Fascia mounted DCC meter

Sometimes an idea for a project comes when it is least expected.  This happened to me recently when sorting through a box of electrical parts and came across a pair of banana plug connectors labeled "shorting bar".   I don't know where or why I got these or if I would ever use them and was about to throw them in the trash when I noticed the holes that are on the side and got an idea of how I could use them.  First step was to make a cut with a hacksaw that would sever the shorting bar.

Here is what I ended up doing with these.  I have had one of these DCC amp / volt meters for some time and it's quite handy when troubleshooting a wiring or track issue on a DCC layout.  I have always wanted to mount it somewhere to monitor the the layout but wanted it to be removable to also use as a portable instrument. 

These meters have banana jacks on each end and come with a pair of test leads.  Either end will read DCC voltage and if the meter in placed in line between the DCC source and load, it will read the DCC current.  With these modified banana plugs connected on each end of the meter, the holes provide a connection that is at a right angle allowing the meter to be easily pushed on or pulled off of the 4 fascia mounted banana plugs.

From scraps of tempered hard board I made up this fixture that will hold the panel mounted banana plugs and a bypass switch for when the meter needs to be removed to trouble shoot somewhere on the layout.

Here is the completed project.  After painting the fixture the fascia color, the bypass switch and banana plugs were installed.  The iphone camera does not show the LED display clearly in this photo because of the way these type of displays work and the shutter speed of the camera.  To the human eye the numbers are clear.

This is what the finished fixture looks like when the meter is removed.  When the meter is removed to troubleshoot a problem somewhere on the layout, the bypass switch can be moved to the ON position to allow DCC current to flow.

This was a really satisfying project.  I always like projects were all of the parts come from things that were laying around the shop.

Expanding sounds around the layout

I had received another Soundtraxx decoder and got it all installed as the sound for the road switcher in Carlin but was trouble programming it.  I would get a "No Ack" error message on the DT402 throttle I was using to program.

After viewing a YouTube video presented by George at Soundtraxx I learned that programming voltage is half of what track voltage is and that Soundtraxx decoders in particular are sensitive to this issue.  Soundtraxx had made a booster circuit for programming but it seemed to be out of stock and perhaps was no longer being made.

What I had not considered was how all this extra wiring running around the layout would degrade the programming signal so I decided to abandon the programming bus idea and instead use a jumper cord to program the sound decoders.  

I found these great 3D printed panel mounts for Power Pole connectors on ebay and installed them on the fascia next to each of the sound control panels.

A 1 inch diameter hole was drilled through the fascia next to each of the sound control panels.

The panel mounts fit neatly into the hole.  The wires from this connection are connected to the program position on the switch.

Then another connector replaced the existing Cinch Jones connector that my bench programming track plugs into and I made a long enough jumper cord to reach from the programming track output to anywhere on the layout.   The lead for the programming track also got it's Cinch Jones connector replaced.

Converting old smart phones into Wi-Fi DCC throttles

Recently my wife and I both got new smart phones.  Our old phones were too old to have any trade in value so I decided to try using them as additional Wi-Fi DCC throttles as I have really liked using Wi-Throttle-Lite app to run the layout.  

After transferring data to the new phones I installed the Wi-Throttle Lite app on the old phones made a custom wallpaper for each of them.  The Wi-Throttle Lite app is the only one available on the first page with any others being on the next page in case they are needed.  The camera and other features still work on these phones after the phone services are deactivated. 

Next I wanted a holder for the phones at the layout.  I followed the design I had used for the Digitrax throttles using scraps of tempered hard board.  A link to that project is HERE.  These phone holders also got a hole in the bottom for the charger cord and a pair of standoffs cut from 1/2 inch plywood scrap so the phone is held up enough not to damage the charger cord.

After priming and painting the assembly was mounted to the staging yard fascia just as the Digitrax throttle holders are.

DCC Sound my way - Part 2

After doing a bunch of experimenting with DCC sound over several years I had decided that instead of installing sound decoders in my N scale locomotives I would use just a few as stationary sound decoders in choice locations addressed to the locomotive working in that area.

To start with, I wanted to have the sound for the yard switcher in Carlin yard.  One of the small speakers was placed inside of one of the buildings across the street from the yard about in the middle.  It was glued down to the base as shown here.

