Ok, I bought a Tam Valley booster from our friends in Avondale, AZ and it's the best thing since sliced bread! I have a mess of DCC controlled components on my layout that robs power from the motives and this booster does the trick. The nice thing is that all of my Walthers switch motors are now powered even when someone screws up and shorts a section out. Thanks for sharing! 😃
I have been watching as many of your videos catching up. They have been so educational. This video was very interesting. What I have discovered, is that by using current sensing block detection like the Digitrax BXP88, if you have the Cobalt Digital IP motors connected to rail power which the block is detecting, it will eventually trigger the occupied sensor if you have two or three. For that reason, I put all of the motor power on a DCC accessory bus. Then instead of using the frog terminal, took the rail A and rail B track power for the block to the form C terminals, and the frog connected to the common. This solved the occupancy issue. This might be obvious to experienced people, but it is still nonetheless another reason to use an accessory bus.
Yes, any device that uses any current can cause a detector to give false occupancy. Some detectors have ways of adjusting their sensitivity, but your approach of operating them off the accessory networks works fine.
Good video Larry!! I have used these Tam Valley boosters with great success! They also have built-in circuit protection for shorts which is a very nice feature.
Just to be clear, you can't send a signal to open or close a turnout if your main station has shorted out. The accessory booster can continue to supply power so it would allow you to finish the open or close that was started before the main short. But, if the main station has shorted, it won't send out any signals and thus the booster won't get any signal to "boost" to the secondary bus. And, whenever you are using boosters for your main bus (buses isolated of course) you want them to all have the same input voltages (well really the same output voltages) otherwise your locos will run at different speeds in the different power districts.
You would need to have a circuit breaker to prevent the command station from going down in the case of a short. As long as the accessory booster is connected directly to the command station it would stay active to allow you to throw points while the affected block is shut down.
Where do the wires come from that go to the DCC in terminal on the booster?? Are they DCC track wires, or is there a DCC accessory bus terminal hookups on the DCC system you are using? If you're using a Power Cab, where do the DCC in wires that go into the booster come from? Thanks Larry
What brand of booster are you referring to? And do you mean the flat cable or individual wires? On a booster you have DC power coming in via the power connectors and you have the DCC signal coming in from the command station or another booster and that is the signal that is “boosted” to track voltage and amperage values before being sent out on the power bus. The DCC signal can be fed i using a flat telephone type cable or with some brands just using 2 wires spliced off the DCC track,power bus. Most command station/booster manuals show how yo make these types of daisy chain connections.
A DC bus is fine and I showed in a previous video how to install one. They are a good option IF you do not use accessory decoders to tap power from your main DCC power bus.
Hi Larry - if I use the Tam Valley booster to provide power to my frog juicers, do the frog juicers have to be connected to turnouts that are also powered by that tam valley booster? Or can the turnouts be powered by my command station/booster combo and the frog juicers by the tam valley booster? I ask because the instructions on the juicers say that the frogs should be in the same power district.
I would power them from the same bus that powers the track and turnout. Unlike switch machines and accessory decoders Frog Juicers use minimal power themselves so really don’t need to be on a separate DCC bus.
Great info Larry I have been wondering about this since I started with my DCC system. I have several devices connected to my DCC Bus now would be great to have them on a separate bus
I have an NCE Power Cab. My layout is about 15x20 double deck. So, it's a a decent amount of track. If I were to add a SB5 for the tracks, would it still be worth having this booster for the accessory bus? Thanks Larry!
@@TheDCCGuy I have checked the web site and it was no longer working and the Facebook page hasn’t been updated since 2019. Hope they are there as I want to take my son there sometime.
I just checked and the facebook page came up but the website is redirecting elsewhere. I suspect someone forgot to pay the hosting fee during the Covid shutdown. Odd though that the facebook page has not been updated for over a year.
Hi Larry - thank you for the videos. I find them very helpful. If I have an Alpha Meter, followed by PSX circuit breakers, where in the DCC line does this connect off of? Do the DCC in wires connect between the Command Station and the Alpha Meter or between the Alpha and PSX breakers? Or does it not matter?
In videos 107 & 108 I showed how to wire it up. I ran the wires from the command station/booster to the Alpha Meter, and from that to the PSX and from there to the track.
Hi - I was referring to the NCE 5amp Booster that you discuss in Ep. 190 that allows you to provide separate power to accessory decoders like the Switch8. Where does it hook up with the main dcc bus? Before the Alpha or after Alpha but before PSX, etc. Thanks.
Can the Tam Valley Booster also be used to power non-DCC accessories, like LED lights or signals, assuming a buck board is used to lower the volts? You did a separate video on running a DC power bus, so was wondering if this unit can serve as both a DC power supply and a DCC power supply all in one.
Yes, but you will have to rectify the DCC power before feeding it onto the buck board as it is a DC device. That is why I consider it easier to simply provide a DC power bus for powering accessories that are not using an accessory decoder and the accessory bus for devices that require DCC power.
Ok, I bought a Tam Valley booster from our friends in Avondale, AZ and it's the best thing since sliced bread! I have a mess of DCC controlled components on my layout that robs power from the motives and this booster does the trick. The nice thing is that all of my Walthers switch motors are now powered even when someone screws up and shorts a section out. Thanks for sharing! 😃
Always glad to hear a success story, thanks for sharing your experience.
@@TheDCCGuy Just started watching your videos, and I wish I would have found them earlier. A Wealth of knowledge, and great advice! Thank You!!!
