LocoNet and LocoHub
LocoNet was developed by Digitrax. It has been adopted by several other manufacturers over the years, in Europe notably by Uhlenbrock. You will find LocoNet on the Uhlenbrock Intellibox, the Fleischmann Twin-Center and the Piko Digi-Power-Box. The great thing about LocoNet is that all modules attached to it know what all the other modules are doing. For example., a layout plan track control will display occupied tracks and a signal will react to a Lissy module, without the central unit having to arrange it.
Practical overview
The Intellibox has two LocoNet connections. LocoNet B is intended for connecting boosters, but you can also use it for other LocoNet equipment. LocoNet T is for throttles, decoders and other LocoNet stuff. You cannot connect a booster to the LocoNet T terminal; pin 1 and 6 provide 12 Volts DC, instead of the railsync signal the booster need. LocoNet B has a maximum output of 0.2A, LocoNet can deliver 0.5A.
LocoNet uses standard American phone line wiring. The cables have six wires, which is two more than you will find in Europe. The plugs are also a little bit wider to accommodate the extra connections. The official name for the plugs is RJ12. You can by them from e.g. Conrad.
A LocoNet network has no fixed topography. You can connect equipment anywhere you want. The network can branch out almost endlessly using splitters and connector boxes. A LocoNet network can be up several hundreds meters long. Even at those lengths LocoNet is a very reliable network.
You are free to choose any network-layout you want, but you should never create a loop. Digitrax advises against it, because it can cause interference in the network. Any other layout (tree, star, etc.) is fine. In the end, the limiting factor is the available power on the LocoNet-bus. The central unit only delivers 0.5A and if you connect too many modules that will not be enough. To overcome this problem you can split the network up into sections and use a LocoNet booster to power the extra sections.
Making cables
It is not hard to make LocoNet cables yourself. You will need just one tool: a crimper. Any crimper will do, as long as it is suited for 6p6c cables. Start by stripping the ends of the cable with the blade on the crimper. The wires should be sticking out about one centimetre. Do NOT strip the six wires, but leave the plastic mantle on. Push the wires parallel into the RJ12 plug and stick the plug into the crimper. Now press the crimper together to push the pins in the plug firmly into the wires.
The plugs on the cable should be 180 degrees twisted. The wire being connected to pin one on one side should also be connected to pin one on the other side. Just like network cables for your PC really.
It is not a total disaster if the plugs are not twisted. The function of the six wires is mirrored to prevent potential problems. The outer ones (1 and 6) carry the raildata signal from the central unit. The signal is meant to drive boosters connected to the LocoNet. The inner wires (3 and 4) carry the actual LocoNet signal. The other two (2 and 5) are the signal ground. The signal on wire 3 equals the signal on wire 4; 2 equals 5.
A not properly made cable will cause problems when you are connecting a booster to. The signal on wire 1 is the opposite of the signal on wire 6. If you switched the wires you will have also switched the polarity of the track signal from the booster. A sshort-circuit will appear when a train is transferring from one booster to the next. To make a long story short: always use cables with twisted plugs.
The LocoHub
I was looking for a hub for the LocoNet, because I wanted to create LocoNet connections under the segments of Buitenlust. The basic idea was to always have a LocoNet connection at hand to plug in a throttle of other device. Since I could not find anything that did the job, I decided to create such a hub myself: the LocoHub.
The LocoHub has seven connections that are all connected 1:1. Just plug the cable from the central unit in one of them and you can use the other six to connect any device you desire. For example a throttle, a feedback decoder or the next LocoHub.
Assembling the LocoHub is a breeze. The position of the components is clearly marked on the board. Start by mounting the seven connectors. It may require some force to push them through the holes, but take care you do not bend any of the pins. Next you can add the optional components if you want to. On the solder side you will find two sets of pads. By connecting the left ones you connect both ground wires. The other two are for connecting the LocoNet wires. This option is only intended for those who are working with cables with two or three wires instead of the normal LocoNet cables.
The board includes an optional simple cable tester with four LEDs. The LEDs will light up if the four wires of the cable are carrying a signal. It helps you to identify a possible cable problem. Please keep in mind that the LEDs are using up some of the limited power on the network. I have only put the LEDs on the LocoHub that is the furthest away from the central unit. If the LEDs light up there correctly, the rest of the network should be fine. Please note: in contrast to what is indicated on the board, use 680 Ohm resistors for all four LEDs.
The strip connector is intended to stack LocoHubs. You solder a female connector to the underside of the top LocoHub and a male connector the bottom LocoHub. Just stick them together and you will have a LocoHub with fourteen connections.
The shopping list:
| Parts | ||
| Count | Description | Conrad number |
| 7 | RJ12 plug | 716136 |
| 4 | resistor 680 Ohm (optional) | 403237 |
| 4 | duo LEDs (optional) | 183652 |
LocoHub4
The LocoHub got a little brother: the LocoHub4. This is a smaller, low cost, version of the LocoHub with four connections. LocoHub4 does not have a LocoHub tester and is ideally suited for creating LocoHub branches along your layout.
Boards are available from the shop.
2008