The building that will go here is a Design Preservation Models Hayes Hardware kit shown here half finished.  It will be a hotel when it's finished.  Look for a future post on that project. 

Because I sometimes change locomotives assigned to the Carlin yard, I would need to be able to program the sound decoder to an address matching the address of the locomotive.  I installed this control panel on the fascia which allows for this.  Thinking ahead, I also included control for the road switcher assigned to the Carlin yard as that will be a future step.  A cable for the programming output was run around the layout from the command station to this panel.

The Digitrax SFX0416 decoder is quite small and was placed within the bench work behind the control panel.  It is pointed out with a red arrow in the photo below.

DCC sound my way - Part 1

While I have DCC decoders installed in nearly all my locomotives only 1 has a sound decoder.  It's this Atlas SD7 which has an early MRC sound decoder.  The frame was milled to be able to get the speaker in.  Something I really did not like was how with any brief interruption of pickup from the track, the sound would cut out then start up again, plus the sound quality was not very good with the tiny speaker.  So this loco ended up sitting on a siding with it's idling sound running.  

At some point the technology of electrical capacitors developed into what are called a "super capacitor" which has a large amount of capacitance in a small size.  Adding such circuits to a DCC sound decoder installation eliminates this problem of the sound cutting out but it's still a challenge in N scale to find room for decoder, a speaker, and a super capacitor circuit.

For my next attempt at DCC sound, I chose to build a sound car.  This was built around an Atlas covered hopper car and used a Soundtraxx decoder and a "keep alive" super capacitor circuit from Train Control Systems.   Here is a LINK to a short Youtube video demonstrating this project.  And here is another LINK to this project on my DCC blog.

I ran this sound car as the first car behind the power after programming it to the same DCC address as the locomotive consists.  Sometimes when switching cars at either Battle Mountain or Carlin, I would park this car on a siding and with the address again programmed to match the locomotive doing the switching. This car worked well in both of these applications but the sound quality still left something to be desired.  An unexpected take away from the experience with this sound car was that I realized I got the most enjoyment from the locomotive sound when I was doing switching.

When I installed the grade crossing signals in Carlin, I used an 8 ohm, 3 watt speaker that I found on Amazon for about $6.00 and was small enough to fit into a house that was next to the grade crossing.  Here is a LINK to the post I made on that project.  I really liked the sound quality from this speaker.

About the time I had bought the Soundtraxx decoder I had also purchased a Digitrax SFX0416 sound only decoder with the idea to build a sound dummy locomotive with a Kato SD40.  I never got around to this project but one day was wondering if this decoder could drive one of the 3 watt speakers and how that would sound.   The decoder was able to drive this speaker and sounded better than anything I've heard from a speaker in an N Scale locomotive.  So it was decided that I would use this sound decoder and this speaker as a stationary setup to add sound to the Carlin yard switcher.  The next post will cover the details of how I did that.

Adding wifi throttles to the layout

I had been considering adding another utility throttle when the Digitrax LNWI caught my eye.  The LNWI is a Wifi module that connects to the Loconet and will allow a smart phone with a throttle app to be used as a throttle.   These cost about the same as a wired UT4 throttle and will support several smart phone throttles.

There was nothing to installing this new module, I just plugged in the power and connected it to the existing Loconet and it was ready to go.  There are several free throttle apps available and the one I am using is called WiThrottleLite.  It worked the first time I tried it, no problems.  I found the WiThrottleLite app very easy to use and it also has a flashlight function built in which may be handy when uncoupling those cars in the shadows.

First working signals on the layout

I have always enjoyed railroad signals on a layout but have also found them to be one of the more challenging things to accomplish correctly.  In the past either on modules or on friend's layouts I have installed a few signals that were animated with either a connection to a turnout or a detection and timer type circuit.  This time I wanted to try some actual occupancy and the helix seemed to be in need as I had a couple of occasions recently where I have lost awareness of which track in the helix a train was on.

For detection I was thinking of using the occupancy outputs on the PSX-1's but found that they would not drive my low current relays so I instead used NCE DB20 block detectors.  Check this recent post to see how these work.   These were mounted under the helix.