Hi Larry, this looks a nice small unit, Great Video. Thanks Steve
I have been watching as many of your videos catching up. They have been so educational. This video was very interesting. What I have discovered, is that by using current sensing block detection like the Digitrax BXP88, if you have the Cobalt Digital IP motors connected to rail power which the block is detecting, it will eventually trigger the occupied sensor if you have two or three. For that reason, I put all of the motor power on a DCC accessory bus. Then instead of using the frog terminal, took the rail A and rail B track power for the block to the form C terminals, and the frog connected to the common. This solved the occupancy issue. This might be obvious to experienced people, but it is still nonetheless another reason to use an accessory bus.
Yes, any device that uses any current can cause a detector to give false occupancy. Some detectors have ways of adjusting their sensitivity, but your approach of operating them off the accessory networks works fine.
Such a brilliant idea! Thanks Larry
Good video Larry!! I have used these Tam Valley boosters with great success! They also have built-in circuit protection for shorts which is a very nice feature.
Thanks Larry, I will need to run a DCC Accessory Power Bus, 🐾🚂BearCreek RR, Cov. KY.
Another great video Larry
Good video Larry thanks for sharing Robert Guzman
Just to be clear, you can't send a signal to open or close a turnout if your main station has shorted out. The accessory booster can continue to supply power so it would allow you to finish the open or close that was started before the main short. But, if the main station has shorted, it won't send out any signals and thus the booster won't get any signal to "boost" to the secondary bus.
And, whenever you are using boosters for your main bus (buses isolated of course) you want them to all have the same input voltages (well really the same output voltages) otherwise your locos will run at different speeds in the different power districts.
You would need to have a circuit breaker to prevent the command station from going down in the case of a short. As long as the accessory booster is connected directly to the command station it would stay active to allow you to throw points while the affected block is shut down.
Thanks for that - I'm running a DCC++ Ex as my main controller - looks like this is a good option to provide additional DCC capacity.
I was just thimking that while watching the video. I think that is the direction I will go to as well.
Where do the wires come from that go to the DCC in terminal on the booster?? Are they DCC track wires, or is there a DCC accessory bus terminal hookups on the DCC system you are using? If you're using a Power Cab, where do the DCC in wires that go into the booster come from? Thanks Larry
They come fro a DC power supply.
@@TheDCCGuy Larry, I meant the DCC in wires on the booster.
What brand of booster are you referring to? And do you mean the flat cable or individual wires? On a booster you have DC power coming in via the power connectors and you have the DCC signal coming in from the command station or another booster and that is the signal that is “boosted” to track voltage and amperage values before being sent out on the power bus. The DCC signal can be fed i using a flat telephone type cable or with some brands just using 2 wires spliced off the DCC track,power bus. Most command station/booster manuals show how yo make these types of daisy chain connections.
I've always run a 12vdc power bus around the layout because I don't want a bunch of wall warts and plug strips scattered around the layout.
A DC bus is fine and I showed in a previous video how to install one. They are a good option IF you do not use accessory decoders to tap power from your main DCC power bus.
Hi Larry - if I use the Tam Valley booster to provide power to my frog juicers, do the frog juicers have to be connected to turnouts that are also powered by that tam valley booster? Or can the turnouts be powered by my command station/booster combo and the frog juicers by the tam valley booster? I ask because the instructions on the juicers say that the frogs should be in the same power district.
I would power them from the same bus that powers the track and turnout. Unlike switch machines and accessory decoders Frog Juicers use minimal power themselves so really don’t need to be on a separate DCC bus.
Great info Larry I have been wondering about this since I started with my DCC system. I have several devices connected to my DCC Bus now would be great to have them on a separate bus
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I have an NCE Power Cab. My layout is about 15x20 double deck. So, it's a a decent amount of track. If I were to add a SB5 for the tracks, would it still be worth having this booster for the accessory bus? Thanks Larry!
The SB5 replaces the original PowerCab module and gives you 5 amps to power your trains and accessories.
More great info Larry, thanks. Question, do you know if the Vienna RR club is still existence?
Last I heard they were still in business. I have a friend who moved there and joined the club.
@@TheDCCGuy I have checked the web site and it was no longer working and the Facebook page hasn’t been updated since 2019. Hope they are there as I want to take my son there sometime.
I just checked and the facebook page came up but the website is redirecting elsewhere. I suspect someone forgot to pay the hosting fee during the Covid shutdown. Odd though that the facebook page has not been updated for over a year.
Hi Larry - thank you for the videos. I find them very helpful. If I have an Alpha Meter, followed by PSX circuit breakers, where in the DCC line does this connect off of? Do the DCC in wires connect between the Command Station and the Alpha Meter or between the Alpha and PSX breakers? Or does it not matter?
In videos 107 & 108 I showed how to wire it up. I ran the wires from the command station/booster to the Alpha Meter, and from that to the PSX and from there to the track.
Hi - I was referring to the NCE 5amp Booster that you discuss in Ep. 190 that allows you to provide separate power to accessory decoders like the Switch8. Where does it hook up with the main dcc bus? Before the Alpha or after Alpha but before PSX, etc. Thanks.
Sorry if you said this - I would’ve missed it - but what gauge wire are you using for the DCC bus?
It depends on the scale, size of the layout and some otherfactors. Watch my videos on layout wiring #110, 111, 143.
Can the Tam Valley Booster also be used to power non-DCC accessories, like LED lights or signals, assuming a buck board is used to lower the volts? You did a separate video on running a DC power bus, so was wondering if this unit can serve as both a DC power supply and a DCC power supply all in one.
Yes, but you will have to rectify the DCC power before feeding it onto the buck board as it is a DC device. That is why I consider it easier to simply provide a DC power bus for powering accessories that are not using an accessory decoder and the accessory bus for devices that require DCC power.
This unit is 3A CONTINUOUS, 5A SHORT PERIOD
That’s correct, and is true for almost all boosters that do not come with a fan.