DCC

[Anonymous]

Has anyone ever had a problem with the Digitrax Zephyer command station, loosing power? Mine all of a sudden, does not put out the correct voltage to the tracks. It is getting the correct voltage in from the power supply, but only has about 4 volts coming out. I have read everything in the trouble shooting section of the manual, and nothing is said about this problem. This problem exists with all of my locos.

[dave9999]

No problems here. You may have a defective unit. The system should put out about
12 volts. I would email Digitrax or give them a call.
Dave

[cacole]

Low voltage output is indicative of a possible electrical short. The best way to troubleshoot this is to remove locomotives and passenger cars, or any other rolling stock that has interior lighting, one at a time, while watching the output voltage.

I don't own a Zephyr, but nearly all DCC systems have internal protection circuits to lower the output voltage or shut down when there is an electrical overload due to a derailment or short circuit. Locomotives and passenger cars with lighting are the prime suspects when this happens, unless you have recently modified your trackwork and created a short by mis-wiring something.

Have you recently removed any wheelsets from anything with interior lighting or a locomotive tender? On passenger cars with interior lights and locomotives with electrical pickup from the tender, the wheelsets are polarized, and if you put them in backwards you are creating a short circuit.

If this doesn't solve your problem, then your Zephyr may have gone bad, and you will need to contact Digitrax for help.

I hope these suggestions help you find the problem and that it's not a defective unit.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the input everyone. Say it is a short, would not the Zephyer start flashing numbers on the readout and making the short noise? Digitrax tells you to place a screwdriver across the tracks to see what a short looks like. When you do this, the numbers flash and your hear the sound. Is there a way I could have a short and this not happen? I called Digitrax and told them that all the locos with decoders in them ran at about half speed. The analog engine ran in one directionl only. The engine with the sound system will not move at all, but the sound system comes on, but just the rumble of the diesel, no bell, no horn and no ligts. Sems like the whole unit is starving for power.

[dave9999]

What was Digitrax's response?
And yes you will definitely know when a short is present. Dave