How many buses ?

1586 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by 7113, May 27, 2008

randolph

Discussion Starter · May 22, 2008

I am still in the planning stage, some locos, coaches and wagons have been purchased, the timber arrives tomorrow for the baseboard - all is progressing well towards an end of year start up.
At present I think I shall purchase an ESU EcoS system as I shall want to run shuttle trains and maybe have some PC control. I've read the EcoS manual and browsed though all I can find on this site with regard to EcoS and I am left confused about Buses. I understand that there is a power bus but what is the EcoSlink high speed bus - does it come with the system or do I have to construct it like the power bus, is it ordinary wire or PC type cable, do I plug in points, signals, and occupancy detectors into it - it is a little confusing to first timer!

R

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neil_s_wood

· #2 · May 23, 2008 (Edited by Moderator)

The ECoSlink is an internal bus system based on CAN. It enables communcation between the main system and other devices which are intergral to the main system. The sockets on the back of the ECoS are there to allow for expansion using devices which may be released in the future for the ECoS. The ECoSboost is the only thing I can think of at the moment that could be connected via the ECoSlink. The Mobile Control connects throughthe ECoSlot which is underneath the control console.

Points and signals can be connected to accessory decoders which would in turn be connected to a separate power bus to that which is connected to the track. I split my power bus not long after it comes out the back of the ECoS console into one for track and one for accessory decoders.

Occupancy detectors (S88s) plug into their own dedicated separate 6 pin connection at the back of the ECoS. There is much additional wiring which is a bit complicated however the manuals included with the S88 products is good and easily followed. Be careful which S-88s you buy as the majority are suitable for three rail only like Maerklin's and some of the Veissmanns or have idiosyncrasies like the Veissmann which limit their functionality. LDT are probably the best to use with the ECoS.

Hope this makes sense.

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john woodall

· #3 · May 23, 2008

One thing to think about when first building your layout is its power requirements not only now but in the future as well.

When we built our 1 gauge exhibition layout we but in the following bus's
2 track power buses (its a double track line)
1 digital accessory bus
1 track detection bus
1 lighting bus.

A lot of wire that was not used initially, but 5 years after we started building the layout, we use them all.

John

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7113

· #4 · May 23, 2008

Just as an aside, and a time to show my ignorance. I know what buses are and what they do - but what does the word, presuming it's an abbreviation, actually mean?

Regards

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poliss

· #5 · May 23, 2008

"The word busbar, derived from the Latin word omnibus ('for all'), gives the idea of a universal system of conveyance. In the electrical sense, the term bus is used to describe a junction of circuits, usually in the form of a small number of inputs and many outputs. 'Busbar' describes the form the bus system usually takes, a bar or bars of conducting material." From http://www.cda.org.uk/megab2/elecapps/pub22/sec1.htm

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neil_s_wood

· #6 · May 23, 2008

Thanks for that info Poliss, I had wondered about this too but hadn't got round to asking.

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Brian Considine

· #7 · May 24, 2008

QUOTE (BRITHO @ 23 May 2008, 13:06) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I know what buses are and what they do
Regards
Do you mean the electrical ones or the ones that come in three's

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7113

· #8 · May 27, 2008

QUOTE (Brian Considine @ 24 May 2008, 08:23) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Do you mean the electrical ones or the ones that come in three's

Well I know all about the ones that come in threes.

Regards

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