Use circuit breakers or learn the hard way!

[@normanrowe2831]

Dude! You're lucky you didn't start a fire. I would never leave my layout with locos running. Thanks for your honesty, and the obvious warnings!

[@SD45-ET44AC]

Get trains running, yup I’m ready but after listening to several people I order and have now in my possession a circuit breaker. I’m researching the heck out of it. Thanks for sharing!👍🏽👍🏽

[@Eduardomd54]

Sorry to hear that, I am a rookie in DCC, so I appreciate that you shear this misshapen.

[@sparky107107]

oh my. ok so i wait for the video now on how you are going to install a circuit breaker. i just got the 5 amp booster and was just going to hook it up like you have yours.. nice to know. and one of the things i love about this community. we all learn even if it is from others mistakes. thanks sir. and Happy holidays to you

[@jenniferwhite6089]

I see you devil himself is here you listen to sparky how to wire a layout lol Merry Christmas to you and I have to get back to putting my candle on my house sparky has a wonderful idea does he for wiring anything just have trouble keeping all of the light

[@drewzdrew27]

I use PSX Circuit Breakers by DCC specialties. I think it does the same resetting each time, but i never left trains running unattended for more then 5mins. Even then, I'm always an ear shot away.

[@DGModelworks]

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. Most of the time I'm in the room, but when I am breaking in a loco, I usually just let it run while I do other stuff around the house. This time it cost me!

[@SouthBrooklynRR]

Derek the grenade was tossed and it went off and other than the loco getting fried no one was hurt or damage to the house, but to your ego, but you are handling it with Grace. That's why you're my Hero !!!

[@DGModelworks]

Haha, yeah it could have been worse! Luckily no fire, and it didn't hurt the decoder. I am slightly embarrassed but oh well. Hope all is well with you Big Bill! Merry Christmas!

[@SouthBrooklynRR]

@@DGModelworks A Blessed Christmas to you Derek

[@bobbiemitch]

Glad to hear it sorta worked out. Remember - good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

[@DGModelworks]

That's a true statement for sure!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

You can break the laout into short management districts and protect them with 1156 taillight bulbs to limit current in case of a short. I still wouldn't recommend leaving the room with something running, but it is an effective and cost saving way of protecting against shorts, keeping the whole layout from going down due to a short in one area, and alerting you to where on the layout a short has occured (because the bulb will light up). Just an option.

[@DGModelworks]

Thanks Ron! It's all good advice and something I already should have done during track laying. Now I paid the price of my impatience. Thanks for checking in! ~Deryk

[@loco82]

Good to know but also not good to know it's not just the power cab module and a fuse board is required. I really like my nce power cab but I had a similar issue. I was working on my layout and I had switched on the power lead to my tools not realising I had also switched on the dcc power cab too which was still plugged in from when I was last in the man cave. I left a scalpel on the the track. I kept hearing this faint clicking noise and couldn't work out where or what is was coming from, thought it was out side or next door. I then later realised in was the controller tripping and reseting itself, the controller was hot and it messed up the speed steps on all three of the throttle buttons by randomly jumping speed steps everytime I touch one of the buttons. Expensive lessons learned. Kind regards Dan

[@DGModelworks]

I man, I'm sorry that happened to you. I agree, expensive lesson learned, but at least we didn't have a fire. It could have been worse.

[@jamessutton9319]

Thank you for sharing this. From a newbie.

[@DGModelworks]

You are so welcome!

[@georgiasunbelt]

Ooops😊. Happy to see you back but not under that circumstance. Planning my wiring now. Thanks for the good advice

[@AlohaMilton]

I am doing wiring today, your video is good motivation to do it right, thanks for sharing.

[@DGModelworks]

It's definitely not something to cut corners on....

[@RailfanS1]

Wow, glad everything turned out as well as it did. That must have generated a ton of heat to melt the booster housing like that. If I may make a recommendation the NCE EB1 is actually pretty good. I built one into my portable automated layout that I leave running unattended at shows. The beaker itself is pretty configurable, you can select different trip amperages, it can be set to automatically reset after a delay or only reset manually (how mine is set up), and it can be reset from your DCC handheld or from a physical push button. You also may not need as many as you think, mine can handle the portable layout and my new home layout in the same power district. A good test of wether or not you have enough breakers is the “quarter test” (not something I came up with, forgot where it came from though). You simply take a quarter and place it across the tracks anywhere on your layout, the breaker should trip instantly. If it does not you need to improve the bus wiring or divide into power districts and add more breakers. Now maybe if I show this video to the guys at the club I can finally convince them that the built in protection on NCE products is not enough... Thanks for sharing, and Merry Christmas.

