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closetguy
Fireman
USA
1294 Posts |
 Posted - 08/03/2012 : 8:21:06 PM
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What I hate most about Digitrax is their instruction manuals.
So heres the question. When I appy 12 volt DC to the PM42 I get no LED light up. I have 2 that I have tried. Do the LEDs light up when power is applied?
Thank you
Mike M |
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9276 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2012 : 11:21:39 PM
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Well, since I was a little bored tonight, I figured I would go to the Digitrax website and see if I could offer you some help. Guess what? Your right! Their directions are terrible. I do use a Digitrax system and I love their products, but they need a new tecnical writer! I've always used Tony's power shields and the MRC reversers with no issues. Digitrax hadn't offered their PM42 until long after my layout was up and running.
Since I don't use the Digitrax PM42, my help is limited, however, to make sure it is working, the first thing I would do is put a meter to one of the track outputs and see if you get a reading. If so, you know you are good. I see there are several LED's. One for each 'district' and then another red one and a green one. I would assume that one is a power LED, indicating the unit is getting power, but I can't find any reference to that in the quick read of their instructions.
It gets even more confusing! It says that the "SUB-DISTRICT STATUS" LED should light, depending on the direction of the track? I say "?" because it also says those LED's should light if there is a short in the section. Strange!
It also states you need a seperate power supply to power the PM 42. Did you wire that in? This appears to be a power supply in addition to the track power inputs. This could be your problem.
Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. Let me know how you make out. |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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closetguy
Fireman
USA
1294 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2012 : 11:04:40 AM
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Hi Mark
external power supply used.
wired to db150 track outputs.
Loconet connected.
I have not hooked it up to the districts yet.
No lights when powered up. I have another one and I connected 12volts to that one and no LEDS lit.
Just wondering if any one has had experience with the PM42.
Thanks
Mike M |
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Tommatthews
Fireman
7280 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2012 : 1:11:47 PM
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| The green LED should be lit if you have power to the PM42. The other LEDs come on when there is a short. I use all 4 power districts. I found it easy to setup and use. |
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closetguy
Fireman
USA
1294 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2012 : 1:34:54 PM
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Thanks
Tom
My error. I mixed up top for bottom with the blue connector thingy. I went back and hard wired instead. I like soldered joints to circuit boards where I can.
I have also found that the PM42 does not like all DCC locomotives. I have one Factory Bachmann Shay that trips the PM42 instantly, yet on a straight DCC layout it runs fine.
Does any one know if sensitivity can be adjusted?
Mike M |
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Tommatthews
Fireman
7280 Posts |
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closetguy
Fireman
USA
1294 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2012 : 3:11:21 PM
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Thank you Tom
So anyone else had experience with the PM42 being tripped?
Thanks
Mike M |
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Tommatthews
Fireman
7280 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2012 : 5:22:42 PM
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| Make sure you have not changed polarity of the rails somewhere. |
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closetguy
Fireman
USA
1294 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2012 : 10:54:39 PM
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Hi Tom
I have 5 locomotives that run just fine. I have two that start up and trip the breakers. They run fine on a non-PM42 controlled layout.
Mike M |
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Tommatthews
Fireman
7280 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 09:35:43 AM
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Very frustrating ... |
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closetguy
Fireman
USA
1294 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 7:13:07 PM
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Hi All
Dave at Digitrax Tech support answered it.
Trip current can be changed to 4.5 amps, 6 amps, etc. up to 12 amps. See Section 5.1 of the PM42 instructions for this.
That solved the problem..
Thanks so much
Mike Mueller |
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Topic |
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Digitrax PM42
