You can have the power and reliability of Digitrax boosters even if you use a Lenz Command Station. You can use Digitrax boosters to automate reverse loops, too. Digitrax boosters can be used with the Lenz Command Station to provide more power for driving the layout. Many customers are using DB150, DB200, or DB100 series boosters instead of LV100's because the DB150’s & DB100's are very reliable 5 amp boosters with plenty of heat sinking capability to prevent heat related booster shutdows.
Equipment needed:
1) A Lenz LZ100 Command Station.
2) A DB150, DB100 or a DB200 series booster.
3) 6-conductor LocoNet cable with a RJ12 plug on one end.
4) Power Supply capable of outputting 12-15volts and either 5 or 8amps depending on the booster.
5) A short jumper wire used to configure the booster.
How to make it work:
1) Connect the track to the booster “Rail A & Rail B” outputs. Note: Each track section powered by it's own booster should be double gapped at both ends, this pertains to regular layout sections as well as reverse loops.
2) Depnding on booster type; connect the “CONFIG A & GROUND” or "SYNC & GROUND" terminals with a jumper wire. This configures the DB150/100/200 as a booster rather than a command station.
3) Cut and Strip the outer insulation off the end of the LocoNet cable. Strip the White and Blue wires (Rail Sync). Connect these wires to the LZ100 terminals marked "C" & "D".
Do NOT connect the other 4 wires of the LocoNet cable. Cut these wires off and insulate them so that they do not touch each other.
If you are only using one booster it does not matter which wire you connect to which terminal. If you are using multiple boosters, all White and Blues must be connected to the same LZ100 terminals.
4) Plug the other end of the LocoNet cable into either LOCONET "A" or "B" port.
5) Connect the power supply to the "POWER IN" terminals on the booster. Be sure you have made all the connections described above before applying power to the booster. At initial power on, Digitrax boosters configure themselves automatically according to the various switch settings and whether or not the “CONFIG A & GROUND” or “GROUND & SYNC” terminals are jumpered together.
Using more than one booster
If you need to use more than one booster, it is not necessary to run the White and Blue wires from each booster to the LZ100. Once the first booster is connected as described above, you can simply "daisy chain" additional boosters together by using LocoNet cables connected to the Digitrax Booster LocoNet "A" & "B" ports.
If the booster will power a Reverse Loop
On a DB150 booster connect the "CONFIG B & GROUND" terminal with a jumper wire. On the DB100 and DB200 boosters place the MODE switch in the P/R position.
Troubleshooting
If your DB150/100/200 doesn’t work properly, make sure that the “CONFIG A & GROUND” or “SYNC & GROUND” are jumpered.
If there is a short circuit when travelling from LZ100 command station to the booster section swap the White and Blue wires to correct the short.