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DCCconcepts Cobalt Alpha Series, Manual

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DCCconcepts Cobalt Alpha Series Manual Download Page 5

page 6

Creating Control panels with Cobalt

D

Alpha

For many DC or DCC modellers... creating a control panel 

has always been a complex job that few modellers really 

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the like, and inevitably, what seems like hundreds of wires 

that all need soldering... exactly, carefully and correctly.
Once that step is done comes the connection to the layout. 

PDQ\PDQ\PRUHZLUHV¿GGO\FRQQHFWRUVDQGDJDLQKRXUV

of soldering that you’ll never know works until you plug it in!
Cobalt

D

 Alpha and its companion products, Alpha 

D

 Box 

and Alpha

D

6ZLWFK' ZHUH FUHDWHG WR ¿[ WKLV VLWXDWLRQ

once and for all - and to do it for ALL modellers, DC or DCC!

So how does using Cobalt

D

Alpha make it easier?

Step 1: Install an “Accessory power bus”. That is just two 

wires that run around the layout passing all of the pointwork. 
We’ll be delivering power down this wire, so please use 

1mm

2

 (14~16gauge) or greater wire diameter please!

Step 2: Fit all your points (turnouts) with accessory decod-

ers and connect them to the Accessory power bus.
Step 3: Create your control panel design and install the 

switches from an Alpha

D

 Switch-D pack - You can Choose 

between  Red, Green or Blue illumination. 

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with step by step pictures, on pages 24 and 25)
Step 4: Switch wiring has plugs on it! Just plug the switches 

into the  Alpha

D

 Switch-D Circuit board. (it is just as easy 

as assembling LEGO really - you cannot get it wrong)
Step 5: Using DCCconcepts DCD-RGB 3-wire ribbon cable, 

connect each output of the  Alpha 

D

 Switch-D to the inputs 

of the Cobalt

D

 Alpha unit.

Step 6: Using a 6-wire cable DCD-ACL or similar, connect 

the Cobalt

D

 Alpha unit to Alpha 

D

 Box, or, if you are an 

NCE user, directly to the Powercab Panel or UTP Panel.
Step 7: Following the Cobalt

D

 Alpha instructions, set the 

cab number for your Cobalt

D

 Alpha, then set the switch 

numbering as needed (The default is 1~12)
Step 8: Following the instructions for your accessory decod-

ers or digital turnout motors, set their address. In the case of 

DCCconcepts Cobalt motors or Acessory decoders, simply 

put their “Run / learn” switch into learn mode, press the but-

ton that you want to use to operate them and then return the 

switch to the run position.
It really is THAT Easy! No soldering at all, most parts are just  

plug and play it’s a FAST process too! Usually, by utilising 

Cobalt

D

 Alpha, the time taken to produce a professional 

control panel is reduced by 75% or more.

Please take a look at pages 24~25 to learn more!

BUILD your panel with Alpha

D

Switch

Connect Alpha

D

Switch to Cobalt 

D

Alpha

Connect Cobalt 

D

Alpha to Alpha

D

Box

Connect Alpha

D

Box to the “Accessory Bus”

PLEASE NOTE: 

In some cases, the images used in this manual are of prototype or pre-production units and may vary slightly in appearance 

from those actually on sale. However in all cases all of the connections and diagrams are identical and the information given is correct.

Summary of Contents for Cobalt Alpha Series

Page 1: ...GHOOHUV DQG WKH RYHUDOO OSKD KDV TXLFNO JURZQ WR LQFOXGH D ZLGH JURXS RI SURGXFWV WKDW VLPSOL HV control panel design and creation greatly reduces the complexity of layout wiring and most importantly allows both DC DCC users to simplify control panel creation and easily add a digital accessory control bus By the way while we have created Alpha D Switch as a companion product to make control panel ...

Page 2: ... switch On input side Cobalt DBox Input Connections are left to right Track power input OK 0 05 to 5 amps track power Main DCC system connection RJ12 type DCCsystem control Cab bus connection RJ12 type Cobalt Alpha Connection RJ12 type DC power input socket 15 21v regulated DC Cobalt DBox Output Connections are left to right Alpha Bus Cab bus Extension RJ12 type Track Power 5 amps capacity fully p...

Page 3: ...nk it to an an intelligent Cobalt D box 5A Intelligent power booster andANY modeller DC or DCC can have an active digital accessory power bus up and running in no time at all Each Cobalt DCentral controls 12 sets of switches and they can be combined and linked to give you control of more than 2000 digitally controlled points Turnouts or other DCC compatible digital accessories The possibilities ar...