Where the lower yard goes into the helix this is the searchlight signal that indicates occupancy on the inner loop of the helix.

The pole and mounting bracket were made from brass, then a #6 washer was used for the target and the hood was made from polystyrene tube.  The LED is bi-color and 3 mm size.  Magnet wire was run down the brass tube pole.

Where the upper yard enters the helix I made the same type of searchlight but without the pole.  Instead it was attached to a bracket that was mounted to the side wall of the helix.

This signal indicates occupancy on the outer loop of the helix.

Both signals are mounted near where the gap is between the helix PSX-1's and the yard PSX-AR's.

Here the signal has turned red as the train has crossed into the helix.  In the case of this Amtrak train the entire train must clear the helix because of the wheel contacts on the Kato passenger cars.


These signals would be close to O scale in size but since they are in the staging yard that is not an issue and it has given me a chance to get into some signaling.  The next step will be to buy or make some signals closer to N scale for the top of the helix.  

More additions to the DCC system

As this layout has grown and experience with operating it has been gained the Digitrax DCC system has also been expanded and modified.  Here are the latest changes.

I recently acquired another UT4 IR throttle and replaced the stock long coiled cord with a short straight one.

Then I made up two more throttle holders like the ones in THIS POST from December of 2018.

The new throttle holders were mounted with another UP5 panel in the staging yard area.  This area now has a place for 4 throttle with these UP5's being always powered.

The one throttle holder left from the first batch was mounted next to the system drawer at Harney.  This was needed so an operator at Battle Mountain would have a place to set the throttle if 2 hands are needed for uncoupling.  With 6 throttle holders around the layout hopefully no more dropped throttles.

This is a drawing I started of the layout of the DCC system.  It is not likely that I will need to add any more panels but the three DS64's may get connected to the LocoNet in the future.

DCC track detection

Recently I got around to trying out some block detectors that I have had for some time.  One is a single channel model from NCE and the other a dual channel model from Team Digital.  Both use the principle of sensing the current passing through one track feeder wire.

I bench tested both types and they seemed to work very well.  The loco does not need to be running nor do the lights need to be on to get a detection.  Just the decoder being in contact with the track is enough.   The NCE version required a double loop of feed wire through the coil as per the instructions.

The outputs of the detection boards can drive small, low current 12 volt relays.  I made a small relay board and mounted both boards on a scrap of 1/4 inch plywood to create a dual channel unit with dry contacts as outputs.


These are great little units for track occupancy on a DCC layout.   I also tried them out with DC but they seem to be for DCC only.   I do have something in mind for these and that project will be the subject of the next post.

Main line has reopened once again

Since last October when I started the Palisade Canyon extension to the layout there have been two dead end lines with no way to actually run a train all the way through.  That all changed a few days ago when things got completed enough to put in a new turn around loop.

This photo shows the newest temporary turn around loop.  This sub road bed was constructed from scraps of plywood and supported on the permanent bench work for what will be the next extension.

The PSX-AR module that had been under the old turn around loop was re-mounted under this new one.  The DCC bus was extended to it and two feeder pairs from the new loop connected to the output.

This view shows almost all of the new extension of the layout.  It's about 6 linear feet going around the corner.

After almost 5 months of construction and not being able to get to any train show layouts I had really missed being able to run my trains properly.  Now I am running everything through the new section to test the track work and so far it's all running well.

New additions to the locomotive roster

Lately I have been adding some additional motive power to the layout, filling in some gaps in the 3 different layout eras that I use.  In most cases I already had the locomotives but as this layout is DCC only I don't consider them on the active roster until they get a DCC decoder installed.

It all started when I found SP MP15DC 2696 on a sale table at a club open house for $40.00.  I already had the correct decoder for it so installed it right away.  It will join 2690 and will work in any of the 3 layout eras.

UP 910 and 912 are GP40-2's that came from WP in 1983 and were overhauled and repainted in UP colors.  They got TCS Z2 decoders installed in them and will work in the 83-88 and 89-96 eras.  910 still needs it's hand rails painted.

SP 7514 is an SD45 that came out of SP's GRIP program in 1984 as a SD45-2.  It got a TCS M4 decoder and will work in the 83-88 and 89-96 eras.

