly, all of the electrical components were cleaned up and mounted neatly under the layout. Now to get to work on a bit more scenery. 

Computer Control

Having a little time to get to the local hobby shop (M.B. Klein) today, I was able to pick up a few items. The first of these items connected into my railroad was the Digitrax PR3Xtra. I bought this to allow me to simplify some of my decoder programming through JMRI, but the first feature I played with was the computer interface. So, with my laptop, iPad, and iPhone in hand, I headed to the railroad room ready to spend some significant time getting things setup and running. Boy was I wrong! After only about 15 minutes of connecting a few cables, verifying settings and downloading the mobile app (WiThrottle), I was up and running trains from my computer and both my mobile devices. This app and interface are very easy to use. Select the loco address and move the slider on the throttle. That is about it. All 28 loco functions are available to the user and if you pay for the premium version of the app, two throttles can be accessed simultaneously. The price of the PR3 is less than another wireless throttle, so with my iPhone or a couple of my kids old iPod touches around, this could be a good investment. I will get back for another post about the PR3 when I can stop playing with the throttle and wifi control of trains.

Converting to DCC

After much deliberation, reading, researching, talking with club members, etc., I finally made the plunge into DCC. It took a little bit of work to run some new bus wires around the layout and disconnect the original DC throttles.  I decided to go with a Digitrax Zephyr Xtra throttle, command station, and booster all-in-one for ease of setup and low cost. This should be plenty of power for my moderate N-scale layout and the number of locomotives I intend to run at one time. Most of my newer locomotives were either already equipped with dual-mode decoders or were easily converted with plug-in decoders. Some of my other locomotives will be converted to DCC has time and money allow. For now, I am using my current DC handheld throttles as "Jump Throttles" on the Zephyr and this works fine. I do anticipate adding a wireless throttle or two to the system when needed or at least a receiver so that others can bring their throttle to use on my layout. So far, I have enjoyed this change to DCC and think that it will bring many years of enjoyment.

Wiring

While completing the tracklaying, my attention turned to wiring the layout for control. I first decided that the electrical control would be through standard DC. At this time, I did not want to put the time or energy into fitting DCC decoders into all of my steam and diesel locomotives. I also had two handheld Tech II controls from my previous layout that I wanted to use. Initial power for the layout is provided by two 12 volt AC bell transformers, one dedicated to each of the throttles. Each transformer powers a bus cable that runs the length of the layout and is tapped at each town switching location, six in all. At each of these locations, the AC power is routed to facia mounted plugs for each of the handheld throttles, where it is returned to a separate set of bus cables as regulated DC power for the tracks. Also at each switching location, is a small control panel with controls for each block of track. The blocks can be controlled by either of the two throttles plugged in at any location. This allows two trains to be run simultaneously around the layout. This is plenty for this medium-sized layout of a shortline railroad. Turnouts are controlled by a simple pushrod borrowed from the model airplane hobby and featured in an issue of N-Scale (July/August 2007) magazine. The pushrod is connected to a Radio Shack DPDT slide switch directly below the turnout throwbar. This switch allows power to be supplied to the turnout frog and turn power on and off to sidings. This method is simple, but provides reliable and inexpensive control.