PM42, two boards instead of one

[rsn48]

Thought I would check this out here, I posted in the Digitrax forum about another issue and in response was told if I auto-reverse (AR) with one zone of the PM42, I need to use another board for circuit protection, apparently using  Zone one on the board to AR, then using another zone on the board as short circuit protection can give problems; anyone else hear anything about this?

[mmyers]

Digitrax no longer recommends using one section as an AR and another on the same board as the circuit breaker for the AR. The original PM4 manual had a diagram for doing it. There were some problems reported and subsequent manuals had that part removed. You can use more the circuit breaker section for other districts while using a section for a reverse loop. Just can't use two sections on the same board for the same district/loop.
I use PM4 for circuit breaker and an AR1 for the reverser. Cheaper if only one or two AR's are needed. Three or more and another PM42 is the way to go.


Martin Myers

[rsn48]

I sent an email in last night about this issue to Digitrax, below is my email and their reply in darker black ink:

"Tech Support contact submission from digitrax.com,
This is a web-based contact submission from IP Address 174.7.183.14:

From: Rick Nicholson (nicholson1318@shaw.ca)
Phone Number: 6049291318

I have been told at Digitrax Yahoo that it isn't advisable to use the same PM42 board if I am auto-reversing, I should use another one for circuit breaking.

I think I get it and I have two different boards, so just to get it
straight.  Board A zone one, can be AR, Board B Zone one can be circuit
breaker for the area that Board A zone one is auto-reversing, is that it?  Yes, that is correct.

Now my next question, can I use Board A zone two to auto-reverse in another
area, also served by Board B zone one (its a long loop I'm reversing so You can do so as long as only one AR1 is connected to any one auto-reversing section and as long as you do not have two auto-reversing sections contiguous to one another.
AR's)?

Thanks

[peteski]

I might be wrong, but isn't the Digitrax auto-reverser really old technology, based on relays?  It is relatively slow in response and the relays click.  Tony's Trains sells a DCC auto-reverser which is 100% solid state.  Fast and silent.

[rsn48]

Based on the private messages, emails and forum responses I have received, the go to gizmo is the PSX-AR.  What fries me is the amount I paid for two boards which really can't do the job advertised, and what really irritates is Digitrax still markets the PM42 as an AR which is technically correct, but better to leave AR aside and flog it as a circuit breaker only.

[peteski]

Based on the private messages, emails and forum responses I have received, the go to gizmo is the PSX-AR.  What fries me is the amount I paid for two boards which really can't do the job advertised, and what really irritates is Digitrax still markets the PM42 as an AR which is technically correct, but better to leave AR aside and flog it as a circuit breaker only.

Couldn't you return those to the place of purchase?

[rsn48]

No, too long ago, early on in the game I bought items I would need and I purchased two PM42 for circuit breaking and AR.  I can pick up the PSX product, but I'll have 8 circuit breakers, I'll have the most circuit breakers in a small area award, but I should be able to find the problem fast...lol!

[Big Windy]

Beside the clicking, which happens during a short, the other issue is the Pm42's inability to reset if there are a lot of locos with sound . It hasn't been an issue with me. Unless you have or are planning on having a lot of sound locos you should be fine. You can always put them on EBay and get close to what you paid for them and purchase the PSX which are a bit more expensive or save for the other gizmo that has speakers on the layout and moves around with the train.
Jerry

[rsn48]

I've gone with the poor man's PSX and that is the OR-AR's, almost the same thing.  They don't have adjustable amperage but are set at 4 amps, if I do have sound, it'll most likely be SoundTraxx, however to bring up this sound system to full fruition isn't cheap, and I'm not talking about the sound system itself but to move my system to Duplex (transponding) with detectors around the layout, etc.

In another thread in the DCC forum I posted a chart of the more popular AR's for other to peruse.

Chart in this thread:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31508.0

[Bangorboy]

You might find other uses for the PM42s.  Check the manual for the ability to turn on and off sections of the PM42 by Loconet command.  You can use that capability to shut down track sections or to turn accessories on and off.

[rsn48]

Thank you again Bill,
I was wondering what else I could use the PM42 for and hopefully I can dream something up.  One thing I like about European modelers over North American ones is their use of animation, far far ahead of us; so I've been thinking how to incorporate some animation into my layout

[peteski]

Most animation does not require DCC. Usually the animated scenes are DC powered. 

[Bangorboy]

Peteski is right, of course.  I'm thinking the PM42 can be used to switch power on and off to DCC tracks, if you need to be able to shut them off for some reason.  I think I read somewhere that is can also be used as a Loconet controlled switch that can take a DC input and control it as a DC output to control other things.

[rsn48]

I want to build a smaller N scale city ala Rod Stewart - lots of high rises.  I am thinking of using these buses in a peek a boo scenario as you look down some streets and see the buses crossing at the back.  The PM42 could turn it on or off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj0iG5sqJsI

[peteski]

I want to build a smaller N scale city ala Rod Stewart - lots of high rises.  I am thinking of using these buses in a peek a boo scenario as you look down some streets and see the buses crossing at the back.  The PM42 could turn it on or off.

But DCC power is not DC. You would need to convert it back (rectify it) to DC to be able to use it to power DC motors used in buses or for animation.  It would probably make more sense to get a stationary decoder which can control relays then just use that to control a DC voltage (from old spare power pack) to power your buses.