Power Booster with e-Link?

[badgerV8]

Hi folks. I am looking to add a power booster to my layout - I intend to isolate the combined steam and diesel MPD from the rest of the layout and run it through a power booster in order to enable some 20-odd sound equipped locos to be "running" (with the odd loco movements), whilst the main lines and branch line are left to run via the e-Link unit with it's 4A power supply.

Hornby's own power booster appears to be no longer available (or overpriced!), so here's the question - can another manufacturer's power booster be used, to simply take the existing DCC signal from the e-Link and boost it to a new power district (my MPD)?

[Ron Ron Ron]

Yes

 

[Ian Morgan]

The simple answer is Yes. Any NMRA compliant booster should work with any NMRA compliant Command Station.

 

However, if you make use of added extras, such as Railcom, then your choice is more limited.

 

Edited March 5, 2019 by Ian Morgan

[WIMorrison]

If the elink has a CDE or Loconet B (must be loconet B and not loconet T) connection then you can purchase any booster that is designed to work with these interfaces, failing that If you purchase a booster that has a sniffer capability then it will work by ‘sniffing’ the existing DCC and replicating into the boosted section.

 

[badgerV8]

Thanks folks, just the answers I was hoping for.

[Phil S]

Hattons have the Bachmann booster (with its  xtransformerx   Switched Mode Power Supply - DC power** ) available in their bargains section - more than 10 in stock  at 99gbp                                          **voltage not legible in product photo

It can certainly operate off the dcc track output, I do not know if it  works off a low-level/logic  'booster output; ( the 3rd wire on some of the booster outputs is a returning 'error' indication ) - it has a 3.5mm jack socket like the EZ controller.

The booster can be set to work with either of 2  output voltages including g scale

- it may be worth seeing if you can download the manual from the Bachmann - service support site

36-520
Bachmann Branchline
EZ Command 5 amp booster with transformer
Any or Multiple Scales
£99 BARGAIN List price: £149.95
More than 10 in stock

Edited March 6, 2019 by Phil S
update to say smps not transformer

[Ron Ron Ron]

5 hours ago, Phil S said:

Hattons have the Bachmann booster.......

.....It can certainly operate off the dcc track output, I do not know if it  works off a low-level/logic  'booster output; ( the 3rd wire on some of the booster outputs is a returning 'error' indication ) - it has a 3.5mm jack socket like the EZ controller..........

 

Phil, the Bachmann EZ Command booster only runs off a DCC track output (via a Power/Track bus or the tracks).

That's the "sniffer" capability Iain refers to above.

 

The "low level/logic booster output" you refer to is the NMRA standard Power Station Interface, often labelled as C,D,E by some manufacturers, or labelled Booster (output) by others.

From what I understand, the EZ Command booster doesn't have the facility to connect and receive DCC Command signals from this source.

 

 

Ron

Edited March 7, 2019 by Ron Ron Ron

[RAF96]

You can connect the eLink main track signal to the input of your chosen booster if an RJ interface is not available on the booster.

Study the manual for Hornby’s Booster downloadable from their site to see various options for connecting main to second power district.

Just  remember all the booster does is provide separate power to an isolated power district then copies and pastes the main district DCC signal onto that second district bus.

[Crosland]

On 07/03/2019 at 18:34, RAF96 said:

You can connect the eLink main track signal to the input of your chosen booster if an RJ interface is not available on the booster.

 

If there is a short on the eLink the signal to the booster will be lost so the whole layout will shutdown. This may or may not be a problem depending how you expect it to work.

[RAF96]

21 minutes ago, Crosland said:

 

If there is a short on the eLink the signal to the booster will be lost so the whole layout will shutdown. This may or may not be a problem depending how you expect it to work.

 

Is it not true that if the prime controller goes out so does the DCC signal across the whole layout regardless of connection method. The only grace would be locos should keep doing what they were doing under the last good command until any timeout kicks in.

[Phil S]

Total power loss to the 'whole layout' can usually be avoided by either or both:

Given: A separately powered Booster Unit [ as you propose ], whose output is then used to be the TRACK DCC BUS, or [Power District Track Bus]

           and the MAIN UNIT is supplying the 'DCC ACCESSORY BUS.

AND/OR

You have only the Single Master Unit, and the TRACK DCC BUS is separated from the 'Accessory us/Master Output via a PROTECTIVE DEVICE such as a PSX 'intelligent' circuit breaker or a  circuit breaker set to an appropriate rating.

[PSX's were designed to cope intelligently with the start up surge of sound decoders]

Hopefully in either of the above examples - the Accessory BUS is maintained (allowing points to e controlled to correct a problem, for example)

 

If the Booster is sourced from a dedicated #Booster'  low-level connection (which may or may not have a 3rd connection - used to send BACK an error message) - this MIGHT be maintained even if the MAIN TRACK output is cut-off by the internal protection - but this may vary from make to make.

If simply looking for a replacement power supply for the Hornby Booster - you should be able to find a matching rating SMPS (Switched Mode Power Supply) on Ebay or similar    probably 15Vdc 4A ???

 

[RAF96]

From memory my Hornby booster came with the Hornby 4amp PSU - bought from Hattons at a bargain price less than the cost of the PSU alone.

[Crosland]

On 14/03/2019 at 12:31, RAF96 said:

 

Is it not true that if the prime controller goes out so does the DCC signal across the whole layout regardless of connection method. The only grace would be locos should keep doing what they were doing under the last good command until any timeout kicks in.

 

Deleted

Edited March 15, 2019 by Crosland