Lenz Digital plus LV200 User manual

Power Station LV200 1
DIGITAL plus
General characteristics
∗The LV200 was developed especially for the increased electric
power requirements of model railways the larger scales (S, O,
Large Scale).
∗The LV200 is not suitable for operation with HO or smaller
scales.
∗measurements : 120 x 55 x 120 mm
LV200
10 Amp Power Station
Art. No. 22200
1st Edition
Revised 9/99
Submitted to the NMRA for testing

2PowerStation LV200
Important safety instructions
Do not leave your model railway system in operation when
it is not being supervised! If a short-circuit goes unnoticed,
the heat produced causes a risk of fire!
The LV200 is authorised for operation only with a UL or CE
approved transformer such as the Digital plus by Lenz ®, TR200,
the Aristo Craft ART-5460 10 amp transformer, or the LGB -
"Jumbo".
The heat produced by the power station in operation is normal.
You must provide sufficient air circulation around the power
station in order to prevent the internal protective system from
reacting prematurely, that is, during normal operation.
No radio interference suppression capacitor may be installed in
the track system. This capacitor is necessary only for the
interference suppression in conventional operation. If used with
the Digital plus by Lenz ® system, however, it would distort the
data format and interfere with the fault-free transmission of data.
A mixed digital operation using overhead lines and track is not
permitted. In such a mode of operation, if the locomotive is sitting
on the track in the wrong direction (which might be the case e.g.
after having driven through a terminal-loop), the installed
locomotive decoder can be destroyed by overvoltage! We
recommend operation using track pick-up, because the reliability
of contact (and therefore the transmission of digital signals to the
locomotive decoder) is substantially greater than it is when
operating with overhead lines.
What is the purpose of the power station LV200?
Together with a suitable model railroad transformer, the LV200
serves to supply current to your model railway.
The power station LV200 can be compared to the amplifier (output
transformer) of stereo equipment: the audio signal produced by the
CD player has to be amplified, otherwise you could not hear
anything coming from the loudspeakers.

Power Station LV200 3
DIGITAL plus
The track-signal produced by the LZ100 or LH200 command
stations contains the information used by the locomotive decoder
and the switch decoder. From this information the decoders learn
whether the motor of the locomotive is to rotate fast or slowly,
whether the lights are to be switched on or off, and whether the
turnout points should be set on "straight ahead" or "branch off".
This track signal alone, however, is not enough to enable
operation. It must first be amplified in such a way that, in addition
to the information, the required current- supply can also flow. This
amplification is the task of the LV200.
Connecting the LV200
On the back of LV200 you will find the following connections:
UVJK
LenzElektronikGmbH
D-35398 GIESSEN
MadeinGermany
I/O-Port
D
LV200
CE
Connect the transformer
tothe terminalsUand V
Terminals JandKare
the trackconnection The LV200 receivesthe tracksignalvaithe
terminalsCand D.TerminalEservesto notify
an overload tothe command station LZ100
The I/OPortsocketservesto enablethe
directconnection ofa LH200 whichwill
workthen asacommand station
The terminals U and V as well as J and K are designed for a
maximum cable cross-section of 12 AGW wire. For the currents
made available by LV200 you should use a minimum cross-
section of 16AGW.
The terminals C and D are to be connected to the terminals C and
D of the LZ100 command station via a two-wire cable. For reasons
of interference immunity the cable should be twisted.