Page 4: ...ious decoders and other items It just makes good sense to use a top quality properly regulated DC power supply Cobalt D 3RZHU LV D WRS TXDOLW VPRRWKO OWHUHG DQG ZHOO UHJXODWHG DPS RXWSXW SRZHU VXSSO WKDW ZLOO GHOLYHU D VPRRWK 18v at the input terminals of your DCC system Cobalt DCentral or similar digital device Using a different brand of control system or booster it doesn t matter While we have d...

Page 5: ...ha D Switch D Circuit board it is just as easy as assembling LEGO really you cannot get it wrong Step 5 Using DCCconcepts DCD RGB 3 wire ribbon cable connect each output of the Alpha DSwitch D to the inputs of the CobaltDAlpha unit Step 6 Using a 6 wire cable DCD ACL or similar connect the Cobalt DAlpha unit to Alpha D Box or if you are an NCE user directly to the Powercab Panel or UTP Panel Step ...

Page 6: ...pha D Central to the ALPHA input of your Alpha D box using the RJ12 curly cord that we supply If you are an NCE user you can just connect it directly to the NCE cab bus as both products use standard RS485 bus wiring conventions Setting the CAB bus number Permitted range is 1 99 Alpha Central needs its own cab number as it is in effect the equivalent of a DCC handset You can set it to any cab numbe...

Page 7: ...ral and your control panel will be ready to use the moment you unpack it and connect it to your layout with no added complication at all STEP 2 Connect the Cobalt D Alpha or Cobalt D Alpha Central unit to the Cobalt DBox STEP 3 Create a DCC Accessory Power Bus Need information or help Visit www dccconcepts com manuals advice OR email advice dccconcepts com STEP 4 Connect Digital Accessory decoders...

Page 8: ...able supplied with each Alpha Unit Use 1 2 or more Cobalt D Central or Cobalt D Central it s up to you This diagram uses the NCE PowerCab which can connect directly as it uses the conventional RS485 connection structures ALL other brands can also connect in a similar way with the help of adapter leads See individual brand diagrams You can choose how its done You can also extend the control bus of ...

Page 9: ...x start set Z21or a Gaugemaster Prodigy Express but now want Accessory control OR if you just want more power from your DCC system and perhaps like the idea of a separated Cobalt DAlpha based Accessory power bus then you really DO need Cobalt DBox This diagram shows how easy it is to add Alpha DBox to ANY DCC SYSTEM ATALL Brand by Brand diagrammes follow The easiest possible Power Performance upgr...

Page 10: ...power districts using Alpha DBox Subject to the use of the correct adapter leads see page 26 27 this will work with ANY DCC SYSTEM ATALL ANY Brand of DCC SYSTEM that has both TRACK POWER and COMMAND BUS Outputs COMMAND BUS TRACK POWER Connect TRACK power Connect DCC BUS Switch Set to TRACK Base Station BRAND ADAPTER See P26 28 Hand Set BRAND ADAPTER See P26 28 Alpha DPower or 5 Amp Power Supply 15...

Page 11: ...d we can easily add full digital Accessory control by using Cobalt DAlpha or Cobalt DCentral Giving your DCC system much greater abilities Here is how to do it connection by connection PS This is a ZERO waste upgrade too because if you change brand later your Cobalt DBox Cobalt DAlpha or Cobalt DCentral will all still work perfectly with it Also connect either Cobalt DAlpha or Alpha DCentral Use t...

Page 12: ...em with Cobalt D Alpha or Alpha D Central Upgrading Hornby Elite Select E Link Select and E link are often found in Digital Train sets and the Elite has been adopted by many Hornby oriented modellers however accessory control can be clumsy and the overall output power is quite limited particularly with Select and E link Fortunately for those who like using these products it is VERY easy to upgrade...

Page 13: ...to do it connection by connection PS This is a ZERO waste upgrade too because if you change brand later your Cobalt DBox Cobalt DAlpha or Cobalt DCentral will all still work perfectly with it Also connect either Cobalt DAlpha or Alpha DCentral Use the Curly Cord supplied with them This adds Digital Accessory Control This is Alpha DBox This is Alpha DPower You CAN also extend the Control DCC Data b...

Page 14: ...it soon outgrows the average modellers needs for layout power as its true output power ability is really only 1 5 amps continuous We COULD simply connect the PowerCab panel to the system as per the Prodigy Express but as the PowerCab uses the same wiring as Cobalt D Box we can be more adventurous and really make something special with the NCE PowerCab Cobalt DBox combination Move the SWITCH to the...

