Brian

You should always check by testing if necessary that once all the wires on the motor are removed there is no connection between the two motor wiring tags and any metal of the chassis or to any wheels. If there is a connection this must be removed before fitting and powering up a decoder. Failure to remove a connection would result in the decoder immediately blowing upon DCC being applied.

Are you all Hornby Select users? Have you tried readdressing the channel that is not responding?

Hi I have used old AMR hand held (No longer available new) and Gaugemaster model W hand held controllers on my former exhibition layout. Both gave excellent service. Morley also do HH controllers for use solely with their dc controllers, but as I'm now DCC I haven't had the opportunity now of trying them.

If not too late and not already mentioned? Sorry if it has. Island and/or main line platform canopy with waiting room buildings etc underneath. I know Superquick and Metcalfe do one, but Im sure John could do far better! Edit to add Metcalfe

Just thought Id say Hello to one and all. Im in Ashford (Kent) and am chairman of the Faversham MRC. Retired early from the railways for six years now and enjoying every last second of it! Look forward to reading more about this group.

Hi You're unlikely to operate more than one at any one time. So the answer is yes. The number of solenoid points or uncouplers you have doesn't matter, it can be one or one million. None consume any power when not working. It's the total power being consumed when any are operated that's important. Don't use a CDU to feed the uncouplers only the point motors if you opt to use a CDU.

Password......

HI I have just finished this one for my MR Clubs OO layout. Auto selection of dc or DCC layout operating modes. dc control via the panel mounted GM series UD controller or via hand held controller options. All points are analogue operated via a built-in CDU and push button selection. All dc track sections can be switched between either of the two dc controllers or to Off. For DCC operation these switches are left On to either position. Turntable rotation motor operation (which is still to be obtained) is via a variable voltage regulator and direction of rotation switch with central Off position.

Not dumb at all. All red wires, all black or all any one colour you choose, it matters not a jot. What does matter is that each wire is recorded somehow of where it runs from and too and the wires are tracer marked if at all possible by the use of tags or proper wire markers. After all the UK (BR) railways use mainly all one coloured wire insulation, so we can follow, its prototypical!!

Hi April edition of the Railway Modeller has an Heljan advert on page 34a where the new turntable is shown. Item No 89121 Operating 90 ft Turntable OO DCC Ready. 2nd Quarter 2012. Price £225.00. Ouch!

Hi Dave Also on my web site - Warn the neighbour! Have a look here, it may give you some inspiration? http://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/Electrical-2.htm#Mimic%20Panel%20Indications. If you're DCC then you can use the DCC power, if so have a look here..http://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/DCC.htm#Point%20Indications%20on%20DCC

Hi Dave Hope your neighbour has recovered ;) Only one CDU is normally needed for the whole layout. Point operating switches can be of the sprung to centre off toggle switch type, often called (On)-Off-(On) where the switch cannot remain in the bracketed (On) position once the lever is released. Or you can use two press to make non locking push button switches per point. Or the old favourite of Stud and Probe selection. My choice is to use the sprung to centre off toggle switch. As for a power supply a phone charger probably won’t be of any use as normally these only give out around 5 volts dc and you need as a minimum 16 volts ac. Assuming a CDU is going to be used, then you can use an old train set controller that has an Uncontrolled 16 volt ac output (not the Track output which is dc) Or about the cheapest power supply to buy new is the Hornby C990 16v ac unit from ebay sellers, at around £9.50ish new. All the best

Hi daveblueozzie. Most of what you're asking is on my web sites Electrical pages. Link at the bottom of this reply. Basically, you'll need a power supply capable of delivering ideally at least 16 volts ac at 1.0Amp or higher. Next ideally a Capacitor Discharge Unit (CDU) though this item isnt essential, just a 'good to have' item that provides a extra beefy pulse of power to the motors coil and stops accidental coil burn out. Then some means of switching the power momentarily to the motor. This can be by a passing contact lever - Peco PL36 mounts in a frame or panel. Cheaper is non locking sprung to centre off toggle switches or two momentary press to make push buttons per motor, or even Studs and Probe. Wire - minimum size of 16/0.2mm or larger size.

Hi Chris Don't worry we all have to start at some stage. If your flexible cable is 1.0mm2 then on the size of layout you have it will be ok, but is really in my view a little on the small size. I would recommend a minimum of 1.5mm2 but then I always build larger than really needed! Mainly because it leads to none or virtually no problems later on. Ensure your dropper wires from the rails to the bus wires are kept as short as practicable and use 16/0.2mm or 0.5mm flexible wires stripped from former 2 core mains wire. As I said previously the type used for table lamps etc. Solder all connections and you'll be fine.

Hi Chris What exactly is 13 Amp mains cable? Could it be 1.0mm2 or 1.5mm2 (which is half as large again as the 1.0mm2) Or is it what is used to feed 13Amp power sockets - 2.5mm2 which is in fact capable of handling around 26Amps So not 13 Amp at all????? Unfortunately "13Amp mains cable" is a very poor terminology and is not specific! :( You would not use 3.0Amp rated cable for the bus pair of wires. A larger wire size is necessary. If you wish to use solid core mains cable - insulated cores striped out from the outer sheath, then consider as a minimum 1.5mm2 and better is 2.5mm2. But installing these under the layout may in some cases be problem? So some users prefer to obtian the equivalent size in a flexible wire. 16/0.2mm flex droppers (Called Equipment wire) are the minimum wire size ideally to use. If you wish to strip out the cores from mains flex for the droppers then 0.5mm2 2 core cable will be fine (As is used in table lights and low current 230volt appliances). You need to ensure the main bus pair of wires are large enough to overcome any volt drop that occurs within their length. Hence the recommendation to use the largest size of conductors practicable. Droppers mainly conduct the current within the section of rail they feed. So they can be of a smaller wire gauge.