[@davidmuse7004]

WOW, you got very lucky that it wasn't worse. Glad to hear it's not that bad, and yes eveyone should at least use their EB-1 curcuit breakers. It Helps. Thanks for sharing Muse

[@brian102256]

Thanks for posting Deryk! Sometimes it's not easy to post about the mistakes we make. I also have a power booster so will be looking forward to your circuit breaker installation video! Take care and Merry Christmas! - Brian

[@DGModelworks]

Thank you Brian! Yeah I'm slightly embarrassed, but it could have been worse. Merry Christmas to you and your family! ~Deryk

[@shawt228]

Man that sucks, hopefully the booster isn’t gone and definitely glad nothing caught fire. I have 3 circuit breakers, due to fellow modelers recommendations for locating shortages and after burning up a decoder or two from shortages glad I did. Glad to see you back and looking forward to updates.

[@DGModelworks]

Hey Taki my friend! How you been? Yeah I learned the hard way about circuit breakers, hahaha. I hope the booster isn't fried. That's a little pricey. Luckily the decoder seems alright... Nice hearing from you man! ~Deryk

[@shawt228]

DG Modelworks doing great. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours.

[@dougmoeller8726]

If you are looking to break in your locomotives try this....Its from Micro Mark (Micro-Mark - Precision Tools and More for Makers) its called LOCOMOTIVE ROLLERS. You get a set of four, put them on your program track, works with four and six axle, if you have bigger engines Good luck!!! you can get more. Start your engine up and run it....an hour fast an hour slow...an hour backwards and so on. It wont JUMP the tracks either!!! Good Luck!!!

[@rally8959]

Good to see you posting again

[@TechandTrainsChannel]

At least yours cuts out! My Powercab emits a high-pitched noise and all the layout lights dim when a loco derails... I'm certainly wiring in some circuit breaker now after searching on Google and finding 10 pages of people who have destroyed their powercabs through short circuits 😮. I was just used to the old analog system where the power supply was so bad and low rated it would trip it instantly. I never thought I would like a basic power supply! Thanks for sharing, TTC

[@jolliemark6294]

YES! Rookie mistake but you survived thank goodness, glad it wasn't worse , thanks for the advise, I've heard this several time but I think you made it a really good point. Call NCE to see what they advise about the buster before something else goes wrong....thanks for the advise Jack and glad you are back now....Merry Christmas

[@danielbonham9336]

Wow, thanks for sharing, I just got the SB5 for christmas for my layout, I shall now get a circuit breaker, Thanks,

[@JoeG-firehousewhiskey]

wow, you got lucky man! Thanks for the tip. I understand wanting to get trains running right away

[@gkoproske]

Yes, you do need a follow-on video on why you chose the brand of circuit protection you ultimately purchased, and how you installed it. And whether it really would have made a difference, or just keep resetting like your booster did.

[@cprtrain]

I use the PSX circuit breakers and they work great.

[@jimsmoter4510]

Good thing it wasn’t much worse . But good info to pass along. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

[@grandparails8858]

Deryk, thanks for the good advise. Merry Christmas! John

[@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569]

Thanks for sharing this lesson-learned, Deryk. I will certainly apply it to my layout. Like you, I use an NCE PowerCab to run my layout. I would love to know how you divided your layout up into power districts afterwards and what kind of of circuit breakers you have decided to use. ...Roy

[@Crookedriverandeasternrr]

Well thankfully it wasn’t worse. I will for sure be taking your advice. Any advice in which to buy? And will you be doing an installation-video when you add yours? Thanks for the advice. Merry Christmas 🎄 buddy. David .

[@kennethsmith9956]

You and your family have a nice holiday and a happy new year keep up the great work and hope you make some more videos

[@mycrazygrandpa]

Lesson learned, ALSO include in you layout's 1 or 2 fire extinguishers in plain site and readily available.

[@TroNPopz209]

are these extinguishers 1:87 scale?

[@mycrazygrandpa]

@@TroNPopz209 :-D

[@uptownphotography]

Glad to hear no fire or damage to your NCE Booster unit. I am actually getting ready to buy a DCC system for my layout soon. How overall do you like the NCE system. I have not decided yet on what system to buy for a large layout here in NJ. Thanks. Phil

[@DGModelworks]

I really like NCE! If you are going to have a large layout, you might want to skip the starter Powercab and get one of their larger systems. Yeah the housing on my booster started to melt, but that thing is still working. I'm impressed.

[@uptownphotography]

@@DGModelworks Very surprising it still works the way it started to deform from the heat. And here it is a few years later, so that is impressive it still works. Great news for you for sure. I am guessing I will need some power districts as when my mainline is done I will have about 375 feet of mainline track. I am old school DC guy, so this will be a challenge at first getting used to a new approach to wiring etc. Phil

[@sportscarddad-en6yt]

Great advice. And you have a merry Christmas also.