4PowerStation LV200
The cross-section of the cables of the terminals C, D and E should
not be smaller than 26 AGW, for distances of 4m and longer we
recommend 24 AGW. The maximum cross- section for these
terminals is 16 AGW.
When you optionally connect terminal E of the LV200 with
terminal E of the LZ100 command station, the command station is
informed of the overloading of the power station. The command
station will then transfer this information to all input equipment
(manual control etc.) and turn off the DCC track signal to all other
power stations. The display of the LH100 will then inform you
regarding the switching-off of power or resuming operation.
If you do not connect terminal E of the LV200 with the LZ100
command station, then when an overload occurs, the LV200 only
shuts down the track area it is connected and the LZ100 will not
shut down any other power station on the layout. After a certain
time (when the LV200 power station has cooled down) the LV200
power station will switch on the current supply TO ITS TRACK
SECTION automatically. If the overloading still exists, THE LV200
will switch off again after a short period of time.
toLZ100
Tracksofthemodelrailroad
Trafo1
UVJK
LenzElektronikGmbH
D-35 398 GIESSEN
MadeinGermany
I/O-Port
CDE
LV200
LZ100
UVRSPQLMAB CDE
L enzElektro nikGmbH353 98 Giesse n Made inGerm any
XBUS
Connecting the LV200 to the command stationLZ100

Power Station LV200 5
DIGITAL plus
The luminous diode
The luminous diode at the front of the LV200 provides information
on the operating situation:
green,
constant: Everything is ok, there is operating voltage and the DCC signal is being sent to the track.
green,
flashing: The LV200 is not receiving a digital signal via the terminals C, D. There is operating voltage, and the voltage on the tracks is
switched off.
Causes:
-The system was brought to Emergency STOP (e.g. by
switching it off at the manual control)
-The cable connection C,D between LV200 and the
command station has been interrupted
-When using an LH200 as a command station, the plug has
been pulled out of the I/O-Port socket.
-The system is in programming mode (in such cases the
command station LZ100 switches off the track signal).
red: Fault due to:
-Overload, overheating (the maximum starting voltage has
been exceeded)
-Overvoltage (the permitted maximum input voltage has
been exceeded)
Six-Pin I/O - Port
The new six-pin phone type jack located on the rear of the LV101
is provided for use with the LH200 when used as a command
station. The wire connections for this I/O port are shown in below.
CAUTION:
DO not plug in another manufacturers 6 pin wire
into this jack as each manufacturer defines the
use of these wires differently. Plugging in a
different manufacturers equipment into the IO port
could destroy one or both pieces of equipment
and this is not covered by our warranty.

6PowerStation LV200
Wire connections for the LV200 6 pin -I/O port
Pin # Color Description
Pin 1 White "C" Control Bus Connection
Pin 2 Black Ground
Pin 3 Red - RS-485
Pin 4 Green + RS-485
Pin 5 Yellow +12 volts
Pin 6 Blue "D" Control Bus Connection
Connecting the LV200 to Other DCC Systems
The LV200 has been designed to be used with a broad range of
NMRA DCC systems. Following are diagrams to assist you in
connecting the LV200 to other systems.

Power Station LV200 7
DIGITAL plus
Electrical values
Operating voltage (input voltage)
The LV200 is designed for the following input voltages:
AC (TR200): 26V peak-voltage corresponds to
18V AC effective output
DC (Aristo Craft ART-5460) 19V DC
DC (LGB - Jumbo): 16-24V DC
Generic Transformer: O and S scales 16V AC
Large Scale 18V AC or 22V DC
Voltage on the track (output voltage)
In general, the starting voltage is a little less than the input
voltage. When the supply is
AC (TR200): connected to 18V terminal:
25.5V without load, 20.0V at 8A.
connected to 15V terminal:
21.2V without load, 16.5V at 8A
Aristo Craft ART-5460: 18.5 V without load
DC (LGB - Jumbo) the output voltage is approx. 1.5V
less than the input voltage.
Output current available to the railroad
The maximum output current of LV200 depends on the kind of
input voltage and the performance of the supplying transformer.
The following are the respective maximum output currents:
AC (TR200): 8 Amp
Aristo Craft ART-5460: 9 Amp
DC (LGB-Jumbo): 10 Amp
Generic 12 Amp Transformer: 10 Amp
Determining the power requirements of your
model railway
As with conventionally operated systems and layouts, a sufficient
supply of electricity to the system is a precondition for the sure
and safe functioning of the Digital plus by Lenz ® systems.
Locomotives, coach lights, points, signals etc. receive their power
and control information from the power station.
The power consumption of your model railway system consists of:

