Digitrax Turnout control/Signaling

[johngraser]

Tring to get all the equipment needed for my layout.

I would like to have DCC controlled turnouts, Signaling, and Detecttion/Transponding.

I have purchased the
BDL168 for detection
and 2 TX4 for Transponding

Can the SE8C Signal Decoder control turnouts and detect turnout positions (as well as a signals decoder)?
Or
Do I need to purchase the BD64 or DB54 for turnouts and the SE8C for signals?

John Graser

[rrinker]

The SE8C can drive turnouts, but the inputs are designed for block detectors and won't work very well for position feedback (at least, as far as I can tell from the manual, there doesn't seem to be a way to make the SE8C generate the same type of feedback signals as does the DS54).
But then, I'm from the school who thinks turnout position feedback isn't too critical. No lives are at stake with a model railroad, plus the components are generally reliable wenough that if the computer issues a comand to set turnout 3 to the diverging route, you can pretty much depend on it actually being that way. But if you want to detect you will need to control the turnouts with a DS54/64.

--Randy

[johngraser]

Thanks Randy,


I had a feeling that wa the case.

It looks like I'll Start with the SE8c and if nesasary add the turnout decoder later.

John Graser