TAMS Elektronik Booster B-4 User manual
tams elektronik
Manual
Booster B-4
Item no. 40-19407 | 40-19417
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tams elektronik
English Booster B-4
Table of contents
1. Why Boosters?............................................................................3
2. Getting started............................................................................4
3. Safety instructions.......................................................................6
4. Your B-4.....................................................................................7
5. Splitting your model railway layout.............................................13
6. Connecting the B-4....................................................................14
7. Settings....................................................................................17
7.1.Programming the B-4...........................................................18
7.2.Setting the B-4 with jumpers................................................21
8. Operation.................................................................................23
9. Check list for troubleshooting.....................................................25
10. Guarantee bond........................................................................28
11. EU declaration of conformity.....................................................29
12. Declarations conforming to the WEEE directive...........................29
© 09/2016 Tams Elektronik GmbH
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, without prior permission in writing from Tams
Elektronik GmbH. Subject to technical modification.
RailCom® is the registered trademark of:
Lenz Elektronik GmbH | Vogelsang 14 | DE-35398 Gießen
To increase the text´s readability we have refrained from refering to
this point in each instance.
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Booster B-4 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.
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.
3. Making sure the current is switched off in case of a short-circuit on
the layout (e.g. when a vehicle derails), in order to prevent
damages at rails and vehicles.
In layouts monitored by RailCom the booster also provides the so-called
RailCom-cutout needed to transfer RailCom-feedback data.
You can measure the power consumption as follows:
1 locomotive gauge N 600 mA
1 locomotive gauge H0 800 mA
1 locomotive gauge 0 1.000 mA
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
The Booster B-4 can provide 2 to 5 A current depending on the
settings. If your overall power demand exceeds the capacity of one
booster you have to connect additional boosters according to the
special requirements of your layout.
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English Booster B-4
2. Getting started
How to use this manual
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.
Keep this manual safely so that you can solve problems in the future. If
you pass the booster on to another person, please pass on the manual
with it.
Intended use
The booster B-4 is designed to be operated according to the
instructions in this manual in model building, especially in digital model
railroad layouts. Any other use is inappropriate and invalidates any
guarantees.
The booster B-4 should not be mounted by children under the age of
14.
Reading, understanding and following the instructions in this manual
are mandatory for the user.
Checking the contents
Please make sure that your package contains:
Booster B-4, depending on the version
without display (item no. 40-90407) or
with display (item no. 40-90417);
one 3-pin and one 4-pin connector;
five short-circuit jumpers;
a CD (containing the manual and further information).
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Booster B-4 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
A transformer. The recommended voltage and the minimum power
of the transformer depend on the desired settings.
Determining the transformer´s voltage
Desired track voltage Recommended transformer´s voltage
AC voltage DC voltage
10 – 12 V 12 V
desired track voltage
+ 2 V
12 – 15 V 15 V
15 – 18 V 16 V
18 – 22 V 18 V
> 22 V 20 V
Determining the transformer´s minimum power
desired track voltage x desired interrupting current
= minimum transformer´s power
Example: 18 V x 3 A = 54 VA
Please note:
Use a transformer with a nominal voltage not much higher than the
desired track voltage. The power resulting has to be dissipated as heat
by the booster otherwise. When this power is too high, the booster
overheats and switches off.
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English Booster B-4
3. Safety instructions
Risk of fire
The booster is cooled by a ventilating fan to prevent overheating. Thus
be careful to allow the air to flow unhindered through the ventilation
slits at the booster´s top and back surface. If the vents are blocked
components can overheat and catch fire.
Risk of electric shock
Touching powered, live components,
touching conducting components which are live due to malfunction,
short circuits and connecting the circuit to another voltage than
specified,
impermissibly high humidity and condensation build up
can cause serious injury due to electrical shock. Take the following
precautions to prevent this danger:
Only operate indoors in a dry environment.
Wiring should only be carried out when the booster is disconnected.
Only use low power for this device as described in this manual and
only use certified transformers.
Only connect the transformer in an authorised manner to the house
power supply.
