TMCC and 23 ASC2’s for 92 Tortoise machines

@SantaFeFan posted:

cnwDon, if you would like, I would be happy to have a phone call with you to answer any questions on LCS. 

Thanks, Jon, I will remember your offer. 

I understand from one of your Base3 YouTube videos that the total amps for Base3 including those 3 outputs plus its other functions is 5 amps, so we'll see if boosters are needed in the chain.  I have fewer switches than I thought, must have had a counting problem when I was fast figuring.  It's more like 68-70 or so Tortoises, so it shouldn't strain the system other than possible need for a one or a few PDI booster units, which are on the way from Lionel.

@cnwdon posted:

Thanks, Jon, I will remember your offer.

I understand from one of your Base3 YouTube videos that the total amps for Base3 including those 3 outputs plus its other functions is 5 amps, so we'll see if boosters are needed in the chain.  I have fewer switches than I thought, must have had a counting problem when I was fast figuring.  It's more like 68-70 or so Tortoises, so it shouldn't strain the system other than possible need for a one or a few PDI booster units, which are on the way from Lionel.

Glad to assist.  Please note I did not present any YT videos, that was probably Dave.  The Base3 will supply plenty of power on each PDI port, about 1 amp per port as I understand from the info I have read.  However, the limitation is not the power supply on the port, even for Legacy and the DB9 adapter; but rather the voltage drops as the modules daisy-chain.  By having 3 ports on Base3, you can lower the number of modules in any chain by distributing them across the 3 PDI sources.  Please keep us updated on the experiences; and as a reference, I have a Legacy base, with 15 modules on my layout, and no boosters were needed.

If you want to connect, my email is in my profile.  Your layout sounds awesome, 60+ switches! Gonna be fun once you run trains!

I'm having trouble finding the very small 3.5 mm RCA female-to-screw terminal 2 wire power plug for the 691 JOIN B00 power boosters.  It's in Tom's (AmFlyer's) photo posted elsewhere, snip of it here.  Can someone steer me to a source where the dimensions are clearly stated so I know it's the right size on the RCA end?  Jon answered my email that he's not familiar with those devices, so he's not sure where to look either.  Thanks for the help.

I have two different types of Joiners in my LCS. Three are prototypes custom made by Lionel for my layout. These three require the power feed to be soldered directly to the circuit board. First picture below.

The remainder of the Joiners are the style currently sold by Lionel with the plug in jack. The male plugs are just standard 2.5x5.5 plugs. Picture below.

I just ordered another package of these yesterday for a different project. I will post a picture of the packaging when they are delivered, likely by Wednesday.

Thanks, Tom big help.

@AmFlyer posted:

The remainder of the Joiners are the style currently sold by Lionel with the plug in jack. The male plugs are just standard 2.5x5.5 plugs. Picture below.

Not to burst your bubble, but the LCS power booster does not use the 2.5/5/5 plugs, it actually uses a 1.35/3.5 plug as previously stated.

Here's a somewhat fuzzy picture of the LCS Power Booster PCB with a 5.5mm plug, clearly that plug will NOT fit in that hole!

@cnwdon posted:

I'm having trouble finding the very small 3.5 mm RCA female-to-screw terminal 2 wire power plug for the 691 JOIN B00 power boosters.  It's in Tom's (AmFlyer's) photo posted elsewhere, snip of it here.  Can someone steer me to a source where the dimensions are clearly stated so I know it's the right size on the RCA end?  Jon answered my email that he's not familiar with those devices, so he's not sure where to look either.  Thanks for the help.

Here's a listing on Amazon for a 1A 12V supply with the correct plug.

https://www.amazon.com/Supply-...ameras/dp/B01GPXNJPI

Here's an Aliexpress listing for ten of them for a buck, around $3.50 with shipping.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item...pt=glo2usa4itemAdapt

Thanks John, you are of course correct. I went under the layout and checked one of the plugs, they are the smaller 1.35/3.5 plug.

Thank you both.  Rather than wait for shipping from China, got lucky knowing exact dimensions and found a couple of US sellers on eBay that should have them here in less than a week.  If one comes through that will let me move ahead.  Need at least one booster, we learned as the ASC2’s and Tortoises were wired and tested last week.

Ready to wire first JOIN booster, want to be sure about polarity of DC input.  The little board has no + or - marks on it.  With the RCA type connector, is it correct that 12v DC + goes to the center (inner) side of the connector?

Thanks

@cnwdon posted:

Ready to wire first JOIN booster, want to be sure about polarity of DC input.  The little board has no + or - marks on it.  With the RCA type connector, is it correct that 12v DC + goes to the center (inner) side of the connector?

Thanks

Yes, the convention is center pin is +

That's why these commodity connectors/adapters that are also center positive as a convention work correctly.

Photo from previous post by @gunrunnerjohn

Thanks, Vernon.  Expected so, but I have a wired version with its opposite USB plug end cut off and didn’t want to assume (remembering the jokes about what that can do to u and me).  Will report results.