Large Scale Central

Wiring on some new locomotive

General Discussion
#1

Just an FYI for anyone who has swallowed the hook, line and sinker socket.

Battery screw terminals (marked “BATT”) and designated on the board “+” and “-”, connect THROUGH the track polarity switch to J1-pins 1 and 2, and J1-pins 11 and 12.

This is a plus for anyone desiring to just slap a trail car on behind the loco and set your default direction…BUT…IF you install a control system (either into the Super Socket or into the solder pads provided) that mandates a set battery input polarity and is not internally protected…you may have a problem.

Make dang sure of your polarity at the sockets BEFORE you slap your control unit in, and hot-glue the polarity slide switch firmly into position.

#2

Can I take partial credit for the hot glue?

Greg

#3

As long as you let me use it to plug someone’s…oooops.

#4

Two quick questions:

(1) If I remove the dummy plug, then J1-pins 1 and 2, and J1-pins 11 and 12 are the wires to the track, right? With the dummy plug out, those pins do not connect to anything other than the track, right? At least that is the way I understand the NMRA DCC standard for all other DCC sockets. The pins designated for track pickup have to go directly to the rails, not some other electronics, switches, diodes or capacitors that can have catastrophic results. So, do those pins go DIRECTLY to the rails AND NOTHING ELSE?

(2) If I remove the dummy plug, then J1-pin 3, and J1-pin 10 are the wires to the motor, right? With the dummy plug out, those pins do not connect to anything other than the MOTOR, right? So, do those pins go DIRECTLY to the motor AND NOTHING ELSE?

B0B

#5

Hi Bob.

1). As far as I can determine the J1-1+2 plus J1-11+12 terminals go to the track via the TRACK - BATTERY switch.
In the TRACK position they are connected to the track.
In the BATTERY position they are connected to the BATTERY terminal to provide battery power for PNP controllers that fit the socket.
Unlike AristoCraft, the switch positively isolates the track and battery components.

2). I cannot answer. Dave may be able to.

#6
TonyWalsham said:
Hi Bob.

1). As far as I can determine the J1-1+2 plus J1-11+12 terminals go to the track via the TRACK - BATTERY switch.
In the TRACK position they are connected to the track.
In the BATTERY position they are connected to the BATTERY terminal to provide battery power for PNP controllers that fit the socket.
…


Thanks Tony.
So, what you are saying is that removing the plug and installing a decoder does not guarantee plug and play. If the battery switch is in the wrong position or fails the decoder will not get power. I wonder why Bachmann did not make the switch accessible to the pins and jumper it into the wiring with the dummy plug?
At the least, for DCC, one would have to glue the switch into the track position or solder wires around it. Either solution would make the loco unusable for other control systems should one want to change to another system such as battery/RC later or swap systems from time to time.

#7
Bob Grosh said:
TonyWalsham said:
Hi Bob.

1). As far as I can determine the J1-1+2 plus J1-11+12 terminals go to the track via the TRACK - BATTERY switch.
In the TRACK position they are connected to the track.
In the BATTERY position they are connected to the BATTERY terminal to provide battery power for PNP controllers that fit the socket.
…


Thanks Tony.
So, what you are saying is that removing the plug and installing a decoder does not guarantee plug and play. If the battery switch is in the wrong position or fails the decoder will not get power. I wonder why Bachmann did not make the switch accessible to the pins and jumper it into the wiring with the dummy plug?
At the least, for DCC, one would have to glue the switch into the track position or solder wires around it. Either solution would make the loco unusable for other control systems should one want to change to another system such as battery/RC later or swap systems from time to time.

Well I guess that depends on the type of DCC decoder.
The QSI one for example uses track power when installed as a regular DCC decoder. With the addition of the plug in RF module it becomes an R/C system and can use either track or battery power.
My upcoming PNP-1 R/C unit will be designed only for battery power and therefore will require the TRACK - BATTERY switch be permanently set to BATTERY. Although no damage to the PNP-1 will occur if the switch is inadvertently set to TRACK. Depending on what type of DC power the track voltage is, it will work in one polarity and not the other. Same as if the LARGE SCALE - NMRA direction switch is reversed.
Incidentally. As I understand it, the LARGE SCALE - NMRA switch will also reverse polarity of the track pick up voltage going to the DCC decoder.