tams elektronik RC-Link User manual

Manual
RC-Link
Item no. 45-02257 | 45-02267
RailCom PC Interface
tams elektronik
n n n
tams elektronik

En lish RC-Link
Table of contents
1. Gettin started ...........................................................................3
2. Safety instructions.......................................................................5
3. Back round information: RailCom................................................6
4. Operatin mode of the RC-Link....................................................8
5. Technical specifications..............................................................10
6. Connections and funcitonal tests................................................11
7. Pro rammin the detectors´ addresses......................................15
8. Check list for troubleshootin .....................................................16
9. Guarantee bond........................................................................18
10. EU declaration of conformity......................................................19
11. Declarations conformin to the WEEE directive...........................19
© 07/2013 Tams Elektronik GmbH
All ri hts reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
includin photocopyin , without prior permission in writin from Tams
Elektronik GmbH.
Subject to technical modification.
Remark: RailCom® is the re istered trademark of the Lenz Elektronik
GmbH, Hüttenber straße 29, D-35398 Gießen. To increase the text´s
readability we have refrained from referin to this point in each
instance.
Pa e 2
tams elektronik

RC-Link En lish
1. Gettin started
How to use this manual
This manual ives step-by-step instructions for safe and correct
connectin of the device, and operation. Before you start, we advise
you to read the whole manual, particularly the chapter on safety
instructions and the checklist for trouble shootin . 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 device on to another person, please pass on the manual
with it.
Intended use
The PC interface RC-Link is desi ned to be operated accordin to the
instructions in this manual with di ital model railways. Any other use is
inappropriate and invalidates any uarantees.
The RC-Link should not be mounted by children under the a e of 14.
Readin , understandin and followin the instructions in this manual
are mandatory for the user.
Checking the package contents
Please make sure that your packa e contains:
one RC-Link with USB interface and one USB cable (len th: 5,00 m)
(item no. 45-02257) or
one RC-Link with V.24 interface and one V.24 cable (len th: 5,00 m)
(item no. 45-02267);
one jumper (short circuit plu );
a CD (containin the manual, softwre and further information).
Pa e 3
tams elektronik

En lish RC-Link
Required materials
In order to connect the device you need wire. Recommend diameters:
data bus: > 0,1 mm². It is recommended to use twin wire (e. . LiYz,
2x0,19 mm², red-brown, item no. 73-30037);
connections to the interface´s power supply: > 0,25 mm².
Pa e 4
tams elektronik

RC-Link En lish
2. Safety instructions
Mechanical hazards
Cut wires can have sharp ends and can cause serious injuries. Watch
out for sharp ed es when you pick up the PCB.
Visibly dama ed parts can cause unpredictable dan er. Do not use
dama ed parts: recycle and replace them with new ones.
Electrical hazards
Touchin powered, live components,
touchin conductin components which are live due to malfunction,
short circuits and connectin the circuit to another volta e than
specified,
impermissibly hi h humidity and condensation build up
can cause serious injury due to electrical shock. Take the followin
precautions to prevent this dan er:
Never perform wirin on a powered module.
Mountin the device should only be done in closed, clean, dry rooms.
Beware of humidity.
Only use low power for this module as described in this manual and
only use certified transformers.
Connect transformers only in approved mains sockets installed by an
authorised electrician.
Observe cable diameter requirements.
After condensation build up, allow a minimum of 2 hours for
dispersion.
Use only ori inal spare parts if you have to repair the kit or the
ready-built module.
Pa e 5
tams elektronik

En lish RC-Link
3. Back round information: RailCom
Feedback with RailCom
RailCom is a standard for bi-directional communication in di ital model
railway layouts controlled in DCC-format. It allows e. . the feedback of
the address and the CV values from RailCom decoders to the di ital
control unit or to special receivers (so-called detectors).
To transfer the RailCom messa es special RailCom boosters supplyin
the so-called RailCom cutout have to be used.
Data trans er between RailCom components
The RailCom standard is the basis of the communication between
RailCom compatible decoders and RailCom detectors, which allows you
to use detectors and decoders of different manufacturers to ether. On
the other hand, a manufacturer specific data bus is used to
communicate between detectors, display devices and PC interfaces.
That is the reason why the use of detectors, display devices and PC
interfaces of one manufacturer is mandatory.
The data bus used by Tams Elektronik for the communication between
detectors, display devices and PC interfaces allows you
to control up to 24 separate track sections and
to connect up to 32 RailCom devices (detectors RCD-1, RCD-2 or
RC-D-8, display devices RCA-1 or RCA-24, PC interfaces RC-Link).
In order to assi n the detectors, display devices and PC interfaces to
each other, they et addresses between 1 and 24.
Pa e 6
tams elektronik

