Okay folks, I have the ATLAS Commander and currently one of my BNSF (YEAH they ROCK!) locos is equipped with a DIGITRAX decoder (DN147A) and about an hour ago I was running it on my layout, but the front light started flickering. Upon inspection, the LED seems to be loose because when I wiggle it, it lights up sporadically. I also discovered that the decoder board chips were hot enough to burn my finger I read somewhere, not sure if it was here or somewhere that the ATLAS unit's voltage is too high for N-SCALE How can I correct the voltage? Has anyone experienced this before. I think it has gotten hot enought to probably loosen the LED connection. Should have saved my money and bought a CHIEF II from DIGITRAX Any ideas? Thanks! Robert
Hmm, that's a good one. I have had decoders short and burn on me, but it was never the system's fault. And as far as voltage is concerned, HO scale and N scale are virtually the same. Best bet is to get a multimeter and attach one lead to each rail. The voltage should be close to 12v. If it is higher, then there is a problem. N scale decoders and locos are designed to operate on 12v, and so are most HO scale locos and decoders. So the Atlas system should good for N scale.
Harron, I am puzzled as well... Some where I remembered reading that the extra voltage heats up the decoders...I will try to test the output voltage when I get to it. Thanks! Robert
I have read that as well, that the Atlas Commander is fine for the larger scales (like HO etc), but a no-no for N scale.
Why not run a voltage regulator on the outlet of the power supply. a LM350K or a LM350T are very common and cost less that $5.00. They are rated at 3 amp and are adjustable. For a 5 amp one use the 338 series. Any electronics supply will have them. Also would help to fasten them to a piece of aluminum for a heat sink. Disclamer: I am not into DCC, HO or N Scale or diesels. Just Sn3.
Hey Slim! That is one of the solutions I was looking for when I first posted. Thanks for the suggestion. It is good to know that there are people like you that know about electronics Thanks! Hey, how come the counter will not credit me for my postings?? I have posted/replied to several post in this forum and I think it owes me like 12-15 "hits" What gives?
I have read that it has problems with N scale mainly because it puts out 18 volts instead of 12. If it becomes to much of a problem you may end up switching to another DCC system, or standard DC. Have you tried contacting Atlas about your problem? They are prompt as far as replying to e-mails go. I just use standard DC, so I don't have any DCC experience.
I am wondering if there is a Yahoo!Groups for Atlas DCC as there is for Digitrax. If there is, you'll get lots of fine help there. I suspect you could post your problem to the digitrax site and you will get a helpful response or two. Some very sophisticated folks there.
Thre are two lists at Yahoo! concerning the Atlas Master DCC system. One is a users group run by a user and another is a company sponsored list. A quick search for AtlasMasterDCC should reveal these groups. Drew
If the voltage is too high, and since the DCC signal is AC-type (actually a square-wave, but still with both + and - components), you could use back-to-back diodes to lower the voltage. That is, wire one diode facing one way (stripe facing one direction) and a parallel-wired diode with the stripe the other way, on one leg of the track power. "Positive" current would be conducted by one diode and "negative" current by the other. Each diode pair would lower the voltage by about .7 Volt. The diodes used should have adequate Ampere rating (probably at least 5A). You could use as many of these "pairs" as you need to get the voltage to where you'd like it. The beauty of using diodes for this is that there is virtually no heating or power loss, just voltage reduction.
My brother is operating the same system and is experiencing a similar problem with Digitrax DN146AX decoders. As described, an arrangement of diodes can be used to drop the voltage to a suitable level. We've tried this arrangement and had good success - with multiple diodes. I have a drawing provided to me by Larry Russell, which provides an alternative method of reducing the voltage while using less diodes. I would have posted it but I can't figure out how. I'd be happy to do so if someone would guide me through the steps. Bob <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Synchrochuff: [QB]If the voltage is too high, and since the DCC signal is AC-type (actually a square-wave, but still with both + and - components), you could use back-to-back diodes to lower the voltage. Code: Code:
