Quote from: Thomas1911 on August 21, 2012, 12:52:58 PM
I don't believe the Powercab w/ Booster will support a programming track either, at least not according to this.  (See pg 9)

http://schutzer.net/Brass_Clinics/NCE_Users_Forum2011.pdf

Actually, it does, both on the main or on a seperate track.  On page 4, it states that the Powercab does have Service mode and Ops mode programming support.  Also, it appears that page 9 in the 2011 article you reference is referring to the SB3a Booster's capabilities, not the Powercab's capabilities.  Some of the limitations listed on page 5 are no longer limitations as well, like only being able to control 2 trains.  For older Powercab that did not have the track programming feature, there is an optional smart switch, part number 524-226 that does allow this, but this may not be any longer necessary in this years' Powercab.

http://modeltrains.about.com/od/DCC/fr/Nce-Power-Cab-Dcc-System-Review.htm

The Powercab throttle has also been substantially upgraded this year.  I now have the ability to toggle betweeen and control 6 trains at once as well as the ability to upgrade to a radio controlled throttle for $80.00 plus a $130.00 antennea receiver that does not need to have line of sight (radio vs infrared).  List was $199.00 and I paid $147.89.  5 amp booster was $129.99.

I still intend to maintain my Bachmann track, locos and other things, it's just that now I have a control system where all the parts play well with each other like they were suppose to.  Also, it is compatable with our local model train club as well.

Since there have been no responses so far , I believe I have found a way to get 5 amps of power and have all my components work together.  I just ordered a new NCE Powercab with their SB3A 5 amp booster.  I'm sorry to say Bachmann just could not get from there to here.  Fortunately, I have not opened the Pro box or the Booster yet, so they are both still new in the box.  

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, try it and see!  Let us know!

Here is an attempt at a possible schematic block diagram of the connections as I try and vision it.  I don't know if it is correct, but maybe it is a start.  If any of you much more in the technical know agree or disagree with this, please share your facts with us (please don't guess).

I am showing two diagrams, one in normal power operation and the other in programming track operation.  Both have the 5 amp booster wired in as others have indicated it should be wired in.

In my drawing, I show the Base station with the two circuits, main and programming.  The main feeds both the jack and lug terminals as well as the multi-pin connector to the Pro box.  The programming circuitry only goes to the jack and the lug terminals.  Relay operated switches inside the Base Unit control where and when power is directed to these locations.  

In normal operation, the 2 internal switches, one going to the jack and lug and the second going to the multi pin connector are both energized while the power from the programming circuit is cut off by the open switch.  Power from the jack and lug go to the programming track to give it 2.3 amps of power while the output from the Pro Box would normally go to the main line to give it 2.3 amps of power, but in this case it is going to the booster which outputs 5.0 amps to the main line.  If the booster is receiving 2.3 amps of power, it is trying to increase this by 5.0 additional amps to produce 8.3 amps.  However, since the internal wiring inside the booster is only rated for 5.0 amps, a current limiter in the booster regulates it's output to only allow 5.0 amps to leave the booster, no matter what the actual output could be.

This method of output regulation could also explain why the same booster increases the 1.0 amp E-Z DCC Controller to 5.0 amps as well.  It is trying to make 6.0 amps but being again internally regulated to only 5.0 amps max.



The next drawing is the same equipment only in the programming track mode of operation.



In programming track mode of operation, the 2 internal switches, one going to the jack and lug and the second going to the multi-pin connector are now both open which causes the main tracks to be de-energized while the power from the programming circuit is energized by it's switch closing.  Power from the jack and lug go to the programming track provides it with around .25 amps of power while the output from the Pro Box, which would normally go to the main line to give it 2.3 amps of power is de-energized.   The booster which outputs 5.0 amps to the main line is also de-energized.

The appropriate data signals would simply be piggy-backed on these conductors.

Again, this is a guess, but if it is a representation of how it works, maybe you could power a separate and independent track from the 2.3 amp output of the Pro Box by tapping into the line  between the Pro Box and the booster and going to an isolated rail line and still get 5.0 amps from the booster.  Even if track #1 was drawing 1.3 amps and the booster was only getting 1.0 amp input, it would still provide 5.0 amps output, just like it would do with the Bachmann E-Z DCC Controller connected to it.  Again, the appropriate data signals would simply be piggy-backed on both of these conductor paths and would go to both track #1 and to tracks #2 and #3 via the booster without any variation in their signal contents.

In my case, it would be very handy as I have 3 separate and independent main line tracks and I could power one of them from the 2.3 amp Pro Box output and the other two from the Booster's 5.0 amp output.  



OK, I'm ready for all the reasons I am wrong or why it can't work.  Let me have it!

What do you suggest next?  Hope Kevin didn't fry his loco.

OK, I agree, but this is a very mute point.  No one has still answered the 50 million dollar question,  how do you wire it?  I would simply like to know how do you wire the Dynamis Base Station to the Pro Box to the Booster to the main track and maintain the programming track ability.

Again, page 23 of the Bachmann Dynamis manual states this can be done. 

Does ANYONE including Bachmann know how to do it

Quote from: Doneldon on August 17, 2012, 11:04:55 PM

Quote from: rbryce1 on August 17, 2012, 05:55:35 PM
Well, Bachmann received my Dynamis and agreed it was bad.  They are sending me a complete brand new unit under the warranty, which was shipped on Tuesday, I believe.

rb-

Why did they ship you a new warranty?

Guess it was already on top!!

