Clicking on "DCC Impulses" take you to "Getting Real"

Denny Anspachdanspachmd@gmail.com via groups.io

5:11 PM (1 hour ago)

to SoundTraxxUsers

To reliably program the latest Tsunami decoder generation, as well as at least one other competitor’s sound decoders, I am finding my programming PTB is causing problems, with the manufacturers strongly hinting that the PTB is the culprit. My problem: I could only routinely  program through my PTB;
I needed an easy way  of programming straight to program track, bypassing the PTB. 

With the assistance of my Intel EE genius friend Jeff Aley,  we solved the problem of how to easily bypass on-command  the PTB  directly on line to my programming track: My long term arrangement has been an ON-OFF-ON DPDT that separates  Command Station (DCS100) Line power from Program Track power . This has allowed the handy choice of three options beyond the switch; a)  Program power (through PTB);b) NO power; and c) Line power as with the rest of the layout.

We kept this same time-proven and handy arrangement, and simply added a ON-ON  3PDT switch (out of inventory) in program circuit downstream of the DPDT (above) and upstream of PTB now giving an additional option of  diverting program power  directly ——> track,  bypassing the PTB altogether. Only 2 of the 3 poles were needed for this.  This allowed the unused 3rd pole to serve as an OFF-ON for the independent 15VAC power supply circuit to the PTB.  So…the PTB lights are ON only when the PTB programming circuit is chosen. Otherwise: dark.

All wiring junctions were made in a single dedicated barrier terminal block,  from which the single pair of track feeder wires also arise.

I perceive that the sound decoder world is evolving to a point where not only that PTBs are no long needed for programming new decoders, but that they actually twill increasingly  be a hindrance.  Do I read the tea leaves correctly?

Denny


Denny S. Anspach, MD
Sacramento, CA 95864