Manual - Uhlenbrock

Power 3/6The Multi-protocol Power SystemManual

Power 3/6Authors: Dr.-Ing. T. Vaupel, D. Richter, M. BergerTranslated by Wolfram Steinke© Copyright Uhlenbrock Elektronik GmbH, Bottrop3rd Edition March 2004All Rights ReservedDuplication is only allowed with written AuthorizationPart Number 60 5602

1. General Description1.1 Description1.2 Technical SpecificationPower 3/6Power 3 and Power 6 are short circuit proof multiprotocolboosters with 3Amp and 6Amp power outputrespectively. Both have a separately selectableautomated reversing loop and can be switched toNMRA compatible DCC braking generator.All outputs have short circuit protection.Both devices are compatible with Uhlenbrock, Lenz,Arnold and Märklin control centers.!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!!Power 6 must not be installed in layouts using Z,N, TT or HO scales. Operating in such layoutscan result in short circuits which can eventuallydamage both tracks and rolling stock.Maximum Input Voltage18V ACMaximum Load from the Layout3A for Power 36A for Power 6Dimensions180 x 136 x 80 mmTransformer power output requirementsPower 3: 52 - 64 VA (e.g. Uhlenbrock 20 070)Power 6: 150 VA (e.g. Uhlenbrock 20 150)4

2. InstallationPower 3/6The following section describes the connections to thePower 3 and Power 6 and things to note and be awareof when connecting to individual devices.2.1 Item on the back of the deviceImage 2.11Connections on theback of the Booster1 6 pole connector: transformer, track, reversing loop2 5 pole connector: connection to next booster or controller3 5 pole connector: connection to next booster or controller4 3 pole connector: connection to DCC-controller5 4 way DIP switch: Operating mode selection6 Rotary Potentiometer: setting of max. Output Voltage2.2 Connecting to the ConnectorsImage 2.21Individual connectionsof one of the plugsImage 2.22Fitting the cable tothe connectorImage 2.23Labelling of theindividual connectionsof screw connectorTo connect the transformer,track, reversing loop and DCCcontrolcentre to the booster, twoconnectors are used.The connecting cables are madefrom 0.5mm 2 cross-sectional wirewith approx. 6mm of theinsulation removed from the end,and tinned with solder.On the 3 pole connector, insert a small screwdriver(2mm) through theholes in the top andgently press down toopen the cable clamp.Insert the non-insulatedend of the wire into thefront of the plug.By releasing thescrewdriver the cable will be clamped into position tomake a reliable connection.The 6 pole plug to connectthe transformer, track andreversing loop is a normalconnector with screws tohold the cables.5

Power 3/62.3 Connecting transformer, track and reversing loopImage 2.31Connection of6 pole connectorImage 2.32Connection of2-rail trackThe transformer, track and reversing loop areconnected to the 6 pole connector and inserted insocket 1.The connections are as follows:1 Reversing loop2 Reversing loop3 Digital track power (Märklinred)4 Digital track power Earth(Märklin brown)5 16V AC input Earth (Märklinbrown)6 16V AC (Märklin yellow)TransformerFor trouble-free operation the Power 3 requires a min.of 52VA and 16V AC. For full power output werecommend a transformer with 70VA e.g. Uhlenbrock20070. For operation of the Power 6 a 150VAtransformer should be used e.g. Uhlenbrock 20150. Itshould not have higher output than 18V~.The transformer is connected to pin 5 (brown) and 6(yellow) of the 6 pole plug for socket 1.2-rail track2-rail track is connected to pins 3and 4 of the plug for socket 1.Image 2.33Connection of3-rail trackSAFETY ADVICE3-rail track3-rail track (Märklin) the brownwire is connected to pin 4 andthe red wire to pin 4.When using a Power 3 or Power 6 with an Intellibox orMärklin Center, the ‘output earth’ of the transformers,booster and controller must be connected together forsafety.6