Page 15: ...ery popular however it too can be added to and increased in potential if combined with Cobalt DBox for added power and Cobalt DAlpha or Cobalt DCentral for control panel sophistication As with PowerCab the similar Bus wiring allows integration with no adapter leads however using the correct leads DOES matter Please use ONLY 6 wire DCD ACL Curly Cords as supplied with Alpha units by DCCconcepts as ...

Page 16: ...sort of versatility with ALPHA products as NCE as the LENZ bus is actually very similar Therefore subject to the use of the correct LENZ adapter leads you can either use LENZ LA152 adapter plates ORAlpha Panel with LenzAdapter as additional handset connection points There really is NO limit to the system growth that is possible with Alpha DBox as long as you utilise our adapter leads too see page ...

Page 17: ...AX adapter leads There really is NO limit to the system growth that is possible with Alpha DBox as long as you utilise our DIGITRAX adapter leads too see page 26 27 Connect TRACK power Connect DCC BUS Switch Set to TRACK DIGITRAX Base Station ADAPTER See P26 27 DIGITRAX Hand Set ADAPTER See P26 27 Alpha DPower or 5 Amp Power Supply 15 18v DC Power District 1 Power District 2 OR Accessory Bus Isola...

Page 18: ...rect bus linking is not possible however Alpha Dbix can still be linked via the 6 wire RJ2 bus for transmission ofAlpha DCentral or Cobalt DAlpha Commands and of course Power District structures addingALPHAtotheESUECoSSystem ases the image ge g ge g ge e ge ge e e e e e es used odu n this manual ar a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a e of p Also connect either Cobalt DAlpha or Alpha DCentral Use the Cur...

Page 19: ...n connect via X bus and so actually have the same sort of versatility with ALPHA products as Lenz as the LENZ ROCO bus are actually very similar Use the correct adapter leads and there really is NO limit to what is possible with ROCO and DCCconcepts Alpha DProducts see page 26 27 Connect TRACK power Connect DCC BUS Switch Set to TRACK The ROCO Base Station ADAPTER See P26 27 ROCO HANDSETADAPTER Se...

Page 20: ...ad protection This simple diagram shows how to add an accessory power bus or multiple power districts to ROCO using Alpha DBox ROCO users can connect via X bus and so actually have the same sort of versatility with ALPHA products as Lenz as the LENZ ROCO bus are actually very similar Use the correct adapter leads and there really is NO limit to what is possible with ROCO and DCCconcepts Alpha DPro...

Page 21: ...th these products Please see page 26 27 Using the adapters makes it easy Connect TRACK power Connect DCC BUS Switch TRACK PRODIGY Base Unit ADAPTER P26 27 PRODIGY HANDSET ADAPTER See P26 27 Alpha DPower or 5 Amp Power Supply 15 18v DC Power District 1 Power District 2 or Accessory Bus Isolation GAP UpgradetheGaugemaster Prodigy Gaugemaster Prodigy and Express Owners You can do either a full or sim...

Page 22: ...he momentary contact sets so you still have 2x free SPDT switches available for your panel LEDs or Interlocking INTERLOCKING LEVER OPERATIONS It is easier than it sounds To interlock two levers just link the momentary contacts of one lever VIA one of the sets of SPDT contacts on another lever so that the momentary Change command for the lever to be locked will be sent ONLY if the Locking lever is ...

Page 23: ...rs will be delighted to replace their ÁDW FRUG ZLWK WKLV FDEOH DV LW LV 5 PRUH FRQYHQLHQW Please Use ONLY this cord or its equivalent to connect between multiple Cobalt Dbox units Universal RJ 12 Layout Panel DCD DAP Cobalt Dbox and Cobalt DCentral users ZLOO ÀQG WKLV SDQHO KHOSIXO DV LW JLYHV DOO RI the connection they will need We made this panel really versatile so this one panel type suits bot...

Page 24: ...yable related damage that will NOT be covered by warranty Please note The images used on this page are representative only and the items that you receive may look a little different CobaltDAlpha and CobaltDBox DCC System Adapter leads LENZ Adapter Set DCD LNZ Adapters for LENZ 1x Base station Male DIN to Female RJ12 and 2x Handset Bus adapters Female DIN to Male RJ12 Gaugemaster MRC Adapter Set DC...

Page 25: ...h from track output terminals Bus extensions may need adapters How does it connect If you have a DC or AC powered layout you need NO change to controllers or locos at all but you will need to add a DCC standards based accessory decoder to each turnout or each active accessory you wish to control and create a accessory power bus You will also need the Alpha Dbox All DCC users can also use the Alpha...

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