U30C SP 7912 got a Zimo decoder and will work in the 75-82 era.


GRIP (General Rehabilitation and Improvement Program) was a major locomotive rebuilding program undertaken by Southern Pacific at their Sacramento Shops during the late 1970's and through the 1980's.

More updates to the layout's DCC system

My Digitrax throttles of various types have taken quite a beating over the years getting dropped after being set on the edge of layouts and just being used a lot.   I hope to take better care in the future with the throttle holders I built late last year and explained in this post.

I recently got around to purchasing a new throttle and ended up getting the DT500D which is the only one now offered by Digitrax.

This throttle has some new features I like such as being able to actually turn it off without removing the battery which was the cause of some of the excessive wear and tear on my old throttles.

To go along with the new throttle I also got a new UR90 Infrared ( IR ) receiver.  For this layout IR works just fine and the UR90 is less than 1/3 the cost of the UR92.  I also found out that my old UR91 that I was not sure was working at all does still work as an IR receiver so with it at the other end of the layout the coverage is very good.

After creating a place for the DCC system in a drawer, I found myself opening the drawer to check the track status light on the command station.  Then it occurred to me that I should connect the track status LED on the panel, Duh !

This was really easy to do as it just required running a pair of wires between the command station output and the two screws on the back of the panel pointed out in this photo with blue arrows.   Eventually I would like to do this for all the panels on the layout.

Creating a place for the DCC system

Up to this point in the layouts life the DCC system has been sitting on the floor under the staging yard.  The command station and power supply are attached to a piece of plywood with a small section of track with the output being being at a jack that the layout can be connected to.  I have often taken this setup with me to Ntrak layout setups to use as a programming station.

What I decided on was a similar setup that is mounted in a drawer that is directly under the bridge on the Harney section.  This is right next to the work bench so a test / programming track can be on the bench where I wanted it.  I actually reused the same drawer hardware salvaged from the last layouts control panel.

There is room underneath to set up a spare computer to use as a JMRI programmer.

So now with the old setup gone and not available to take to shows I think I better get going on building the long promised programming station for the Ntrak club.

Home made throttle holders

Several years ago I bought a couple of these throttle holders from a local shop and have really liked them.  These are designed to fit the throttles from several different DCC manufacturers.




The layout as grown to the point that I wanted some more but they don't seem to be in shops any more and on line they are now about $15.00 each which is quite a bit more than what I had paid before so I started looking at making my own using scraps.  It needed to be simple and only had to work with Digitrax throttles.

The design I came up with uses 6 scraps of 1/4 inch plywood and tempered hard board shown here.  These are the pieces and sizes.

1 Hard board back 4.25" x 3.00"
2 Hard board fronts 4.25" x .562"
1 Plywood bottom 3.00" x 1.00"
2 Plywood sides 4.00" x 1.00"

Here is the throttle holder after being assembled with yellow carpenters glue and sanded.   I rounded the top corners on the front strips before assembly.   There are a couple of mounting holes in the back which can't be seen in this photo because of the throttle.

I test fitted several types of Digitrax throttles and they all fit nicely.  I don't know if this would work with throttles of other DCC brands.





I like these home made holders well enough that I may make these standard for the home layout as they will all look the same.  Then adapt the other holders for use on the Ntrak modules.

Tempoary and movable return loop section

The two tracks that now end after crossing the bridges at Gloconda will eventually connect to one another and form a return loop.   But that return loop is still 50 actual feet away and who knows how long that will take to build and I want to run trains now.

So the solution I came up with was to build a temporary return loop on a section that can be connected to the end of the last completed section and then moved when a new section is added.

I used Kato Unitrack and spliced the Micro Engineering track to it with the same method presented in this post from last January.  The rail in the Kato Unitrack seems identical to the Atlas rail.





The other end of the adapter track was connected the end of the code 55 track on the finished part of the layout with tight Micro Engineering rail joiners and no solder.

Here is a simplified AnyRail track diagram of the layout as it is now.  This new section is at the far left and is the highest elevation.

Connecting those two tracks created a new return loop.  A DCC Specialities PSX-AR was mounted under the section and isolation gaps included in the track at both ends.

It's great to finally be able to run full trains over the entire layout such as it is right now.