[@nathanschronce8703]

Well....on that part. Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I'm glad it was not worse than that 👍😉

[@Tnapvrvideo]

Nice share! Can you please tell me the voltage to run on HO scale bus lines under the layout. And, to that point, what should the voltage be on the track rails of my HO scale layout? Many Thanks!

[@tonysag9626]

You were lucky I to got the same booster for Christmas and had a derailment but I pulled the loco off the track as soon as I seen it but now the smart booster will not reset. The light flashes slow but won’t reset even without the track plugged in. My 1st NCE experience has not started well I guess I’ll call them Monday and see what they say

[@GlennGinsburg]

Thanks for sharing. I am a rookie and you will make a video about installing circuit breakers and power districts. How large is your layout ?? I am going from 4x8 to ?? Got new house with a 20x10 bedroom this will be dedicated to my layout.

[@DGModelworks]

Hi, My layout is roughly 17x14.... I will do a video when I start the wiring...

[@peterkinsey6407]

A classic example of MURPHY'S LAW.

[@DGModelworks]

Absolutely!

[@paulkirkmanMYTRAINS]

Very good advise. Thanks. Merry Christmas !!

[@lionellance]

Oh yes my friend..Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Holy cow! Sorry to hear that but I'm glad no fire started. Will you make a video of your circuit breaker installation?

[@DGModelworks]

Thanks Tim , Yeah it could have been worse. I will most likely make a video of it.

[@TheAudiostud]

The last time I watched a train video of yours, you were ripping it all up and throwing the track in the bin!

[@1500chessie]

Hi Deryk.Merry Christmas.Yes these things can happen when one is leaving the room.You know the usual Gremlins.What i don´t understand is that the NCE Systen will try to repower.Digitrax and other DDC Systems will not do that exactly for that reason what happend in your case.If i sugest, when i break in a Loco it runs on a Roller Testbench isolated from the layout.

[@DGModelworks]

I'm not sure why NCE decided to design their system like that. Perhaps it's because they also sell circuit breakers. haha. I prefer to break in a loco in a way that puts it into curves also. Main reason for that is because I've had new locos that run great on a straight section and have issues in curves. Usually IM locos. I've had them sound and run great on straights, but the trucks would have horrible gear noise in the curves. That's why I like to break them in where the driveline can move in all directions during it.

[@northfloridarails2136]

My digitrax shuts off and will not start back up.

[@lionellance]

Wow.. could have burn the house down.. lessen learned.. dont take short cuts on wiring up a layout.. thanks for sharing and keep up the great work.. Lance

[@chucksmith155]

WeberModelRailRoad

[@DGModelworks]

Yeah Lance, it could have been worse...

[@chrisshoulders4066]

Good advice Merry Christmas

[@NZMOPAR]

Wow that was a lucky escape there mate could been much worse . Merry Christmas to mate and happy New years

[@crsrdash-840b5]

Get a treadmill if you plan of letting your locomotive run. I bought one and its the best way to break in new power.

[@rjl110919581]

THANK YOU SHARE DETAIL VIDEO MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOUR FAMILY AND YOU AS WISH BEST FOR NEW YEAR IN 2019 YOUR LAYOUT FROM AUSTRALIA

[@hdspringer2561]

bad to hear that a short damaged your loco. I use an ESU ECOS and never had those problems. If there is a short on the track the ECOS automatically stops the system and the boosters and everything is safe. The ECOS is not starting again on it,s own. The user has to start the system, so no damage can originate.

[@skipduld3630]

I LISTEN TO U ABOUT GETTING A C/B . SO I BOUGHT A PSX 4 FROM FIFER, SO ILL PUT THEM ON SUNDAY

[@dlae73]

Thanks for sharing.

[@axeandrail]

Ooops! Glad that it didn't catch fire. Fire bad!

[@csxbaltimoresubdivision7746]

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR'S......

[@dacuzzz]

great info Deryk... thx for sharing...vinny

[@DGModelworks]

Thanks Vinny!

[@KingTrump2024]

Whoa, left long enough you could of had a fire with the booster and lost more than a loco or two. The power cab alone at ~2Amps is fine to leave unattended as the reset process (reboot) takes longer than the booster does to reset, and the amperage is also lower. Scary shit man, I'm sold on breakers now!

[@mesenteria]

Digitrax systems stay powered off until the fault is corrected. I would say the never-ending attempts to reset is a design fault.

[@gkoproske]

I think you are mistaken on that, Digitrax circuit protection will indeed try to reset continuously.

[@jerrybungard7107]

The instructions call for the addition of a circuit breaker......

