Ian Jackson <ijackson@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in
news:2Lc*1N+es@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> In article <484f5356$0$1514$c3e8da3@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
> Puckdropper <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
>>I've tried isolating sections, but the problem still remains.
>>However, when I disconnect the loconet cable between the command
>>station and booster, the problem appears to go away.
>
> I would double-check all of the wiring, particularly that related to
> the power supply and data connections to and between the command
> station and the booster. How are the reversers controlled ? Do they
> receive their instructions via the DCC track power ? If not then
> double-check the separate cable. Have you tried disconnecting all but
> one of the reversers and seeing if the problem persists ?
They're MRC AD520s. I'm guessing the relay waits until it senses a huge
current draw (a short) and then flips. I've isolated the reversers (one
runs off the DCS100 and the other the DB150) and the problem stil
remains.
> Bizarre behaviour like this is often due to things like missing or
> poor ground connections. I don't know what loconet is like
> electronically, or what the connectors are like, but that would be a
> place to start looking. If you have a spare loconet cable that should
> be early on your list of things to try.
I'll take a look at that. All the loconet panels are Digitrax, so
isolation won't be a problem.
>>Does anyone have any ideas what could cause this? There was no
>>configuration change before the problem started that I know of. (We
>>have not yet tried resetting the system.)
>
> By `resetting' I assume you mean putting the command station, which I
> assume has some nonvolatile memory for configuration etc., back to
> factory settings. This will help if the fault is due to an error in
> that configuration (perhaps abetted by buggy firmware).
>
> Do you have access (perhaps via one of your members) to a spare
> command station and/or booster which could be tested ? I don't know
> if people conventionally build this kind of thing in in a way that
> makes it difficult to remove and disconnect tem****arily; I wouldn't
> but the result is that a substantial pro****tion of my not
> inconsiderable electronics budget goes on connectors.
>
Usually things are built so removal and disconnection is more difficult.
Less hassle, less effort...until something goes wrong. That's not a
reflection of my club's wiring job (which isn't terrible), it's an
observation of how things are normally done.
If we need it, I'm sure we can get a spare command station somewhere.
The club's run with only the DB150 before, so we could probably do so
again.
Puckdropper
--
If you're quiet, your teeth never touch your ankles.
To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm
|