8PowerStation LV200
Running locomotives Depending on size and attached load, the power
consumption varies extremely. A small, single LGB-
locomotive with one motor can make do with approx.
1.5A of current; a large one with two motors (e.g.
Crocodile) reaches peak currents of 4-5A. The maximum
current consumption of the motors of locomotives is
decisive in the selection of the right decoders! Therefore
it is necessary that you measure the current-
consumption or that you ask the producer of the
locomotive for information.
Standing locomotives approx. 2.5 mA, this is the idle current consumption of
the decoder.
illuminated locomotives each bulb approx. 50 mA.
illuminated coaches each bulb approx. 50 mA.
In the area supplied by a LV200, the current consumption of all
locomotives running in this area at the same time (plus the current
consumption of the lights of the coaches) must not exceed the
maximum current that can be delivered by the LV200.
If the total current consumption of all the locomotives, coaches,
signals etc connected to the LV200 exceeds the current that can
be delivered by the LV200, the protective system will be activated:
the voltage on the tracks will be switched off and the LED will
shine red.
If the performance of one LV200 is not sufficient for the system
then divide the layout into several supply areas. Further LV200s
can then be used to supply these areas with current.
to LZ100
Coverage area 1 Coverage area 2
Trafo 1 Trafo 2
UVJK
LenzEle ktronikGmbH
D-35398 GIESSEN
MadeinGermany
I/O-Port
CDE
LV200
UVJK
LenzElektronikGmbH
D-35398 GIESSEN
MadeinGermany
I/O-Port
CDE
LV200
Dividing the model railway into power districts

Power Station LV200 9
DIGITAL plus
The additional LV200s receive the control signals from the
terminals C and D of the first LV200. Each LV200 has to be
connected to its own transformer. The number of power station-
transformer-units needed depends on the overall power
consumption of your model railway.
It is absolutely necessary that the electric circuits of all the
LV200's are the same polarity. Thus, terminal J of one and
terminal J of the next LV200 must be connected to same side of
the track in question. Otherwise short-circuits will occur when
operating a locomotive over gaps that divide the power districts.
Advice on the wiring of the model railway
Use only cables with a minimum cross section of 16 AGW when
connecting the tracks and twist these cables. Moreover, the power
station should always be placed as close as possible to the first
point of power supply.
For extended routes you need additional track power connections
at regular intervals. Rule of thumb: every 3m.
No capacitor for interference suppression may be installed into the
track system. Such a capacitor is necessary for the interference
suppression only in conventional operation. When used with the
Digital plus by Lenz ® system it would, however, distort the data
format and interfere with the fault-free transmission of data.
Common Rail Wiring
Normally both rails are gapped between power stations. This
provides complete isolation. However, in some scales there exist
locomotives that have pickups that are offset from each other. For
example many steam locomotives have power pickup from one rail
in the locomotive and the other rail in the tender. When such a
locomotive bridges the gap between isolated power stations, the
locomotive will stall. The solution to this problem is to provide a
common wire between all power stations. All systems of
command control need to have a such a common provided, if
offset pickup locomotives are to be operated.
Lenz has chosen to leave the option of the location of the common
up to the individual operator. The LV200 is completely opto-
isolated. This allows you to use one of the rails (called common
rail) for your common. Common rail wiring is also compatible with

