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Home   Forums   Events Calendar   Sponsors   Support the RRLine   Guestbook   FAQ     Register Active Topics | Active Polls | Resources | Members | Online Users | Live Chat | Avatar Legend | Search | Statistics Photo Album | File Lister | File Library [ Active Members: 10 | Anonymous Members: 0 | Guests: 38 ]  [ Total: 48 ]  [ Newest Member: On30aud ]  All Forums  Model Railroad Forums  DCC, Computers and Electronics for Model Railroads  Digitrax PM42  New Topic |    New Poll |   Reply to Topic |   Printer Friendly Author Topic   closetguy Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/03/2012 :  8:21:06 PM       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 Country: USA | Posts: 1288 MarkF Engineer Posted - 08/03/2012 :  11:21:39 PM       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/ Country: USA | Posts: 9270 closetguy Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/04/2012 :  11:04:40 AM       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 Country: USA | Posts: 1288 Tommatthews Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/04/2012 :  1:11:47 PM     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. Country: | Posts: 7270 closetguy Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/05/2012 :  1:34:54 PM       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 Country: USA | Posts: 1288 Tommatthews Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/05/2012 :  3:11:32 PM     P. 11 http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/products/power-management/pm42/documents/PM42.pdf Edited by - Tommatthews on 08/05/2012 3:40:08 PM Country: | Posts: 7270 closetguy Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/07/2012 :  3:11:21 PM       Thank you Tom So anyone else had experience with the PM42 being tripped? Thanks Mike M Country: USA | Posts: 1288 Tommatthews Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/07/2012 :  5:22:42 PM     Make sure you have not changed polarity of the rails somewhere. Country: | Posts: 7270 closetguy Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/07/2012 :  10:54:39 PM       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 Country: USA | Posts: 1288 Tommatthews Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/08/2012 :  09:35:43 AM     Very frustrating ... Country: | Posts: 7270 closetguy Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/08/2012 :  7:13:07 PM       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 Country: USA | Posts: 1288   Topic    New Topic |    New Poll |   Reply to Topic |   Printer Friendly Jump To: Select Forum Railroad Line Administrative Forums       Forum News       Administrative Posts General Forums       The Tour Bus       The Arrival Track       RR-L Member Personal Websites       The Crew Lounge       The Classroom       Interchange Tracks       Rail Events       Reference & Research Model Railroad Forums       The Sn3 Branch       Mike Chambers' Craftsman's Corner       HOn30 and HOn3 Forum       Early Rail Forum       The On30 Line       Railroad Photography Forum       Small Scale Model Railroad Forum       Mid Scale Model Railroad Forum       Large Scale Model Railroad Forum       Logging, Mining, & Narrow minded       Model Railroad Construction       Micro & Mini Layouts       Layout Design / Operation Sig Forum       Startin' from Scratch       DCC, Computers and Electronics for Model Railroads Shop Talk       Vehicle and Non-Rail Transportation Modeling       The Roundhouse       Rolling Stock: the Car Shops       The Diesel Shop Company Store       Railroad-Line Swap Meet       New Product Announcements Fallen Flag Railroad Forums       Erie / Lackawanna Railroad Forum       Raritan River Railroad Forum Railroad Software Forums       Atlas Right Track Software       Railroad Line Software Library Model Railroad Club Forums       The Model Railroad Club Forum Sponsor Forums       Rusty Stumps Scale Models       KingMill Enterprises Railroad Line Weblinks       Badger Creek Lumber Co.       Central Missouri & Southern RR       Raritan River Railroad       Thor's All Gauge Page  -------------------- Home Active Topics Frequently Asked Questions Member Information Search Page Railroad Line Forums © 2000-13 Railroad Line Co.
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