k Manual ni Booster B-3 ta m s el ek tro Item no.
English Booster B-3 Table of contents Why Boosters?............................................................................3 2. Getting started............................................................................4 3. Safety instructions.......................................................................6 4. Your B-3.....................................................................................7 5. Splitting your model railway layout.............................................
Booster B-3 English 1. Why Boosters? The three essential functions of boosters are: 1. Supplying the power needed for the operation of digital controlled locomotives and points and other digital consumers. ni k 2. Bringing the voltage to the rails, in order to make sure that all vehicle and accessory decoders receive the digital switching and control commands. tro 3. Making sure the current is switched off in case of a short-circuit on the layout (e.g.
English Booster B-3 2. Getting started How to use this manual ni k This manual gives step-by-step instructions for safe and correct connecting of the booster, and operation. Before you start, we advise you to read the whole manual, particularly the chapter on safety instructions and the checklist for trouble shooting. You will then know where to take care and how to prevent mistakes which take a lot of effort to correct. tro Keep this manual safely so that you can solve problems in the future.
Booster B-3 English Required materials In order to connect the booster you need: Wire. Recommended diameter: for the connection to the transformer and the rails: > 1,5 mm² for the connection to the digital control unit: > 0,25 mm² k A transformer. The recommended voltage and the minimum power of the transformer depend on the desired settings.
English Booster B-3 3. Safety instructions Risk of electric shock ni k ! Risk of fire The booster is cooled by a heat sink to prevent overheating. Thus be careful to allow the air to flow unhindered through the heat sink at the booster´s back. If the airflow is blocked components can overheat and catch fire.
Booster B-3 English 4. Your B-3 Technical specifications 12 - 20 V AC voltage or 14 – 21 V DC voltage Maximum output current 2,5 A Output voltage 12, 15 or 19 Volt digital voltage Power max. 48 Watt ni tro Digital formats DCC, Motorola, mfx (control commands only) RailCom el ek Feedback log Interfaces k Supply voltage DCC-conforming booster port (3-pole) Märklin-compatible booster port (5 pole) s Track signal ta m Protected to symmetrical IP 00 Ambient temperature in use 0 ...
English k Track port Märklin booster port DCC booster port Transformer port RailCom Track voltage Operation display (LED) tro ni 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Booster B-3 Ports el ek The booster B-3 can be connected either to a port for a Märklincompatible booster or to a DCC-conforming booster port. Advice: The port ( Märklin-compatible or DCC-conform) used for the booster´s connection to the control unit, is of no importance for the data format used to control the decoders.
Booster B-3 English RailCom The booster B-3 can provide the so-called RailCom-cutout needed to transfer RailCom-feedback data in RailCom-monitored sections. tro ni k When using the B-2 with control units sending a DCC signal but not compatible to RailCom, providing the RailCom-cutout can cause malfunction.
English Booster B-3 Short-circuit protection The Booster B-3 provides an intergrated short circuit breaking in shape of an integrated current limitation. This causes the booster to switch off automatically when a short circuit occurs at the track output and thus prevents damages to the booster, the tracks and the vehicles. The short circuit sensitivity or the interrupting current is set to 2,5 A.
Booster B-3 English 5. Splitting your model railway layout ni station engine sheds the main lines (if necessary in several sections) the branch lines (if necessary in several sections) tro k Split your model railway layout in several track sections electrically isolating them from each other. Every section has to be supplied by a booster of its’ own. In each section a maximum of three to five locomotives should run at the same time.
English Booster B-3 6. Connecting the B-3 Connecting the central unit It is possible to connect the booster to ni k ! Please note: Do not block the flow of air over the heat sink at the booster´s back surface, otherwise the booster can overheat. Risk of fire! When connecting the booster be sure to keep sufficient distance to other devices, walls, and the like.
Booster B-3 English Märklin booster port 2 earth 3 direct voltage appr.+ 19 V 4 booster "on / off" 5 data DCC booster port 1 short circuit warning wire tro short circuit warning wire 2 data (-) 3 data (+) el ek 1 ni k Pin assignment of the booster ports Connecting an additional booster ta m s To connect an additional booster please use the Märklin or DCC booster port "still disengaged".
English Booster B-3 Connecting the tracks k Connect the booster´s track port to both rails (with 2-rail systems) or to one rail and the middle conductor (with 3-rail systems). These connections should be repeated every 2-3 meters, because the resistance at the connection points of the tracks is quite high. When choosing too high intervals, problems with the short circuit indication or the power supply of the vehicles may occur.
English el ek tro ni k Booster B-3 ta m s Connection to a DCC port Connection to a Märklin port Page 15
English Booster B-3 7. Settings k With the B-3, you can set a track voltage of 12, 15 or 19 V and switch on or off RailCom. Position the short circuit jumpers included in the package in concordance with the drawings to the corresponding pins on the PCB.
Booster B-3 English 8. Operation LED The LED on the front lights or flashes indicating the operation modes or problems that occur. Meaning constantly lighting booster in operation slowly flashing (apprx. 1 sec. cycle) no signal from the control unit quickly flashing short circuit at the track output tro ni k LED Shunting the boundry between two booster sections el ek You should take care not to allow locomotives or trains to halt directly on the boundary between two sections.
English Booster B-3 The LED flashes slowly. Possible reason: The control unit has been switched off or the connection to the control unit has been interrupted. à Check the control unit and the connections. The LED flashes quickly. tro ni k Possible reason: There is a short circuit at the track output. Therefore the booster switches off automatically and after approx. 5 seconds automatically on again.
Booster B-3 English 10. Guarantee bond ni k For this product we issue voluntarily a guarantee of 2 years from the date of purchase by the first customer, but in maximum 3 years after the end of series production. The first customer is the consumer first purchasing the product from us, a dealer or another natural or juristic person reselling or mounting the product on the basis of selfemployment.
English Booster B-3 11. EU declaration of conformity This product conforms with the EC-directives mentioned below and is therefore CE certified. k 2004/108/EG on electromagnetic. Underlying standards: EN 55014-1 and EN 61000-6-3. To guarantee the electromagnetic tolerance in operation you must take the following precautions: Connect the transformer only to an approved mains socket installed by an authorised electrician.
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n n n tro http://www.tams-online.de n ni Information and tips: k n n el ek n n n s Warranty and service: ta m Tams Elektronik GmbH Fuhrberger Straße 4 DE-30625 Hannover fon: +49 (0)511 / 55 60 60 fax: +49 (0)511 / 55 61 61 n n n e-mail: modellbahn@tams-online.