Skip to main content

Reply to "Design of a $10-20 DCS-TIU Port Tester Tool?"

Engineer-Joe posted:

just to be clear here, you're just testing for +12volts out?

Most users will know if the TIU doesn't put out voltage. Is there a condition you're looking at that puts out partial voltages?

A meter or MTH PS2 or 3 engine could tell the user what the track voltage is.... right? or even a light bulb?

Here's a little doodle I made just for you!

voltage

The track has a 60 Hz voltage to power the trains (usually like 10-25V depending on what power source and such). It also has super-imposed on top of that the digital signal for DCS. We are talking about measuring this digital voltage, not track voltage. The digital packets are infrequent and at a high frequency which is why you need to filter them with the above circuit to measure them independently of track power.  It's this DCS digital voltage (formal name is excursion voltage) that limits your DCS link quality. A normal working part should have it about 12-14V, but when parts fail it can be a lot less. This is what the tester is validating.

Attachments

Images (1)
  • voltage

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
×