A few months ago my DS64 was fed by the track ( DCC ) and every 10th or so times the layout was turned on the DS64 would throw all my turnouts and the results were not recorded on the Zephyr screen. No problem as I just re clicked each turnout to reset them correctly. I just have 4 ( Atlas Snap ) turnouts connected as the rest are manual.
It was suggested that I remove the track power to the DS64 and install outside power like maybe a PS14. I did install a PS14, cut the power from the track, hooked up a short LocoNet cable from the Zephyr-Xtra to the DS64 and the DS 64 still throws the turnouts upon turning on the layouts main power panel approximately every ten or so turn ons. All power supplies ( five of them ) are plugged in to two 15 amp surge strips that are in parallel of each other. First surge strip has 10 feet of 14 gauge cord.
Anyone else with this problem? And if so how can it be corrected?
Wadda ya mean I'm old ? Just because I remember gasoline at 9 cents a gallon and those big coal burning steamers.
Try a reset with option switch 7.
Then experiment with option switch 6. Try the closed position first which tells it to do nothing until a command is sent to it.
Springfield PA
It's the test swithc commadns that get sent out by the command station. THere's an OpSw value that can disable that 'feature', but I'm in a hotel with my laptop right now and it's not eay to pull up a Zephyr manual to get the value. It's in the back of he manual where it lists the OpSw values like the OpSw39 reset.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Randy, After I read your post I remembered I did the OpSw39 to C ( Factory option switch settings ) and today ( tenth time layout turned on since OpSw39 ) it did it again, so I posted the question.
Took your advice and turned back on the layout ( 10 minutes ago ) and "Click,click,click,click. Wow I thought,that was fast.
Reset Zephyr-Xtra to OpSw39, turned layout on/off couple times, turnouts are behaving nicely.
Question is I thought the random throwing turnouts would be corrected by removing DS64 from track power and installing PS14. Guess not.
The one's listed as switch command is Opsw 27 c=Disable normal switch commands, a.k.a the “Bushby bit.” Allows attached PC to perform switch control logic The other one is Opsw 45 c=Disable reply for switchstate request.
The one's listed as switch command is Opsw 27 c=Disable normal switch commands, a.k.a the “Bushby bit.”
Allows attached PC to perform switch control logic
The other one is Opsw 45 c=Disable reply for switchstate request.
Hamltnblue The one's listed as switch command is Opsw 27 c=Disable normal switch commands, a.k.a the “Bushby bit.” Allows attached PC to perform switch control logic The other one is Opsw 45 c=Disable reply for switchstate request.
Guess I'm missing something here for why would I want to disable normal switch commands??
Also my PC hasn't anything to do with the layout.
OpSw45, again why would I want to disable reply for switchstate request??
As usual I'm probably wrong here but "OpSw39 C" does state "Return DCS51 to factory option switch settings"
You may be right but until I'm absolutely sure I'm not about to click on a OpSw I don't understand.
I have learned the hard way about the Zephyr-Xtra's OpSw7 C which is supposed to put out a little more juice for those stubborn Tsunami sound decoders to program a four digit number on the "Program Track". If anyone tries this you should be cautioned that whatever is on the program track will NOT be programed but any engine with a decoder will be programed to that number on the main.
If this is not the case with the rest of you with a Zephyr-Xtra DCS51 ( I did not say a Zephyr DCS50 ) then I have a bad Zephyr-Xtra and that just may be.
Still my question has not been answered as to changing the DS64 from track power to a separate PS14 + LocoNet. I was told by several that dropping the track power would stop the random switch throwing at layout power up.
I'm not trying to step on any toes here as some of you are very intelligent and have led a lot of RR modelers down the right path but I am a little leary here. Especially since this "OpSw7 C" does not work correctly on my Zephyr-Xtra. Two/three months ago I called Digitrax and told them what OpSw7 did......"Can't be, just send it in.".......Did so,still does the same. I'm about to re hookup the old Zephyr as those problems did not exist, just will miss the extra 1/2 amp and the 29 functions.
My post was to show the op switches that had to do with switches in the Zephyr manual. I posted them becasue Randy couldn't look them up in his location. It was for reference only.
Sorry, maybe someone can clear it up?
The one I'm thinking about is OpSw 28, disable DS54 interrogate at power up. OpSw 45 may help as well.
As far as I know with OpSw 7 for Blast Mode, it sends the increased power program commands out the main track outputs at full power - basically making the Zephyr into a DB150 Super Empire Builder. I believe that the program commands going out the program track connectiosn are still at 'low power'.
The OPSW you want is #6 on the DS64. Set it to "closed". That disables "Output Auto Power Up".
rrinker The one I'm thinking about is OpSw 28, disable DS54 interrogate at power up. OpSw 45 may help as well. As far as I know with OpSw 7 for Blast Mode, it sends the increased power program commands out the main track outputs at full power - basically making the Zephyr into a DB150 Super Empire Builder. I believe that the program commands going out the program track connectiosn are still at 'low power'. --Randy
Randy that's exactly the way my Zephyr-Xtra does it,although Digitrax says no addresses can be made on the main, only the program track.
Sometimes I think some of Digitrax employees are reading an old formula off a commodore 64.
Next time I have to program a rough one like Tsunami I'll do it on the main with OpSw7 and forget Digitrax's commodore 64.
Also I believe I'll try DS64 OpSw6 as suggested by Stevert .