Track and electrical/DCC

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Need ideas for tie cutting jig for fast track made turnouts

Tue, 2011-09-20 04:48 — kleaverjr

Track and electrical/DCC

Fast Tracks makes a cutting jig for the PC Board ties for use with their assembly jig so that is taken care of. What I would like to know is has anyone made a jig to cut the rest of the ties? I like to use the Micro Engineering soft wood ties for the rest of the ties especially since I have a huge supply of them.

Thanks!

Ken L.
Pennsylvania & Allegheny Railroad

15 comments

Decoder Pro issues, any thoughts?

Mon, 2011-09-19 22:11 — ratled

Track and electrical/DCC

I’m having some troubles getting Decoder Pro to consist a pair of GP40s and maybe someone here can help. I have programmed these locos individually with this layout and this computer but for some reason I cannot get them to consist tonight.

Background info

JMRI ver 2.8

Windows 7

Digitrax Zephyr (not plus) w/ stub ended programing track

Loco Buffer II USB interface

Atlas HO GP40s Silver (non-sound) 2002 run w/ the dual mode decoder (analog off)

Bachmann Tsunami woes on DC

Sun, 2011-09-18 18:31 — mspanton

Track and electrical/DCC

I have a friend who just bought three Bachmann 2-10-2 HO locos with Tsunami sound to run on his DC layout. All three perform correctly on my Digitrax DCC system, but not his DC layout.

When we apply DC power, the sounds begin, including the whistle, but cut out after not more than a second, the lights flash, then this sequence begins immediately again: start/cut-out/start/cut-out, etc.

Ring Engineering

Sat, 2011-09-17 10:24 — herronp

Track and electrical/DCC

I saw an ad for their line of products for control of locomotives and turnouts. At first glance it seems quite well done and simple to use. Do any of you have any hands on experience with this system? I'm curious how it works and how do the locomotives sound? Does anyone know if you can combine their "decoder" with the sound side of say a Tsunami? Their system seems familiar somehow-is it perhaps like some of the European ("plug and play")Systems?

Curious-thanks,

Peter

2 comments

New HO Athearn MP15AC stalling

Thu, 2011-09-15 14:13 — waxgroove

Hello all –

I have a new HO Athearn Genesis MP15AC with sound.

9 pin- 8 pin

Sat, 2011-09-10 16:28 — Tanblu

Track and electrical/DCC

Since we are supposed to have standards, why are some systems equipped with 9 pin plugs & some with 8 pin plugs. Also since there is an adapter, What is the 9th pin for. I have a New Mantua Pacific with a 9 pin hook up & most if not all decoders have 8 pins. Furthermore, there are only 4 wires to the loco from the tender.

Do I just purchase a 8 pin decoder & an adapter?

4 comments

Am I miscalculating for DCC Booster Distict requirements

Thu, 2011-09-01 11:13 — kleaverjr

I had settled with building my own DCC 3 AMP Boosters (I found a couple different websites that offer kits or instructions to build them) but as I consider the power requirements I am concerned that 3 AMPS even for one train block will be insufficient based on maximum potential load. If I'm calculating things properly, I will need a Booster for each train block!

Found a source for LocoNet cabling!

Thu, 2011-09-01 09:07 — 3truckheisler

I have had trouble finding 6 conductor flat phone cable for LocoNet wiring (I can get Cat-5 in 6 conductor at Lowes, but not the flat wire). I found some at cmple.com - at very reasonable prices! ($1.79 for 25 foot; they have other lengths as well). I cut what I need to length and crimp on the ends. Lowes, Home Depot and places online have the 6-conductor plugs as well as crimping tools. Hopefully this helps others having the same problem.