[@mrcheeky1979]

Hi there, I have recently purchased an SB5 and had a short for only 5 minutes or so. Now every time I plug the power in it seems that it keeps trying to reset even though I don't have the booster connected to track. Did you also have this problem and have to reset it somehow or was it fine straight away?

[@DGModelworks]

Luckily I didn't cause damage to mine other than a little bit of melted plastic. Sounds like yours might be damaged to the point that it needs sent in for repair.

[@mrcheeky1979]

No worries, thanks for your reply. I definitely learnt the hard way, unfortunately I saw this video too late. Loving your videos though mate!

[@BALD8BIL]

Hello my brother love the video keep them coming

[@csxbaltimoresubdivision7746]

I had a problem just like that, go get a nce eb1 circuit breaker and set it to 2.5 amps not 5 that is what the manufacturer recommends....

[@DGModelworks]

Yeah, that's my next step....live and learn I guess.

[@Bs_Railroad]

How do you figure out how many breakers to have

[@DGModelworks]

If you have your layout broken up into power districts, then you need one for each power district.

[@willparsons32]

Unlike your layout, mine is fairly simple and short.. However, I do have a few turnouts (switches) on my layout. I was wondering though... and because I don't have the power booster (because I am only running three N scale DCC w/sound locomotives, If I could simply install a inline fuse of 1 amp between my track wiring and the Powercab power unit?? I've seen those DCC NCE CP6 units and to me they are simply a series of 1 amp plain fuses all connected by one "IN" line and 6 outlets on a circuit board. Nothing fancy really - except the cost! ($75.00...Doh!!)

[@DGModelworks]

I think that will work, but I'm not 100% sure. Some people also use 1.5amp automotive bulbs. I would have to research your question a little more. Please do some more research first. I doubt it would hurt anything to try it though.

[@DGModelworks]

Just to give a little move info for you. The automotive bulbs 1157 will not work as protection with the Powercab. They have too high of amp use for it to provide protection from a short with the powercab.

[@skipduld3630]

DID U EVER GET A CIRCUIT BREAKER IF SO WHAT KIND? I WAS THINKING ABOUT DCCS-OGCB SPECIALTIES ON GUARD CB TKS

[@DGModelworks]

Yes I did, but I haven't used it yet. I bought the NCE EB1 www.midwestmodelrr.com/product/nce0225/

[@NathanielKempson]

Surley NCE should have designed the system where it DOSNT do that? Basically any other DCC system needs a manual reset after correcting a short circuit, and if the NCE system had a manual reset none of this would have happened.

[@aspenGF8]

You don't need a circuit breaker, you just need to not leave trains running unattended.

[@DGModelworks]

I won't argue that fact. Dumb move on my part....but circuit breakers provide more benefit other than idiots like me who leave trains run unattended.

[@glenshielrailway5696]

Dang that was lucky. My biggest fear is a layout fire. Just thinking how quickly all that wood, polystyrene, foam and glue would go up in smoke is terrifying. It baffles me how your controller doesn't have a breaker built in. For as long as I can remember every system, even basic cheapi-cheaps, have had breakers built in to them here in the UK. If something causes a short the controller will shut off and show a red light until the short is found and corrected. DCC systems usually stay shut off until you manually reset it. Glad everything is okay with the exception of a truck and a few sleepers. I'm guessing that power supply is dead though?

[@DGModelworks]

Yeah, it could have been worse. The NCE system doesn't trip and remain off. It keeps trying to reset, over and over. NCE even states that if you don't use a circuit breaker, it will continue to try to reset till it destroys itself. That's the only think I don't like about NCE so far. Maybe they do that to sell their circuit breakers. As others have stated, other manufactures systems will shut down till the short is corrected. So far my booster is still working, but I am sure I shortened the life of it.

[@biggiefitz6275]

A certain Talking Heads song comes to mind watching this. Glad it didn't happen. lol

[@DGModelworks]

HAHAHA, now that is funny! Yeah I'm glad it didn't happen too!

[@whitrav]

wow. To avoid this in the future you might want to look getting a different control system. There are two that I can think of, one is the ECoS by ESU and the other is Roco Z21 system. Both are DCC compatible, you can get wireless controllers for both of them or download an app onto your smartphone or tablet. Both allow you to control your engines, lights, signals, and switches, from either the central station, controller or app. Also you can move about your lay out freely without having to plug in your controller at intervals.

[@DGModelworks]

All I need to do is get a circuit breaker and wireless throttle for the system I already have. Absolutely no reason to buy a whole new system.

[@JamesPetts]

That is an insane system that will keep trying to re-set with a short circuit. That is very bad design.

[@southern207hobbies]

Digitrax trips 3 times then kills power on my layout

[@DGModelworks]

That's a nice feature to be built into the system.