search

DCC-EX / Support-Planning

DCC++EX Repo to hold project planning documentation and processes
1 stars 1 forks source link

Power overload #674

Open fire-bot opened 2 months ago

fire-bot commented 2 months ago

Sent by (marcus.pfeiffer@gmx.com). Created by fire.

Hi there… First of all, I’d like to thank you for making this fantastic product available in the public domain!

I’m running the latest DCC-EX on a brand new Elegoo Arduino. I’m running a 16VDC / 3.75A track power transformer.

The system works great. I can run a big 2-10-2 Steamer on a QSI sound decoder at full throttle on my rolling road test track without issue.

I have an issue with an old Roco motor. I’m trying to convert a BR-215 to DCC. It runs flawlessly on DC, drawing 0.8 amps on the motor. I have a digital ammeter in series with the power. The motor and gears are cleaned and lubricated.

I am using a DigiTrax DH126 decoder. It’s rated at 1.25 A / 2.0 A peak, which I assume is well within its capabilities. As soon as I run at anything over 20% using your online throttle, it overloads and shuts down. Here’s the debug log…

I have another DH126 which I have tested in it, and the same result happens. I have also put these decoders into a Kato RS-2 and can run full power. The variable is definitely the Roco motor.

I have disconnected the LEDs to remove yet another variable. I have removed the NEM652 socket and wired direct. I have confirmed no continuity from the motor contacts to anything else in the loco. It’s perfectly isolated. There are no resistors or capacitors anywhere.

The only guesses I have from seeing the log is that there are very brief transient power spikes, too short for my ammeter to sense, which are triggering the fault. Is it possible that the square DCC “wave” is being rectified with gaps in the decoder, and spiking? Is it possible that the motor brushes are causing RF interference? Is there anything I can do to muffle that electronic “noise”? Is there a sensitivity setting that I can set?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Marcus Pfeiffer

1500 Concession 4 West • Troy • ON • L0R 2B0

Mobile/SMS: 905-379-5656

Ash-4 commented 2 months ago

Which motor shield are you using? Shields with the L298NH motor driver IC can do 2A https://dcc-ex.com/reference/hardware/motorboards/diy-more-l298nh-motor-shield.html But you will need to provide a custom motor shield define in config.h

#define L298NH_MOTOR_SHIELD F("L298NH_MOTOR_SHIELD"), \
   new MotorDriver(3, 12, UNUSED_PIN, 9, A0, 2.99, 2000, UNUSED_PIN), \
   new MotorDriver(11, 13, UNUSED_PIN, 8, A1, 2.99, 2000, UNUSED_PIN)
#define MOTOR_SHIELD_TYPE L298NH_MOTOR_SHIELD

The discord server is well-suited to provide interactive assistance. Hope to see you there. https://discord.gg/PuPnNMp8Qf