Power 3/6Otherwise the booster output of the Intellibox can bedestroyed, if the track sections, which are fed byIntellibox and booster, have a potential difference whena train crosses the isotation gap.2.4 Connecting to the Control centerImage 2.41Connections of the flatribbon cable and thevarious controllersYou can use either an Intellibox or the Märklin Centeras your controller. A flat ribbon cable is supplied forthe connection.Socket 2 from the booster is connected to socket 5 ofthe Intellibox or to the booster outlet of the MärklinCenter.The plugs must be inserted so the cable goes to thetop on Uhlenbrock devices and Märklin center 6021and to the bottom on the Märklin center 6020.2.5 Connection of a DCC central controllerImage 2.51Connections of the 3pole connectorDCC controllers are connected to socket 4 of thedevice. It is possible to use the booster to a LenzLZ100 controller or an Arnold controller 86200.2.6 Connection of further boostersImage 2.61Connections of the flatribbon cable betweenPower3/6 and otherboostersA further Power 3, Power 6, Märklin booster 6015 and6017 can be connected via socket 3 of the device.The plugs must be inserted so the cable goes to thetop on Uhlenbrock devices and Märklin center 6017and to the bottom on the Märklin center 6015.7

2.7 Selection of operating modeImage 2.71DIP switch on theback of the devicePower 3/6DIP switch 5 is used to select the device’s operatingmode.1 Switch between Intellibox/Märklin and DCC input2 Brake generator operation3 Automatic reversing loop4 Output limitingImage 2.72DIP switch settingDIP switch 1 2 3 4Motorola InputOffDCC inputOnBooster without reversing loop Off OffBooster with reversing loop Off OnBraking generator operation On OffFixed output Voltage of 20VOffVariable output of 12-20VOn8

3. Booster3.1 DescriptionPower 3/6Power 3 has a 3A power output and Power 6 a 6Apower output. The outputs of both devices have shortcircuit protection.The devices can be connected to various digital controlstations. In conjunction with the Intellibox they passMotorola, DCC and Selectrix protocols to the track.Together with controllers from Märklin, Lenz or Arnoldthey pass the protocols of those controllers.For technical reasons operating together with aSelectrix controller is not possible.3.2 Selecting the socket for the control signalImage 3.21DIP switch on theback of the device3.3 Variable output voltagePower 3 and Power 6 can accept control signalsMotorola or DCC controllers. The input socket useddepends on the control signal format used. The DIPswitch on the back of the device must have the correctsetting.Switch 1 OFF – if the device is connected to anIntellibox or Märklin center via socket 2Switch 1 ON – if the device is connected to a DCCcontroller (Lenz LZ100, Arnold 86200) via socket 4.Power 3 and Power 6 output voltage is dependant onthe transformer used and the load presented by thelayout. If a normal 16V model railway transformer isused, the maximum track voltage without load is 20V.Power 3 and Power 6 are factory set to a fixed 20Voutput.If DIP switch 4 is switched to ON, with the aide of asmall screwdriver, the rotary potentiometer beside theDIP switch can be used to set Power 3 and Power 6output voltage in the 12V – 20V range.Switch 4 OFF – fixed output voltage of 20VSwitch 4 ON – variable output voltage of 12V – 20V9

Power 3/63.4 DCC input without feedback to the controllerNOTEIn the event that a track section is connected to abooster that doesn’t report short circuits back to thecontroller, the DCC input must be connected back tothe controller. In this case only the C- and D-connections are made (see Connection of a DCCcentral controller).In the event of a short circuit the booster turns the trackpower off. After approx. 10 seconds the track power isswitched back on. If the short circuit is still present itwill switch off for a further 10 seconds.If this method of operation is used with an Intellibox itwill not be possible to run Selectrix locomotives on thebooster’s circuit.10