RC-Link En lish
Example or the data trans er in the Tams speci ic data bus








There are five different detectors connected to the data bus, all
to ether controllin 13 separate track sections. In order to display
and exploit the data there are used:
four sin le display devices RCA-1 displayin the data from one
section each,
one 24-fold display device RCA-24, displayin the data from all 13
track sections,
one RailCom PC interface RC-Link.
Bus line
For technical reasons, there are two wires with a diameter of minimum
0,10 mm² mandatory as a bus line for the communication between
detectors, display devices and PC interfaces (lines A and B). In order to
minimise the vulnerability towards disturbances from other cables, the
two wires should be twisted. It is recommended to use twin wire (e. .
LiYz, 2x0,19 mm², red-brown, item no. 73-30037)
The bus line has to be looped throu h from one to the other device.
When connectin them the lines A and B always have to be assi ned to
the correspondin connection points A and B of the devices.
Pa e 7
tams elektronik

En lish RC-Link
4. Operatin mode of the RC-Link
Trans erring RailCom messages to the PC
The RC-Link transfers the feedback si nals from a maximum of 24 local
RailCom detectors (e. . RCD-1, RCD-2 or RCD-8) to the PC. These
RailCom messa es refer clearly to a particular detector (or track
section) as the detectors are identified by addresses.
Most PC pro rams for model railroadin support feedback by RailCom.
Dependin on the features the PC software is providin the incomin
messa es are displayed on the PC monitor or are used as a basis for
the automatic control of operatin schedules, for example.
Trans erring busy signals to the PC
Many RailCom detectors are desi ned to detect loads in the supervised
rail section not sendin a RailCom si nal, as well. The RC-Link also
transfers these pure busy si nals to the PC.
Per ormance at a breakdown o the track voltage
When a breakdown of the track volta e occurs (e. . after an automatic
cut-off of the track volta e after a short circuit), the detectors cannot
read out and transfer RailCom messa es or busy si nals to the RC-Link.
If the RC-Link would transfer the messa e "track section is disen a ed"
to the PC in this case, failures in operational procedures and accidents
could occur.
In order to meet with this problem, the RC-Link checks via a port for
the connection to the rails if a track volta e is applied. Only when a
track volta e is applied, current disen a ed reports are transferred to
the PC. In case the track volta e breaks down, the (in most cases) false
disen a ed reports are suppressed and the RailCom messa es last
received before the volta e breakdown are saved.
Pa e 8
tams elektronik

RC-Link En lish
With certain constellations (e. . when the detectors are located in
different booster sections reactin in varied ways to short circuit
messa es) suppressin the disen a ed reports at a volta e break down
can be unnecessary or disturbin . When performin functional tests
connectin the RC-Link to the rails may involve a hi h effort.
For that reasons it is possible to do without connectin the RC-Link to
the rails as well. With an open track port (and thus supposed broken
down track volta e) the RC-Link however supresses the transfer of
disen a ed reports, which is unwelcome in this constellation. That is
why in this case a track volta e bein applied has to be simulated by
shuntin a connection on the module with a jumper.
Pa e 9
tams elektronik

En lish RC-Link
5. Technical specifications
Attention: As a power supply for the RC-Link you should not use the
transformer supplyin the di ital control. If possible you should use a
separate transformer supplyin only the RailCom components on your
layout.
Supply volta e 12 - 18 Volt Gleich- oder
Wechselspannun
Di ital format DCC
Feedback lo RailCom
Current consumption approx. 20 mA
Protected to IP 00
Ambient temperature in use 0 ... +60 °C
Ambient temperature in stora e -10 ... +80 °C
Comparative humidity allowed max. 85 %
Dimensions includin housin (approx.) 100 x 90 x 35 mm
Wei ht includin housin (approx. )
RC-Link with USB interface
RC-Link with V.24 interface
100
108
Pa e 10
tams elektronik