D&J RailRoad
Professor of HO
I have a full basement empire that's divided into three power sections; 1, 2 and 3. Section 2 is powered from the command station, a DCS100. Sections 1 and 3 have their own DB150, each in booster mode.
The double track mainline runs through all three power sections.
I have a power buss running under the benchwork for the mainline and power drops to every piece of track.
Each section is completely isolated from the other two with insulators where the tracks join.
The command station and booster output of rail A and rail B are connected to the track with rail A toward the operator and rail B toward the wall.
Over the ten years I have had the layout operating one of the power sections will suddenly invert its power. Not the same section each time though. Measuring voltage from one rail to another shows about 15VAC. Measuring across the section barriers should show the same voltage between the front rail and the back rail. When one of the sections inverts itself, voltage will measure across the section barrier from front rail section 1 to the front rail section 2 or 2 to 3. Same with the back rail.
I'm really not clear on why it does this. The power for each section comes from the command or booster into a Tam Valley soft start module then into the PM42 of each section then into the BDL168 then to the rails. The Soft start is a straight through module that provides a bit of resistance during startup so a fleet of locos on the rails doesn't seem like a short to the command station.
Sometimes, inverting the Rail A and Rail B output of the booster or command station will correct it. Other times that doesn't but instead, inverting the Loconet cable connector will. Sometimes that doesn't work either. Sometimes inverting the power in from the power supply will change it, but not all the time.
Is this common with Digitrax equipment or is someone messing with me?
The double track mainline runs through all three power sections.
I have a power buss running under the benchwork for the mainline and power drops to every piece of track.
Each section is completely isolated from the other two with insulators where the tracks join.
The command station and booster output of rail A and rail B are connected to the track with rail A toward the operator and rail B toward the wall.
Over the ten years I have had the layout operating one of the power sections will suddenly invert its power. Not the same section each time though. Measuring voltage from one rail to another shows about 15VAC. Measuring across the section barriers should show the same voltage between the front rail and the back rail. When one of the sections inverts itself, voltage will measure across the section barrier from front rail section 1 to the front rail section 2 or 2 to 3. Same with the back rail.
I'm really not clear on why it does this. The power for each section comes from the command or booster into a Tam Valley soft start module then into the PM42 of each section then into the BDL168 then to the rails. The Soft start is a straight through module that provides a bit of resistance during startup so a fleet of locos on the rails doesn't seem like a short to the command station.
Sometimes, inverting the Rail A and Rail B output of the booster or command station will correct it. Other times that doesn't but instead, inverting the Loconet cable connector will. Sometimes that doesn't work either. Sometimes inverting the power in from the power supply will change it, but not all the time.
Is this common with Digitrax equipment or is someone messing with me?