Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
The Zephyr would be configured as a booster only. The built in throttle is fully functional when doign that. The Zephyr's 2.5 amps would be isolated to the yard, and your DCS100 would power the rest of the layout. A UT4 cannot create and break consists - the Zephyr throttle can. A UT4 throttle can access a consist created on the Zephyr or DT400, so you could have your yard operator make up the consist and then hand it off to a road engineer using a UT4. There's no glitches I've heard of using a Zephyr as a booster with a DCS100 as the command station - just be sure the section powered by the Zephyr is completely isolated from the section powered byt eh DCS100. That means both rails gapped at both ends of the yard. ANd don;t forget a decent size ground wire between the ground terminal on the DCS100 and the ground terminal on the Zephyr. You should have no problems running this way.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I have used a Zepher and it was OK. Of you don't need the extra power I would go with the extra DT 400. Whole reason I went with the SEB was to get the DT 400. Simon 1966 uses a SEB with a Zepher, his Zepher is used in his yard.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
As Ken mentioned I have a Zephyr running as the command station with a DB150 as the slave booster. As Randy concisely pointed out the 2.5A and the 5A then power isolated separate districts, rather than be cumulative. The problem your friend mentioned may be that some DB150's had their A/B rail outputs reversed compared to the Zephyr. Mine had this issue as was simply corrected by reversing the track bus wire from the DB150. Otherwise it has all worked swimmingly well. Since you already have the DCS100 I would be tempted to do the 2nd DT400 in your shoes. The Z will most certainly work in your proposed application however.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
Another item to consider, Captain. If you are going to have guest "Operators" it would be most logical then, to invest in a couple of UT4R throttles instead of the DT400R. Your guests do not need the programming ability of another 400. While it could be considered a backup if yours were to fail, the possibility is very low. On the other hand it would be difficult for two guests to use the 400, eh? While the Dispatcher, Yardmaster, Road Foreman of Engines, and Head Hosteler, would need the 400 for building or undoing consists. John
As far as the UT4 throttle, I bought one of them with the Zepher. Again Simon 1966 brought his UT4 over with is Zepher before I installed the items I bought. Maybe my thumbs are to big and eye sight to bad to enjoy using it. It was the other reason I went with the SEB. With the Zepher, UT4 and the UP5 it cost the same as the SEB. No brainier to me.
Might look at the Digitrax PR 3 for programing as well. It is the reason I did not go with the Super Chief.
Correct, a UT4/UT4R can ONLY run a train, and control functions. It cannot make or break consists, but can aquire one created by a DT400. It cannot operate stationary decoders, so if your turnouts are controlled via DCC< the UT4 cannot operate them. It cannot program anything. To accomplish these things you'd need a DT400, or a Zephyr.