Manual

tams elektronik
Booster B-6 tams elektronik
Tip: Detecting equalising currents
The question of whether or not dangerous equalising currents occur at a booster separation
point can be detected relatively easily with the help of a model railway incandescent lamp
connected to the rails or the centre conductors across the separation point.
Note: For the test, use an incandescent lamp whose maximum voltage corresponds
approximately to the set maximum track voltage. Suitable are e.g. bulbs with integrated
cables or wire ends. LEDs are not suitable for this test!
Ideally, the lamp does not light up or only lights up very
weakly. This case occurs when a power splitter** is used
that distributes the output current of a booster to 2 or 3
booster sections or when using identical boosters from
one manufacturer whose component and manufacturing
tolerances are very small.
With well-matched, properly connected boosters, the lamp
glows a little. When passing over the separation points, no
damage to vehicles, tracks or boosters and no problems
due to faulty data transmission are to be expected.
If the lamp glows visibly, it is not recommended to start
operation. The two boosters should be checked in any
case:
 Is the same output voltage set for both boosters?
 Is the RailCom gap switched on for the boosters? If
yes, the test should be repeated with the RailCom
switched off. If the lamp then only glows, operation
with RailCom switched on can be started without
hesitation.
 Boosters of different types / from different
manufacturers may not fit together. It is advisable to
check with the manufacturer.
 One of the two boosters is defective. A check by the
manufacturer is recommended.
If the lamp lights up brightly, the start of operation can
have fatal consequences for vehicles, tracks and the
connected boosters! Either the two boosters are
connected to the rail / centre conductor with different
polarity or the two boosters do not fit together and should
therefore not be used together.
20 | Conception of the digital layout