10 PowerStation LV200
many existing signalling systems. While common rail is the
preferred place for a common, you may instead connect all the
power station Uor Vwires together. This is called common power
supply wiring.
Caution: If you decide to install a common, it is important that
you only have a single common. Multiple commons (such as
common rail and common transformer) should be avoided.
Connecting a reverse loop
Lenz GmbH produces an automatic reversing module (LK100)
which can be used to easily wire complex automatic reversing
sections. While these units are invaluable in some cases they are
not absolutely needed for DCC operations. Following is an
example on how a very simple reversing section can be built.
a1
a2
b1
b2
~
~= /
Power Supply
for Relays Twin-coil Relay
Isolated Track Contacts
Wiring of Reverse Loops
Using isolated track contacts and a twin-coil relay, the polarity
inside a reverse loop is switched such that when crossing the
gaps, there is no short. For example; when the train travel is in
clockwise direction (turnout is set to diverging route), the polarity
of the loop is set to allow the train to cross the gap without a
short. When the turnout is subsequently switched to straight
operation the relay will switch the polarity in the loop, and the exit
gap can be crossed safely. Since in digital operations the direction
of travel is dependent on the locomotive and not track polarity, the
locomotive will not change its direction of travel when the polarity
within the reverse loop is changed.

Power Station LV200 11
DIGITAL plus
Using Digital Operation with Overhead Wire
A mixed digital operation with overhead line and track is permitted
only if overhead line and track line originate from the same
power station.
On no account may the track be connected to one power station
while the overhead line is connected to another. With such wiring,
if the locomotive is set on the track in the wrong direction (e.g.
after having driven through a terminal-loop), the installed
locomotive decoder will be destroyed due to overvoltage!
Help in case of malfunctions
Fault Possible cause Elimination of problem
LV200 is not ready
for work (LED does
not shine).
Electric power supply is
interrupted. Transformer mains-
plug not plugged in.
Check wiring between
transformer and LV200,
plug in transformer mains-
plug.
The connection between
LV200 and the command
stationLZ100 is interrupted or
short-circuited (terminals C and
D).
Check and correct the
connections.
LED flashes green,
locomotives do not
run, points and
signals can not be
switched.
The command station does not
transmit a track signal, because
the system was set on
“Emergency Stop“.
Switch the system on
again. For more information
on this, see the operation
manual for the input
equipment.
When using the LH200 as
command station the plug was
unplugged from the I/O socket.
Put the plug back into the
socket again.
The system is set on the
programming mode; therefore
the command station has
switched off the track signal.
Finish the programming
mode. For more information
please see the operation
manuals for the input
equipment.
There has been a short-circuit
on the track system. Deal with the short-circuit.LED shines constantly red,
locomotives do not
run, points and
signals can not be
switched.
There is overloading. Divide the system into
several coverage areas
and supply them with
additional s/ transformers

12 PowerStation LV200
LV200 is ready to
work (LED shines
constantly green),
locomotives do not
run, and turnouts
and signals can not
be switched.
The connection of the power
station and the track and / or
the switch decoder is
interrupted (terminals J and K
not connected).
Check and correct the
connections.
Not suitable for children under three because of the danger of their
swallowing the small constituent pieces. Improper use can result
in injury by functionally necessary points and edges. For use only
in dry areas. We reserve the right to make changes in line with
technical progress, product maintenance or changes in production
methods. We accept no responsibility for errors, which may occur
for similar reasons. We accept no responsibility for direct or
indirect damage resulting from improper use, non observance of
instructions, use of transformers or other electrical equipment
which is not authorised for use with model railways or transformers
or other electrical equipment which is not authorised for use with
model railways or transformers or other electrical equipment which
has been altered or adapted or which is faulty. Nor can we accept
responsibility when damage results from unsupervised
adjustments to equipment or from acts of violence or from
overheating or from the effects of moisture etc. Furthermore, in all
such cases guarantees become invalid.
Hüttenbergstraße 29
35398 Gießen, Germany
Hotline: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.lenz.com
Lenz Agency of North
America
PO Box 143
Chelmsford, MA 01824
ph/fax: [phone]
[email protected]
This equipment complies with Part 15 of FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference,
and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.
Please save this manual for future reference!
© 1999 Lenz GmbH, All Rights Reserved