Use adequetly thick cable for all wiring. Too thin a cable can
overheat.
If the layout is exposed to condensation, allow at least two hours for
drying out.
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Booster B-4 English
4. Your B-4
Technical specifications
Supply voltage 12 – 20 V AC voltage
12 – 26 V DC voltage
Maximum output current 2, 3, 4 or 5 A
Output voltage 10 – 24 volts digital voltage
Power max. 120 Watt
Digital formats DCC, Motorola,
mfx (control commands only)
Feedback log RailCom
Interface DCC-conforming booster port
(3-pole)
Track signal symmetrical
Protected to IP 00
Ambient temperature in use 0 ... +60 °C
Ambient temperature in storage -10 ... +80 °C
Comparative humidity allowed max. 85 %
Dimensions approx. 95 x 135 x 45 mm
Weight - without display
- with display
approx. 238 g
approx. 254 g
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English Booster B-4
Front side of the B-4
1 LED
2 7- segment display
(item no. 40-19417)
Data formats and ports
The B-4 is a multi protocol booster and capable of amplifying data sent
in the Motorola or the DCC format. It transmits control commands in
mfx-format as well, but no mfx feedback signals.
It can be connected either to a DCC-conforming booster port or to the
rail output of the control unit.
RailCom
The booster B-4 can provide the so-called RailCom-cutout needed to
transfer RailCom-feedback data in RailCom-monitored sections.
When using the B-4 with control units sending a DCC signal but not
compatible to RailCom, providing the RailCom-cutout can cause
malfunction. Some older DCC vehicle decoders and current decoders
(especially of US American manufacturers) which are not designed for
use with Railcom, do not react to driving commands properly with the
RailCom cutout activated. With sound decoders not compatible to
RailCom interferences in the sound playback can occur.
Thus with the B-4 it is possible to switch RailCom on or off (at delivery
RailCom is switched on). With pure Motorola control units, malfunction
due to sending the RailCom-cutout is impossible on principle.
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Booster B-4 English
Using the ABC-braking method
The booster amplifies the track signal completely symmetrically. This
allows the ABC-braking method to be used in DCC-controlled layouts.
The DCC-input of the booster B-4 is isolated through an opto-coupler.
Balanced track voltage
The booster B-4 provides a regulated track voltage, which can be set to
a value between 10 and 24 V in 1 V-steps. At delivery the track voltage
is set to 18 V.
Regulating the track voltage to a constant value prevents changes in
locomotive speeds and lighting brightness, resulting from voltage
variations.
Rated size Recommended track
voltage
Value in state of delivery
Z 12 V
N and TT 14 V
H0 18 V 18 V
0, I and II 20 - 24 V
Short-circuit protection
The Booster B-4 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.
When the short circuit feedback line is connected to the booster port of
the control unit, the B-4 sends a feedback to the DCC control unit when
a short circuit occurs and then the control unit switches off the booster.
The short circuit sensitivity or the interrupting current, can be set to 2,
3, 4 or 5 A. In order to prevent damage effectively when a short circuit
occurs, the short circuit sensitivity should not be set too high.
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English Booster B-4
Rated size Recommended short
circuit sensivity
(= interrupting current)
Value in state of delivery
Z and N 2 A
TT and H0 3 A
0, I and II > 4 A 5 A
Please note:
The set short circuit sensitivity should not exceed the maximum
transformer´s current. In case the maximum interrupting current is
higher than the maximum transformer´s current, the booster cannot
detect an overcurrent and thus does not switch off the current to
protect electronic components, vehicles and the tracks from damage.
Risk of fire !
Automatic switching on after a short circuit
After a short circuit the B-4 switches on automatically after 4 to 10
seconds (adjustable). If the short circuit is still there, it switches off
again immediately.
In state of delivery, the automatic switching on will be interrupted for
one minute after the booster has been switched on and off five times.
This autostarting time can be set individually:
to the set autostarting time after a short circuit (4 to 10 seconds) or
to an individual autostarting time between 0 and 90 seconds
(adjustable in 10 sec.-steps).
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