4. Automatic reversing loop4.1 DescriptionPower 3/6Just as in analog, when installing a reversing loop in a2-rail digital layout, you are presented with a shortcircuit. The booster switches off. The short circuit isavoided by having an insulated section within the loopand operating it via a specialized module. Then thevehicle can travel around the loop without interruption.Power 3 and Power 6 have such a reversing loopmodule for 2-rail operation (DCC, Märklin gauge 1,Selectrix) with separate outputs. It is possible toconnect a number of loops of which only one is used ata time.4.2 Activating the reversing loop moduleTo operate the Power 3 and Power 6 boosters with areversing loop the DIP switch on the back of the devicemust be changed.Switch 3 ON – to active the reversing loopSwitch 4 OFF – to turn off the braking moduleTo operate a reversing loop with a Power 3 or Power 6the braking module must be switched off.4.2 WiringImage 4.21Connection of areversing loopVERY IMPORTANTIMPORTANTWire the reversingloop using the 6pole connector insocket 1 of thedevice. As shownin the sketch, theloop is wired topins 1 and 2 andthe normal track topins 3(red) and 4(brown).The reversing loop must be isolated at both ends.The track that joins (but is insulated from) the reversingloop at its ends must be powered from the samebooster as the reversing loop.Because the reversing loop automation is activated bylocomotives crossing the insulation gaps, the powerconnection to both the reversing loop and normal trackshould be close to the isolation gap.11

5. Brake generator5.1 DescriptionPower 3/6The brake generator is used so that locomotives withDCC decoders can have the decoder controlled tobrake before a red signal.To achieve this, a special braking signal is used.Furthermore, you must ensure that you can’t get ashort circuit when the isolation gaps between normaland braking sections are crossed.The braking generator monitors every individualbraking section. As soon as a train has fully enteredthe section the drive power is switched from the normalbooster to the braking generator.5.2 Socket selection for the control signal5.3 Mode selection5.4 WiringPower 3 and Power 6 can receive its control signalfrom Motorola or DCC controllers. The socket used toconnect the controller depends on the format beingused. Besides this the DIP switch must be set to thecorrect selection.Switch 1 OFF – if the device is to be connected to anIntellibox or Märklin center via socket 2Switch 1 ON – if the device is connected to a DCCcontroller (Lenz LZ100, Arnold 86200) via socket 4.To operate a Power 3 or Power 6 as a brakinggenerator the DIP switch on the back of the devicemust be changed.Switch 2 ON – to turn the braking generator onSwitch 3 OFF – to turn the braking generator offInstall a ‘drive’ and ‘holding’ section in the approach toevery signal. These are switched over by the relay assoon as a train which is stopped in the holding sectionis released.To avoid short circuits the drive section before theholding section must be at least as long as the longesttrains to drive that track.The length of the holding section must be long enoughfor the locomotives to be able to stop within the sectionusing the chosen brake settings.12

Image 5.41This is how a brakingsection approaching asignal can beimplemented with a GBMPower 3/6As the relay with train control you can use e.g. trackoccupation detector with relay (GBM 43400).The power control can be done with a further Power 3(65600), Power 6 (65650) or Märklin booster (6015 or6017).Switch S1 must be normally open. It can be a switchfrom a signal or arelay contact.When the signal is“green” the switchmust be open sothat the trackoccupancydetector is idle.In this case thedigital power tothe entire sectionis provided by theIntellibox or thebooster.When the signal is “red” switch S1 must be closed sothat the occupancy detector (e.g. GBM 43400) canmonitor the holding section.If a train is detected in the holding section, theoccupancy detector switches the power for the entireblock section to the control of the braking generator.5.5 Brake generator without connection to the controllerIf the booster is to be used as a brake generatorwithout short circuit reporting and without shutdowncapability from the central controller, it must be set toBrake generator mode and Märklin signal format. Inthis case the connecting cable to the central controllercan be removed.In the event of a short circuit on the braking section,the booster will shutdown for approx. 10 seconds.After this it will automatically turn back on. If the shortcircuit is still present it will shutdown for a further 10seconds. The braking section can not be switched offfrom the control center.13

6. Error IndicationPower 3/6Power 3 and Power 6 error indication is by differentblinking combinations of the red and green LEDsGreen LED on – red LED off“go” key pressedTrack power is switched on (normal operation)Red LED on – green LED off“stop” key pressedTrack power is switched off by the controllerGreen LED on – red LED blinkingShort circuit on the trackLEDs blinking alternately 1 x red – 1 x greenOver heating, track power is switched offLEDs blinking alternately 1 x red – 2 x greenNo input signal from the Intellibox or Märklin CenterLEDs blinking alternately 1 x red – 3 x greenA foreign potential is on the track output at power onOur Hotline is availableMondays to Fridays 14:00-16:00Wednesdays 16:00-18:0002045-85832714