Hi Chris Obviously your not visiting the right web site. Link to my DCC page Wire sizes are discussed here. My rule of thumb is... For the actual DCC bus always use the largest size of conductor (wire gauge) thats practicable. As for dropper wires, if every section of track is fitted with droppers then 16/0.2mm will be fine. Do try to keep the length of dropper between rail and bus wire as short as possible. Your Gaugemaster 'layout wire' which is 7/0.2mm is too small to use for DCC especially with "O" gauge current demands. Use it for feeding non DCC items like colour light signalling, LED indications back to the mimic panel and feeds to any Stall style point motors (not solenoid ones though).

Hi I don't think it would cause any serious damage? If you want to overcome the self resetting then simply wire a 12 volt 21watt single filament cars reversing or indicator lamp in series with one of the 'Track' output wires (doesn't matter which wire). Then when a short appears the PA doesn't go into shut down mode, but the lamp illuminates and limits the fault current. Alternatively, section (Zone) the tracks - IRJs fitted at all entrance and exit rails of the section, and wire electronic overload units or car lamps into the feed path for that section. All these will help prevent the PA (or any other DCC system) from going into overload shutdown. AFAIK Lenz DCC systems continually test their output upon a short being detected too, and perhaps other systems do the same?

Hi I understand more clearly now the full explanation of events has been given! :rolleyes: The short is only momentary, the PA see the short occur and initially goes into overload condition, cutting all track power for two seconds. It then retests and finds the short has been removed and can then restore rail power, as the problem has now gone but leaves the SvdA message on the throttle display as a reminder. If the short is continuous the system can't self reset until the problem is cleared. Carrying out the so called DCC Friendly conversion to electrofrog points will help overcome many of these problems.

Hi I can't grasp how with a full short circuit across the rails, a DCC console can keep the layout running?? Perhaps I'm missing something?? As I see it, a short circuit conducts all available power to the opposite polarity and can result in some large currents flowing! Some DCC consoles may keep 'testing' their output by momentarily reapplying power, but cutting it off again immediately if the short is still present. Unless the newer PAs reset automatically to some form of reduced power output? Perhaps via an internal current limiting device like a resistor etc - much like having the car lamp in series with the output works. Otherwise I just can't see how with a full short circuit, full power can be reapplied to the rails allowing locos to move again - there is a short on the system that's robbing all power! The other way is if using isolated track sections and DCC boosters. Are you sure the SvdA appears with a full short circuit occurring or is something else causing it? My PA shuts down upon a short occurring. The console has to be turned off/on to reset the system. Advanced consisting is carried out within the locos decoders that are to make up the advanced consist via CV19. It is more than likely one or more of the decoders can't use Advance consisting? Hence the inability to set up such a consist. Universal Consisting is done within the PA console and on the PA only one set of universal consists can be set up at any one time.

Hi I would contact Gaugemaster as doest seem correct to me! 'SvdA' means the system has detected a short and should shut down all track output power. How can a system provide power to run trains if it has a full short circuit being applied across its connections? Unless your DCC wiring isn't 100%? System shut down is certainly what happens on my PA. When there is a short circuit on my layout the PAs power is cut off instantaneously and " SvdA" appears in the throttles display. I remove the cause of the short and reset the system (On / Off switch) and its all is back to normal operation. The use of a single filament 21watt 12 volt car indicator or reversing lamp in series with one of the track wires is an option to prevent any DCC console going into short circuit mode. It does give current limiting protection and a very bright indicator that there is fault somewhere . However there is still (and with the PA) around 1.0 to 1.5Amps of DCC track power still available, which if the lamp(s) are wired in series with separate insulated sections of track, then when a short occurs in one area other unaffected sections will remain powered and working normally. Electronic circuit breakers are better, but they do cost considerably more than car lamps! :unsure:

Hi That's the beast I need and at a reasonable price too. Well done and thanks for locating one. :icon_thumbsup2: Farnell order being placed now. Cheers Brian

Hi all, My Prodigy Advanced uses a twin RJ45 plug lead to connect the throttle to the base unit. Its an unbooted straight connection lead of around 8 foot length. My problem is I keep standing on the lead and either pull the hand set out of my hand or tripping on the lead, especially when its close to the base unit, but I also need the length of cable to move around a little! I would like to replace it with a coiled type of lead e.g. As used on telephone handsets, but so far I have been unable to track down a supplier. Loads of RJ45 conventional cables for sale as "Patch leads" but nothing in coiled form. Any ideas on a supplier?? ( I have tried both MRC and Gaugemaster with out success). Cheers Brian

Sorry, that wiring detail is not correct for a PL11. On the Peco PL11 surface mounting motor the following wiring colours are used.... Red and Black are the two operation wires (Left & Right) The Green wire is the return. You can see the typical wiring of most styles of solenoid point motors on my web site.My web sites point motor wiring Scroll down a little to see the PL11 wiring diagram. You should only use a momentary style of switch. Hornby R044, Peco PL26, Sprung to centre off toggle switches etc. Or use non locking press to make push buttons (2 per point) or even stud and probe selection. Ideally a Capacitor Discharge Unit(CDU) is used too, as these provide an increased pulse of power to the solenoid motor(s) and help prevent coil burn out should a switch accidentally remain in the 'On' position for too long! Only one CDU is normally needed for the whole layout. If you want to operate three or more solenoids from one switch operation then consider obtaining a Heavy Duty CDU which can provide a pulse for up to 6 or more solenoids at once.