ZTC 303 User manual

The ZTC System is only intended for controlling model railways by
experienced modellers over the age of 14 .
It should only ever be operated by young persons under
competent adult supervision.
COPYRIGHT 2004
ZTC Controls Ltd.
24 Chilkwell St. Glastonbury.
Somerset BA6 8DB, England
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
E Mail: [e-mail]
Web Site: www.ztccontrols.com
WARNING
If you fail to read the installation instructions properly it is possible
that you could accidentally damage your ZTC unit. Such damage is
NOT covered by our guarantee. So to prevent avoidable and
potentially expensive mistakes, please take the time to read these
instructions before attempting to install your equipment
Issue 1.01

Introduction to the decoder and its features
With reference to the main picture and board description of Figure 1 the board
consists of the following.
•Main cable. The signals from the DCC rail track and the signals that
are output all come out on this cable apart from the Servo connector.
Figure 1 details this cable and its signals.
•Servo connector. This only outputs Servo signals when the board has
been programmed as a Servo Controller.
•Switch. This is used to manually switch the attached devices.
Depending on which mode the decoder is in determines the nature of
the manual output. For example by pressing the switch, if the decoder
is in pulse mode then the unit will pulse in the opposite direction to last
performed. Confirming status of decoder.
The switch is also used to enter service mode whilst the device is
connected to the main track. This enables programming of the CV
values and thus configuration of the device.
As stated this decoder can control almost any point accessory device. It can
be used for other control system such as lights, signals etc. It has circuitry
enabling many modes of operation. These modes are categorised as follows.
1. Coil motor such as PECO, Hornby, Seep etc. This style of motor has two
coils and either coil is pulsed to actuate the point in its respective direction.
2. Slow Action Point Motors such as Tortoise, Fulgarex, Lemaco etc. These
devices are driven continuously therefore having a separate mode of
control.
3. Servo control. Gives control of R/C servo units. These are fully
programmable to allow adjustable end limits and the movement rate.
4. Flash mode. This enables fully programmable flashing outputs with
independent configuration of the on and off times.
The ZTC 303 unit has the facility to be upgraded for future software
enhancements.
The unit has been fully tested to work with all NMRA compatible systems.

Installation of the ZTC 303 Decoder
The Installation is very simple.
All that is required is for the Black and wires Red to be connected to the Track
north and Track south and then the relevant connections to the chosen point
motor.
See full diagram and chart below
FIGURE 1

Decoder Default Settings
When the unit is first connected to the track and has never been programmed
before the following defaults will be set.
Decoder Address: 1
Mode: Pulse
Pulse Width: 200milliseconds
In this mode the decoder will switch point motors with a pulse of
200milliseconds. If configuration is required then the user will need to read the
programming modes section
Mode Description
Programming your ZTC 303 Decoder
Pulse Motor operation.
This mode is the default mode of the decoder.
This mode consists of a programmable pulse output. When a switch
command is received from the DCC control unit the decoder switches the
appropriate output for the predefined time. The default value for this is
200milliseconds.
CV34 can be used to program this pulse width value. The user can program a
value between 0 and 255 for this. Each increment in value increases the pulse
time by 10milliseconds. For Example, 1 gives a pulse of 10milliseconds, 2
gives 20milliseconds, etc. This gives a maximum switching time of 2.55
seconds.
WARNING: IF A TOO LONG A PULSE DURATION IS SET THIS MAY
CAUSE DAMAGE.
DUE TO THE HIGH CURRENT OF SOME POINT MOTORS IT IS ADVISED
THAT THE POINT MOTOR SHOULD NOT BE SWITCHED REPETITIVLEY
MORE THAN 5 TIMES IN ANY 10 SECOND PERIOD, OTHERWISE
DAMAGE MAY OCCUR AND WARRANTY WILL BE VOID.

Continuous Mode Operation.
This mode provides a continuous or permanent on signal to the requested
output. When first powered up it does not switch in either direction?
To place the decoder in this mode program CV33 with value 1.
When this is done a lock value is placed in CV35. This is to protect the
unit from harm if it was connected to a point motor and is accidentally
programmed into this mode. Using the decoder in continuous mode with
a PECO Point motor for example will result in circuitry damage.
The decoder will not enter Continuous mode without programming the LOCK
value into CV33 and you will not be able to instruct the decoder to output any
signal without programming CV35 with the UNLOCK code.
To unlock the decoder outputs in continuous mode program CV35 with value
255.
No other value will unlock the outputs!
Servo Mode
The decoder's Servo connector provides the necessary signal to control a
servo unit in either direction. The output is only enabled when the decoder is
placed in Servo mode.
To place the decoder in this mode program CV33 with value 2.
The decoder has 3 other CV values to control the parameters of the servo
output.
CV37 controls the negative limit for servo control. This is a value in
degrees of rotation in the anticlockwise direction?
CV38 controls the positive limit for servo control. This is a value in
degrees of rotation in the clockwise direction?
PRESET →ENTER R
→SIGNAL cv 33 →PRESET → → 1
PRESET →ENTER R
→SIGNAL cv 35 →PRESET → → 255
PRESET →ENTER R
→SIGNAL cv 33 →PRESET → → 2