60YOKID wrote: I started with a Zephyr a couple of years ago, and sometimes had the same problem of getting a short circuit indication on power up. Since I have converted to a Chief this doesn't happen anymore. I usually had several sound equipped units on the rail and I suspect the Zephyr had trouble handling the current surge that may happen at start-up with certain loco's.I think I read somewhere that your Genesis Big Boy draws substantial current. You may need a system with more available power. Why don't you give Digitrax a call to see what they say about your problem? You may need to send your Zephyr back to have the overload system checked. I don't think your problem is your track or wiring, although a poor connection could possibly contribute to the situation if your loco draws high inrush current at start-up.The size of a layout has little or nothing to do with current draw or power requirements. It is only the loads from the loco's, lighted rolling stock, and other track powered equipment, that consume power. In other words, a layout with 10 feet of track and one loco, consumes the same amount of power as a layout with 600 feet of track and the same loco. (There is a slight amount of additional reactance, but this is a very small factor and is negligible)
I started with a Zephyr a couple of years ago, and sometimes had the same problem of getting a short circuit indication on power up. Since I have converted to a Chief this doesn't happen anymore. I usually had several sound equipped units on the rail and I suspect the Zephyr had trouble handling the current surge that may happen at start-up with certain loco's.
I think I read somewhere that your Genesis Big Boy draws substantial current. You may need a system with more available power. Why don't you give Digitrax a call to see what they say about your problem? You may need to send your Zephyr back to have the overload system checked. I don't think your problem is your track or wiring, although a poor connection could possibly contribute to the situation if your loco draws high inrush current at start-up.
The size of a layout has little or nothing to do with current draw or power requirements. It is only the loads from the loco's, lighted rolling stock, and other track powered equipment, that consume power. In other words, a layout with 10 feet of track and one loco, consumes the same amount of power as a layout with 600 feet of track and the same loco. (There is a slight amount of additional reactance, but this is a very small factor and is negligible)
Well this may sound strange but when I made a bigger track the short problem improved quite a bit. It still shorts on power up which is easy to clear but now I can place another loco on the track and have no problem running both. Once I clear the short on power up I can then place my other loco on the track with no problems. I can't however, have both locos on the track at power up. Other wise I have a very difficult time clearing the short. So it seems that more track helped the problem but why? I'm guessing more track adds more resistance to current draw so that there isn't as big of a current spike.
Dan The Man wrote:I don't know if this is a problem but, I have two loops on my layout. And always on the outer loop, its always like if the loco is going clock wise. The other side in the turn, the power of somthing drops. But then the loco gets off the turn, it goes back to its normal speed. And when going in counter-clock wise the same thing happens. Thats the only problem I have with it.
Your problem seems like bad track connections or not enough track feeders.
Ray
This may be way out in left field, but since my Digitrax SEB with the DB 150 base unit and your Zephyr share more than just the Digtrax name, and since my DB 150 makes the same succession of short beeps when it is first powered from flat-off as it does when it senses a short, is it at all possible that you are hearing power-up beeps as I do? If not, then I would guess it is a problem with the Zephyr base unit...it needs to be set up differently for power or for short sensing, or else there's a blown piece in it. Have you actually left the two locos alone and waited four seconds longer to see what happens? You may find that the Zephyr suddenly sets power to the tracks and you are good to go.
Sorry I could not offer anything more substantive than that.
-Crandell
Got my zepher, tried to hook up a tony's reversing unit. Shorted every time a loco tried to leave the reversing section. Sent the reversing unit back, tony's tested it and it was ok. sent it back to me. tried it out. Shorted every time. Talked to Tony and he had me sent the complete zephyr and the reversing module to him. they found the zepher to be weak and would trip the zepher circut breaker before the reversing unit could react.. Sent the zepher back to Digitrax. Waited a while, finally tony's sent me a new zepher. Got it today but they didn't send the power unit so I'll have to wait a little longer to see if everything is ok. Other than a wait for the unit, Tony's has done a good job for me. Don't rule out the Zephyer as a cause of your problem
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Phoebe Vet wrote: Obvious first question: Have you used the locos on another system? In other words, are you sure the locos are properly wired and the decoders are in proper working order and properly installed?Obvious second question: Have you tried someone elses loco on your system. In other words are you sure your layout is properly wired.Then take all stock off the layout and try the quarter test at various places around the layout. Again you are making sure your wiring is adequate.You might also try hooking the Zephyr to a loose piece of 3 foot flex track and see if they work there. If they do, then the problem is somewhere in your layout wiring. If they don't, perhaps the Zephyr or the loco decoder is bad.
Obvious first question: Have you used the locos on another system? In other words, are you sure the locos are properly wired and the decoders are in proper working order and properly installed?
Obvious second question: Have you tried someone elses loco on your system. In other words are you sure your layout is properly wired.
Then take all stock off the layout and try the quarter test at various places around the layout. Again you are making sure your wiring is adequate.
You might also try hooking the Zephyr to a loose piece of 3 foot flex track and see if they work there. If they do, then the problem is somewhere in your layout wiring. If they don't, perhaps the Zephyr or the loco decoder is bad.
My Genesis big boy was tested at the shop I purchased it from so I know it's ok. I have not tried the flex track but will do so today. Thanks
This happens everytime I use the Digitrax Zephyr. I place a loco on the track, plug the zephyr in and emediatly get a short reading. I have to manipulate the loco to clear the short. Somtimes it clears right away and sometime it takes a while. This is for both my locos. Once it clears everything runs fine but I can not run both locos on the same track because the short will not clear out.