A Zepher ?????

[TrainsRMe1]

Hey MRRDER"S I have a question for you, I'm building a 17ft by 19ft Nscale layout, I want to have at lease 4 power districts, two mid size yards with power turnouts on the main, I will have lights in some of my buildings, with a ctc signal system, I have a Digitraxx Zepher to operate the layout will I have to upgrade to a Empire Builder?, (I want to stay with Digitraxx) Thanks Guys-n-gals!!!! Trainsrme1

[jrbernier]

  I would stay with the Zephyr - 2.5 amps is more than enough.  The power districts are an issue as most power district configuration is higher than the 2.5 amp Zephyr rating.  A larger booster, or an upgrade to a DCS1000(Chief) might be in order.  I would jump to the DCS100 as it supports CV feedback and additional engines, plus fast clock operation.

Jim

[wedudler]

 I've just ordered the Zephyr too. For my new H0n3 layout.I will use it together with UT4 and FREDIs.

Wolfgang

[Left Coast Rail]

My experience with our club's layout talking here. How many engines do you plan to operate at once? Do they all have sound? The biggest current draw is sound units at startup. You might want to post your question on the DCC forum as well. First of all, I suggest running your aux lighting and anything else that isn't involved with operating trains on the layout with a seperate power source. Also, break out your power districts with PM 42s that are adjusted to trip at 1.5 amps.

[rrinker]

 I think you'll be fine with the Zephyr unless you plan to run more than 10 locos at a time. The Zephyr will probably run out of loco slots before it runs out of power with N scale. There's a guy with a multi-deck N scale layout about that size who uses nothign but a Zephyr, if you read the Yahoo Digitrax group he periodically posts, especially when people talk about how much power they need.

                               --Randy

 

[TrainsRMe1]

Thanks all for the info, I will have a seperate system for lights in buildings,street lights, etc. as well as automatic turnouts, (I won't have that many automatic turnouts though) I'm not planning on running no more than 3 or 4 loco's at one time, with just one with sound. That should be alright shouldn't it? Thanks again, Trainsrme1

[SpaceMouse]

 FYI: I once ran on a 20 x 30 HO layout with 10 trains running, 4 with sound, run with a single Zephyr. You should be fine

[mfm37]

 Zephyr should be fine for your expected needs. You will need to choose DCC circuit breakers that can be set to current limits below 2.5 amps for each power subdistrict. A PM42 would work. They work quite well with multiple N scale sound decoders (so far).

I did some current readings last winter on our NTRAK layout.  5 Kato F units, each equipped with an MRC sound decoder plus 4 Kato SD70's (no sound). Each train had >50 cars. Current draw was .9amps measured with a RRampmeter.

[Hamltnblue]

If the current is set to 2.5 amps it will only work if the rest of the layout has no loco's etc when a short occurs. Otherwise it may not trip. 

[hobo9941]

I can run 4 or 5 HO locos with my Zephyr. Layout is 8 by 24. I bought a couple 12 volt AC power transformers at Radio Shack for my turnouts and layout lighting.