Progress has been slow in recent months on the Wichita Sub (River City RR) but is getting ready to heat up again since the problems with my DCC Command Station have hopefully been resolved. About 3 months ago I decided that my current set-up needed an upgrade because I wanted to incorporate a Soundtraxx PTB-100 Programming Booster. In the process of dismantling my Command Station, my screwdriver slipped and I ended up damaging it. For those of you not familar with the EasyDCC System that I use, it is a great product but is built on a open metal panel which the manufacturer suggests be enclosed to avoid the very thing that happened to me. Mine is located at Neodesha at one end my layout and I intend it to be the Engineer cab for switching that yard. In designing the layout I also incorporated a built-in programming track (located just out of sight above the control panel) which also serves as an industrail spur when not used for that purpose. One advantage of this is that I never have to risk damaging a locomotives handrails, etc. by picking it up and moving it to a separate track to program it. It does require more wiring and the use of a four pole double throw switch to avoid damaging the Command Station. I found a picture of a control panel on the Internet that I really liked which had storage compartments underneath it to store my system manuals and other items and made a few design modifications to incorporate the PTB-100. I then asked good friend and fellow Frisco.org member Tony LaLumia to cut the wood. All of this occurred while I was waiting for the Command Staion to be returned from being repaired. Anyway, the below pictures show the end result with which I am very satisfied. The PTB-100 is on the left and is enclosed in an electrical receptical box behind a clear plastic cover. When the switch s flipped to the left the red light next to it illuminates and indicates programming mode is activated. Flipping the switch to the right makes the section of track part of the layout. All I have to do is run a locomotive or consist onto the isolated section, flip the switch and I am ready to program. Others can operate on the layout while this is going on without any interruption. I might also add that I designed the entire panel to be modular so that if I need to remove the Command Station for upgrades or repairs all I have to do is unscrew 8 wires from terminal blocks and unplug 4 cables and the whole fascia panel can be taken to my workbench. The first photo shows the completed cabinet, the second one shows the inside including the above mentioned terminal strips, and the third one shows a close-up of the enclosed PTB-100 with the switch flipped to the left and the red light illuminated indicating programming mode is activated. I need to add that besides Tony several other friends and Frisco.org members contributed parts and advice to make this project easier for me to complete. These include Jim Senese (KCTRWY), Rick McClellan, Bob Wintle, and Keith Robinson (klrwhizkid). Thamks again guys!
Sorry to hear about your DCC problems, Bob. It sounds like you had some good help in fixing the situation. I appreciate the pictures as I am contemplating the addition of a PTB-100 to my programming track.
Kevin and All: Actually I had some great help in fixing the situation. There are some very knowledgeable people on this forum who are always ready, willing, and able to step up and help. Having said that, Jim Senese (KCTRWY) has devised a very simple and easy to build holder for his PTB-100 that would be perfect for most people. He also has the EasyDCC System and like most others only uses his Command Station for programming and keeps it out of sight in a drawer. As stated in my original email, I have chosen to use mine as throttles for my main classification yard at Neodesha. For those of you that have actually never seen one, the PTB-100, like the EasyDCC Command Station doesn't ship in a plastic enclosure, but the circuit board that comprises it is shrink wrapped in a clear plastic cover to protect it somewhat. It still has 6 24 ga. wires that come out of it that require handling the entire unit carefully. Having said that, Jim took a small block of 1/2" wood and screwed a 6 position terminal strip on the top of it. The curcuit board of the PTB-100 has small holes drilled in the corners that allowed Jim to mount the curcuit board vertically on one end of the wooden block using push pins. By using the terminal strip it gave him the luxury of being able to both protect the small wires fom being damaged and allow him to easily disconnect the entire set-up if it ever needs to be moved. If any of you are either using or planning on using either Tsunami's of QSI Sound Decoders, it is almost mandatory that you use a programming track booster. Besides the PTB-100, DCC Specialties makes one called the Power Pax but I choose the PTB-100 because I plan to only use Tsunami's.
