While I have a smaller layout and am usually close to the power switch, I have recently been thinking about shorts and how to deal with them. Is there a recommended circuit breaker that should be installed in case of shorts to help prevent damaging any components? I've been fortunate in that I have had a couple of shorts created by metal wheelsets during a derailment but was able to flip the power switch and not sustain any damage. Interested in how you all address such potential issues.
I am using circuit breakers from Tam Valley and others are out there. They aren't that expensive. Sumner
I'm assuming DC, since most DCC systems have protection built in. But even then a lot of people break their layout up, so a short in one area doesn't shut the whole layout down. A breaker like Sumner suggests works well. Our club uses small auto fuses, which work, but can be a little slow to react.
Yep, DCC-EX does but.................only for the district it is attached to and ... That was my problem.... https://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/UP Canyon Division/page-162.html .... since I have 4 boosters and then 2 districts off of them using 8 circuit beakers. The DCC-EX command station is directly connected to my test track so it is protected by the command station. The DCC signal also goes to the 8 power districts shown above and the command station can't see a short past the boosters so circuit breakers needed to be installed there. As a single operator I really didn't need all of these districts from the power stand point but went this way to help trouble shoot better if there is a short somewhere. I might have a lot of this up for sale at some point in the future (not near future) as now you can have 8 separate power districts with a DCC-EX command station. So I'm building a new DCC-EX command station with a Nucleo F349ZI board which is faster, has way more memory and pins than an Arduino Mega which I've been using and works fine and for $25 I can have this as the brains for the command station. Also now the DCC-EX command station will see if there is a short on any of the 8 districts (you can set the current trip point) it will shut only the one district the short is in. The main reason I'm doing this is that any of the 8 districts can power tracks or DCC accessories. All 8 districts can also be DCC, DC or Program and a few other options. Now I won't have to convert a lot of my DC locos to DCC as I can run them in any district after switching it from DCC to DC with my throttle and yes, run those locos with the same wireless throttle I use for the DCC locos. Cost? New command station and other electronics for the 8 districts for around $100 total. It is not plug-n-play but not a lot of work. You can get a ready-to-run command station now with another plug in board for 4 districts for about $200. OK, so I got way off track, if when I get the new stuff up, might not be that long and you still need a circuit breaker (and you are DCC) I'll send you one . Sumner
If I had a lot of guests, or with a club, I would go your route.........but because I operate alone , I almost see having just one big district to be an advantage. On the rare occasion I actually run more than one train (usually one mainline and one switcher) it's almost better for both trains to shut down because inevitably the problem train distracts me and I forget to watch the other train.
Mine has districts but the couple of shorts I have seen over the last couple of years seem to ignore the districts so I am wondering do I need that breaker right after the command station?
How are the districts powered? Through boosters or are they all connected directly to the command station and a district in the sense they can be turned on or off. What equipment do you have exactly. Sumner
Looks like it does have short protection. Maybe worth trying this from the manual if you haven't.... 27.2.1theQuartertrick If your track does not have adequate power supply to the locomotives, then the DCC signal won’t get through either. Take a quarter or screwdriver blade and go around your layout creating electrical shorts by laying the quarter/screw- driver blade across both rails every 10 feet. Your DCS50 should shutdown when the short is present. You will see walking “o” s on your display to indicate a short circuit shutdown. When the short is removed, the booster should return to normal operation. If the unit does not see a short or it does not return to normal operation after the short is removed, then you need to add more feeders. Wonder if maybe you need more feeders. Sumner
The TCS CS-105 has a throttle-accessible option to reduce the track trip current level, and to increase the trip delay. Since it is throttle-accessible, it is most likely also LCC accessible (to things like JMRI, etc.)
Do the districts have there own circuit breakers? If not, then a short will shutdown the entire layout. If you want shorts confined to a district, each district needs to have it's own circuit breaker.
No, I have no extra circuit breakers which is why the question about what folks use or do.. Let's remember, I really haven't had any issues, just looking for the ideas on preventive measures
From what I can see you are covered with what you have...put your money into something else if you can think of anything Sumner
Thanks for all the info and tips Sumner, Dave, Jake and Robert. I do feel better about it now. Just being over cautious I guess.
Although you have built in circuit breaker protection (I do too with a Digitrax DCS240) I have my layout divided into 3 section; 2 reversing loops with extensive yards and industries and then the main line with passing sidings. Even if I didn't have the reversing loops, I would still use a circuit breaker - DCC Specialties PSXX1 Circuit Breaker SKU dsppsxx1 as it hits the breaker and not the DCS240 AND I can adjust it to my liking. There is nothing wrong, in your case, NOT using a circuit breaker; Its just cheap and added insurance. Most of my locos I have converted to sound so better safe than sorry. Brian