                                                   -- D

Doneldon,

Gotta admit, you are definalely good enough to quit your day job!

Mr Bach-man & Richard,

Thank you for the response, hope I didn't come on too strong, but I am clearly upset about this issue.

All of that I believe I understand.  As I understand it, the Dynamis sends full track power to the programming track section in while in normal mode, and when the programming track feature is activated, it leaves normal power on the main and switches to service power on the isolated service track, which is a much reduced voltage.  This allows the engine on the programming track to be programmed while protecting everything else on the main line from being programmed as well.  The reduced voltage is enough to test the programming, but not send the engine off the programming track section.  Once shifted out of service track programming mode, normal power is restored to the service track.  That is understandable and logical.

However, you still have not answered the 50 million dollar question,  how do you wire it?  I would simply like to know how do you wire the Dynamis Base Station to the Pro Box to the Booster to the main track and maintain the programming track ability.

I'm a little, no a lot ticked off right now, so if I am on the edge of disrespect, I will apologize right now for it.

MR. BACHMANN, I WANT SOME DIRECT ANSWERS.  YOUR DYNAMIS MANUAL CLEARLY STATES THE 5 AMP BOOSTER WILL WORK WITH DYNAMIS.   I have the Dynamis system, the Pro Box and the 5 amp booster, I have read all the manuals and CANNOT FIND A SINGLE PLACE WHERE IT STATES OR SHOWS HOW TO WIRE THE DYNAMIS TO THE PRO BOX TO THE BOOSTER TO THE TRACK.

This system cost me a fortune and first I find I can't do but 50% of the features without the Pro Box, then I find I need the booster to run more than 5 engines and now, after getting all three, I find I cannot use the programing track with the booster and I find there is no instructions on how to even wire the fricken thing.

I DON'T HAVE THE CHILDRENS VERSION OF E-Z COMMAND, I HAVE DYNAMIS, WHAT YOU CLAIM IS YOUR BEST.  SO WHY CAN'T YOUR DYNAMIS MANUALS EVEN SAY THE WORD BOOSTER IN ANY OF THE INSTRUCTIONS.  WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GUESS OR EXPERIMENT ON HOW TO WIRE YOUR COMPONENTS TO YOUR COMPONENTS.  AND IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT YOURSELF YET, SEE PAGE 23 OF THE DYNAMIS MANUAL.

"OTHER BACHANN E-Z COMMAND DCC PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE USED WITH THE DYNAMIS:  36-530  E-Z COMMAND 5 AMP POWER BOOSTER.  (Section 2.3 of the Pro-Box manual).

The internal switching in the Dynamis unit means that it is not necessary to use an additional external switch. " (Section 2.3 of the Pro-Box manual).  

"The power booster can be used with any nmra/nem-conformant dcc system."   (5 amp booster manual introduction.)

I'm not sure what it is called in Europe, but in the States, I have heard them use words like misrepresentation, false advertising and in the worst case outright fraud.  I'm sure none of these apply to your company which is why I'm sure you can either tell me where to look or send me the instructions with wiring diagrams so I can get the Bachmann Dynamis, the Pro Box and the 5 amp booster working together, as both a main track controller and a programming track controller that is not needed to be physically isolated, only electrically isolated from the rest of the line exactly as the Dynamis Pro Box manual states you can.

Again, I do not mean to be disrespectful, but I am really ticked off.  There is nothing I would like more right now than to have to eat crow and have you show me right in front of my eyes where this information is.  But if you can't, please find it for me and apparently many others.

Thank you for listening.

Quote from: rbryce1 on August 06, 2012, 02:06:04 PM
I contacted Bachmann this morning and they want the uniit back.  Looks like a few weeks of down time.

Well, Bachmann received my Dynamis and agreed it was bad.  They are sending me a complete brand new unit under the warranty, which was shipped on Tuesday, I believe.  Once it gets here, I can finally test the cable car conversion.   

Although at times there may be questions regarding other products and their compatability with Bachmann products, I do agree with your previous post regarding only posting Bachmann questions on this forum and I will be clearer about that in my questions.

I don't think I would like to control all the cars with one decoder, as this would make a lot of difficulty in seperating the cars.  Again, I am modifing the Bachmann McKinley Explorer passenger cars.  These darn cars are long enough as it is (14-15" each) and I can't even imagine trying to lift 2-3 of them at once, or especially store them!   I am willing to buy 4 seperate $15 decoders if it will do the job.  I would like to be able to control each of the 4 cars independently or control the 4 cars as a consist, independent from the engine(s).  That way I can control the engine lights seperate from the passenger cars, and even use different engines with the cars.  Sometimes more flexibility costs a little more cash!  

I will look into the decoders you suggested.  Thanks,

Actually it is about Bachmann products, as I am concerned about controlling these consists with a Dynamis controller.  Sorry I didn't say that before.  Just amended my post.  I'll check out the e-mail whan I get home.  Thanks.

I got back into model railroading about 6 months age after a 45 year break.  I purchased 2 DC steam engines on eBay.  Then I say DCC and immediately spent all my time learning DCC and converting to it.  I had my first steam engine, a 4-6-4 Hudson converted to DCC and have been doing all my own work ever since.

The best thing I ever did was dedicate my hobby to DCC from the start.  I do have turnouts and such that are not DCC that now I either will be using pretty much manually or converting them to DCC, which is work and money.

There is just so many really cool things you get from using DCC that are just not possible with DC.

Can a function only decoder like these be inserted into a consist being controlled with a Dynamis throttle?