I am new to this forum and hope someone can help me.

I have a 14 X 32 foot multi deck HO layout. As of now, only the lower 2 levels are operable. Level 1 is a staging level with 30 tracks while the other 2 levels are the mainline. Up until now, I have been running the middle level with a 5 amp Radio Super Cheif with no problems. Recently I have added a DB 150 for the staging level and can't for the life of me get the bugs out of it.

These are my problems:

1. If my DT400r is connected to the DCS100 directly, I can power up it and the DB150 with no problem. However, if the DT400r is connected to the UR91 when I power up both units, every engine on the lower level (DB 150) takes off.

2. When I turn the power off from the DT400r, only the DCS100-controlled level shuts down. All of my sound-equipped engines on the lower level are still making noise (but not moving). This happens whether the DT400r is plugged into the UR91 OR DCS100.

3. On my UR91, only the Radio LED lights up. I can only get the Net/IR to light if I manually push the little toggle on the board - the track light LED never comes on. Again, the middle level still worked fine despite this fact.

4. Lastly, I am having to reverse the Track A and Track B wires on the DB 150 to prevent a short when an engine crosses the gap between power districts. It works fine when I reverse them, but I know for a fact that the wires are switched to do so.

I have tested all of my connnections with the Digitrax tester. My only concern was using 6 wire RJ25 plugs instead of RJ12 ones on my connection between the DCS100 and UR91. Would this make a difference? The tester shows positive.

I am also using a 12-gauge bus wire, so there should be no problems there. Both the DCS100 and DB150 have their own Magna-Force power supply from Tony's Train Exchange and are each grounded, though not to each other. The DB150 is wired as a booster per the Digitrax manual.

I would greatly appreciate any help out there!!!

Thanks! Cliff

-- Cliff Powers (powers91@bellsouth.net), July 31, 2004

Answers

Cliff,

I tried to find a web page that would tell me the difference between a RJ12 and a RJ25, but couldn't. Still, I suspect this is your problem. The Digitrax manual clearly indicates that you should use an RJ12. Your problem sounds like those typical of a bad Loconet cable or connection.

You should use a connector with all 6 pins. The wires should be connected straight through, i.e. 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, etc. or they may be reversed (1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, 6-1) as Loconet is symmetrical.

You locomotives taking off is often due to your locomotives having DC operation enabled. Having DC operation enabled sounds like a good thing as you can operate your loco on a DC layout. When problems develop, however, it can cause all your locos to take off. After this happens to you a few times, you quickly decide DC operation is not such a hot idea.

One last thing. You need a solid ground BETWEEN your Chief and DB150. It also needs to be grounded through your plug.

Try making sure you have a RJ12 cable and good grounding between units. If this doesn't work, you may have to get on the Digitrax- Yahoo chat group.

-- Allan Gartner (wire4dcc_admin@comcast.net), August 01, 2004.

Found this, it doesn't really state what wires connect through, but since the RJ-25 is for 3 pairs, I suspect the pin connection is different.

Charles

"The RJ number determines the usage of the jack, which includes the jack type and in some cases its mounting hardware. An RJ-11C is a single-pair jack in a six-position housing, when wired to a single telephone line. RJ-11W is the same, but designed for a wall-mounted telephone. The physical jack of an RJ-12 and RJ-14 are the same, but they are wired differently. One is for a single line behind a mechanical key system and the other is for two separate lines. An RJ- 25 is a three-pair (six contact) jack used for three separate lines."

-- Charles Lewis (cslewis1@comcast.net), August 02, 2004.