5 amp booster and Dynamis with Pro Box

[captain1313]

Anyone with a Dynamis with the Pro Box that is thinking about adding the 5 amp booster......think again.  They are not compatible.  You lose Program track capabilities because that is the port that you use to run the DCC signal to the booster.  I think I have a wiring solution using a DPDT switch.  I post again if it works.   But you'll  only be able to use main track or program track...not both at the same time.  It would have been nice if Bachmann stated in the Dynamis manual that the Pro Box and Booster were not compatible with each other. 

And before anyone suggests calling the Service Dept..............been there...........done that. 

There has to be a way..............and...........I WILL FIND IT.

Kevin

[Rangerover1944]

The more I learn from others.........would you kindly post if you found an answer! Thanks in advance! Jim

[crspada]

Wish someone would answer this post who has added any booster to the dynamis pro system.  Hard to believe this is true, (that you lose the programming track capability) but I would not want to experiment to check it out.

[richg]

Wish someone would answer this post who has added any booster to the dynamis pro system.  Hard to believe this is true, (that you lose the programming track capability) but I would not want to experiment to check it out.

This was explained in the first message. Not compatible.

Our club has the NCE 5 amp Power Pro. When we use the program track, the DCC signal to the layout is shut down.
Just about every DCC system has its pros and cons, especially when combined with other manufactures products. With DCC, you better know what you are doing.
There is really a vast difference between DC and DCC which many do not want to recognize. It our mind, we want to say it is simple.

Rich

[captain1313]

Hunt
My program track is part of the layout.  I've put the booster on the back burner for now.  Really disappointed in Bachmann for misleading info about the booster.  Right in the Dynamis manual it lists the  Pro Box & Booster as other EZ Command DCC products that can be used with the Dynamis.  There should have been a note stating that Pro Box and Booster don't play well together.  With my program track being part of the layout makes it easy to just pull a train in and tweek the CV's (the reason for the Pro Box in the first place) and be on my way. I picked up some DPDT toggles but have not have not had time to work on the circuit.  As of now I've been able to operate 4 sound locos at one time without overloading the Dynamis.  I'll probably try something when winter rolls in.

Kevin   

[richg]

Hunt
My program track is part of the layout.  I've put the booster on the back burner for now.  Really disappointed in Bachmann for misleading info about the booster.  Right in the Dynamis manual it lists the  Pro Box & Booster as other EZ Command DCC products that can be used with the Dynamis.  There should have been a note stating that Pro Box and Booster don't play well together.  With my program track being part of the layout makes it easy to just pull a train in and tweek the CV's (the reason for the Pro Box in the first place) and be on my way. I picked up some DPDT toggles but have not have not had time to work on the circuit.  As of now I've been able to operate 4 sound locos at one time without overloading the Dynamis.  I'll probably try something when winter rolls in.

Kevin   

That is not the reality we live in.
As an example, Bachmann does not tell you that the sound locos do "not" have all the features of a Tsunami you buy and install yourself. All Bachmann does is spell out what features the on board sound decoder has.
Some think Bachmann is taking advantage of them.

Many coming into DCC make assumptions and do not bother reading the details of a product and gaining more knowledge of how many different products work together or cannot work together.

Rich

[captain1313]

Gentleman
My program track is a 5' isolated section of thru track.

From the manual( 2.4 Creating a Programming / Service Track
A 'Programming' or 'Service Track' is an isolated section of track to allow the use of Service
Mode programming methods to write to decoder CVs as well as 'read' from them.
The Dynamis Service Track does not need to be physically isolated from the layout although it
must be electrically double isolated from the rest of the layout with an insulated rail joiner in
each rail – for example it could be a track within an engine depot or storage yard. In normal
operations the Service Track is powered from the Command Station output with DCC track
power so that a locomotive can be driven into and out of the section. The internal switching in
the Dynamis unit means that it is not necessary to use an additional external switch.)

When not in program mode it acts just like the rest of the track getting it's power from the program track lead from the Dynamis & Pro Box.  When hooking up Booster there is no separate lead  from the booster to the program track.  If I left the lead from the Base Station program track lead attached to this section and the rest of the track to the booster I would be in essence using 2 different power sources and creating a short when loco bridged the gap.  It looks like even if I used a spur there would still be a shorting problem.  I still contend that you can not use the program track lead on the base station as intended when using the booster.  From my conversation with the service dept. they agree.  I have not needed the booster so far so I just may get rid of it.

Kevin 

[captain1313]

In addition.......the reasons for the program track as a drive in and drive out are my eyesight and fingers that don't always work as intended.  Getting those steamers on a separate program track each time I want to tweek a CV would soon increase my frustration not to mention increase chance of damage.

Kevin

[rbryce1]

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.

[the Bach-man]

Dear RB.
This is from Richard Matthews. our UK Service Manager and  Dynamis expert:

"Essentially the issue is that when Dynamis is carrying out Service Mode programming it disconnects the track output via the ProBox and only uses the original base station output. So, therefore, it is not possible to operate the layout whilst Service Mode programming goes on but we've tried a Lenz Set 100 this morning and find that the same procedure is happening with other brands of DCC equipment. The difference with Dynamis is that the base station output produces normal DCC running power (except when Service Mode programming is going on) so that the output could be connected to a siding that the train is run into and then the programming done, rather than a hand lift to a separate section of track. There's always the alternative of using a separate switch for the programming track."

Hope this helps, and
Thanks, Richard!

the Bach-man 

[rbryce1]

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.

[Doneldon]

rb-

The Dynamis bone's connected to the ... Pro Box bone,
the Pro Box bone's connected to the ...  Booster bone,
the Booster bone's connected to the ... Track bone.
And the green grass grew all around all around and the green grass grew all around.

                                                                                                                   -- D

[rbryce1]

Doneldon,

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

[captain1313]

rbryce1

I'm with you on this one.

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'd even be will to call the guy in the UK if I had his #
Kevin

[crspada]

To further confuse this issue, can I run my buss wire from the pro box directly to a section of the main track and also to a booster thereby utilizing the 2.3 amps of the command station/pro box as well as the 5 amps of the booster.  This would allow me to have a programming track run from the command station output, 2 power districts with circuitbreakers from the output of the probox buss prior to the connection to the booster and multiple power districts from the booster.  All of these sections would be use isolated joiners.

I have a diagram of this, but cannot figure out how to attach it to this message.  I have never joined a forum, used facebook etc and am a complete newby to model railroading (less an oval HO train from 45 years ago).


The Dynamis bone's connected to the ... Pro Box bone,
the Pro Box bone's connected to the ...  track bone,
the Pro Box bone's connected to the ...  Booster bone,
the Booster bone's connected to the ... Track bone.