Instructions

tams elektronik
English RedBox
10.6. Boosters
Boosters amplify the digital signals send from the central unit and supply a connected track with
power. You have to connect at least one external booster to the MasterControl, as there is no
booster integrated. The actual number of boosters needed depends on the power consumption
of your model railway.
Measuring the power consumption
 a locomotive: Gauge N: 600 mA / Gauge H0: 800 mA / > Gauge 0: 1 A
 a wagon light: 50 - 200 mA
 another consumer (such as a sound module): 100 - 300 mA
 reserve for points: 10% of the calculated sum of power consumption
Booster types
Märklin**-compatible and DCC-compatible boosters are switched on / off in different ways.
Märklin**-compatible boosters are switched on using their own signal switched with an extra pin
on the booster port. DCC boosters are switched on as soon as a data signal is recognized. The
booster ports of the MasterControl can be configured to work with both types.
Balanced boosters keep the power in a specific track section constant. Contrary to that, sections
with non-balanced boosters might suffer from increasing and decreasing power, causing
changes in locomotive speeds and the lightings´brightness.
Hint 1
Split your model railway layout in several track sections. Each section should run a maximum of
3 to 5 locomotives. Make sure that section borders are not crossed that often.
Hint 2
Only use boosters of one type and made by one manufacturer to avoid problems when crossing
the interruption between two track sections such as:
 Problems with data transfer to the decoders.
 Current leakage that make locomotives move by themselves.
 Short circuits when crossing sections.
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