Train-Tech PC200 Manual

Please read these instructions fully before connecting and powering up!!
Introduction
The PC200 is a Point controller designed to control most standard Solenoid type point motors
and offers the following facilities:
• DCC Control of 4 point motors using DCC accessory commands
• A Route store to allow multiple points to be changed using a single command
! ! • Control of 4 point motors using conventional switches
! ! • Built in Capacitor Discharge unit (CDU) for enhanced power
Contents
This instruction booklet explains how to connect, setup and use the PC200 on your layout and
we strongly recommend you read it before starting installation.
! ! Connecting power! ! !
! ! Connecting Point motors! !
! ! Controlling Points by DCC ! !
! ! Setting up multiple routes! !
! ! Controlling Points using switches!!
! ! Troubleshooting and additional information!
!
Making it easy....
DCC stands for Digital Command Control and is a system which transmits both power and
digital commands down 2 wires or rails to control and power locomotives and accessories.
At Train-Tech we believe that DCC should make it easier to build, control and use model
railways, so all of our range of DCC Signals, Controllers and accessories connect using just 2
wires and are all setup using just a single button press which we call 'One-Touch DCC'.
This may be the first accessory you have controlled by DCC and if so you need to be aware that
accessories are controlled by a slightly different command than the locomotives.
Accessory commands are completely different to Loco commands and most DCC hand and
computer linked controllers offer this facility, usually by pressing a specific button to enter into
accessory command mode (eg ACC) or by using a specified range of addresses for accessories
(eg on the Hornby Select addresses over 60 are for accessories only). There are only a few
controllers which do not offer control of DCC accessories including the basic Bachmann EZ
command (as supplied in sets) and Prodigy Express (not the Prodigy Advance which does).
The PC200 can connect directly to the nearest DCC track to minimise wires - it takes both its
commands and power from the rails. As well as changing points, solenoid point motors can also
be used to actuate some semaphore signals & uncouplers (eg Hornby R8244 uncoupler).
The PC200 incorporates a CDU (Capacitor Discharge Unit) which uses a capacitor to store
power from the DCC system for a few seconds and then release it quickly to activate a point
motor with more energy. This means it does not take the large amount of power needed for a
solenoid all at once which might overload your DCC system and just takes a few seconds to
recharge before you can operate a point again. If your route changes more than one Point there
will be a few seconds delay between each change to give the CDU time to fully recharge.
PC200 Point Controller
! ! Page 2
! ! Page 3
! ! Page 4
! ! Page 5
! Page 6
Page 7
1!
Document Ref D779618/1 DP041117
• Connecting to power
Firstly, before installing or connecting any wiring SWITCH OFF ALL POWER!
The PC200 has two screw terminals for the power input and three connections to each point motor
- a common terminal marked COM which should go to one wire of each coil and another 2
terminals marked A & B to each of the other coil connections.
Solenoid 4
LED4
2 Mounting holes
(4mm maximum
screw diameter)
LED1
Solenoid 1
The PC200 is usually mounted underneath the baseboard close to the point motors to keep wiring
as short as possible. There are two mounting holes through the special rivet which also retains the
cover; make sure you do not use screws with a diameter larger than 4mm to hold it in position and
do not mount or stand the PC200 on any metallic or conductive surfaces.
Connecting the PC200 to the power source
The PC200 is usually powered and controlled by DCC, although it can alternatively be powered by
12-16 volts DC if only used for control by switches as shown later in these instructions.
The PC200 can be connected to the nearest DCC rails, bus bar or directly to your controller power
output terminals. Use reasonably thick wire for the connections although the built in CDU will help
store and boost the power to feed the point motors themselves. Before connecting or
disconnecting wires always turn off the power and allow a minute for the CDU capacitors to
discharge and the LEDs to extinguish.
Point Motor cabling
Solenoid Point motors consist of two electromagnets which move a steel bar to actuate a point.
They take a relatively large amount of current (2-3 amps typically) and so to reduce power loss
(which can make point operation unreliable) you should always keep the wires between the point
motor and the PC200 as short and as thick as possible. Bearing this in mind try to locate the
PC200 as close to the points you are controlling as possible so that wires are kept short. Some
point motors are supplied with cables prefitted and these are usually quite short and relatively thin -
if you need to extend these cables use thicker wire (eg 16/0.2) and keep them as short as possible.
Two-wire Point motors
Some types of solenoid type motors only have two terminals or wires (eg Kato) and these work by
reversing the polarity to activate either coil. These cannot be connected directly to a standard
decoder, although there are third party adapters available which may make them compatible.
Learn
button Solenoid 3
LED3
Switch input
(pages 6/7)
Areas to write
the main Point
DCC addresses
LED2
Power
Solenoid 2
Input
2