PTB-100 Programming Track Booster
Congratulations on the purchase of your SoundTraxx™ PTB-100 Programming Track Booster. Properly installed,
the PTB-100 will provide reliable programming of all SoundTraxx DCC decoders. The SoundTraxx PTB-100
Programming Track Booster is designed to facilitate easy programming of Digital Sound Decoders, which have
advanced technologically beyond what some command stations were intended to handle. Most Command
Stations were designed to program basic motor decoders and lack sufficient voltage and/or current to handle the
needs of more advanced decoders, including most sound decoders. The PTB-100 will raise the programming
track output to level adequate for programming without degrading the DCC signal.
We strongly encourage even the most skilled and experienced modeler to read the decoder Owner's Manual,
available from your dealer at no charge or downloadable from our website at www.soundtraxx.com. A great
many programming difficulties are the result of operator error.
INSTALLATION OF THE PTB-100
Typically, the PTB-100 will be permanently installed between the Command Station and the programming
track. Be sure the programming track is electrically isolated from the rest of the layout wiring. Make your
connections with the power supply and Command Station turned OFF. There are just three pairs of
connections to be made:
1. Connect one BLACK
wire to one output of
your Command Station
power supply. Connect
the other BLACK wire
to the other output.
These are the same
outputs as connect to
the power inputs on
your Command Station.
Note: The maximum
input voltage for the
PTB-100 is 18 VAC or
22 VDC. Minimum input voltage for reliable operation is 12 VAC or 14 VDC. Optionally, you may purchase
and use a dedicated power supply rated at 15 volts DC, 500mA.
2. Connect the one of the ORANGE wires to one rail of the programming track (Do not connect to the
mainline!). Connect the other ORANGE wire to the other rail.
3. Connect one YELLOW wire to one Programming Track connection on your Command Station (these
could be labeled 'Prog', 'Program Track' or something similar.) Connect the other YELLOW wire to the
remaining connection.
Operation
Once your PTB-100 is installed, you can begin to program your decoder just as you normally would.
The PTB-100 automatically connects power to the program track whenever a programming operation is
started. The GREEN LED indicates the status of the programming track. A slow flash rate indicates that
there is no power on the program track and locomotives may be safely placed on or removed from the
programming track.
Once you initiate a programming cycle via the command station, the Green LED will change to a steady
ON state, indicating that the program track is powered up and a programming operation is in progress.
Depending on the make of your command station, the Green light may remain on while your command
station is in programming mode, or in other cases, stay on for only a few seconds and then revert to a
flashing state after each individual programming command is completed. In either case, locomotives should
only be placed or removed from the program track when it is powered down as indicated by a flashing Green
LED.
The YELLOW LED will flash briefly when an acknowledgment is received from the decoder and simply
means that the decoder has programmed properly. If the Yellow LED does not blink, re-check your decoder
wiring. Note: a motor or similar load must be connected to the decoder in order for the acknowledgement to
be detected by the PTB-100.
The RED LED indicates a fault condition. A slow blink indicates the PTB-100 has detected a short circuit
across the programming track, most likely due to faulty decode wiring in the locomotive. When this occurs,
remove the locomotive and wait approximately 20 seconds for the PTB-100 to reset itself. A rapidly blinking
Red LED indicates the power supply voltage is too low. Check that the power supply output voltage is at
least 14VDC or 12VAC and replace or adjust as necessary.
Power In
Power In
To Programming Track Output
To Programming Track Output
Programming Track
To
P
ro
gr
am
m
in
g T
rac
k
POWER
SUPPLY
COMMAND
STATION
PTB-100
BLACK
BLACK
ORANGE
ORANGE
YELLOW
YELLOW
Status LEDs
To Power Supply or Power
Inputs on Command Station