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need a new controler for my ho train's

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  • Member since
    January 2011
  • 66 posts
need a new controler for my ho train's
Posted by CSX17 on Monday, November 28, 2011 5:51 PM

hey guy's well ive had adigitrax zephery for about five six year's now well the other night it went poof on me puff of blue smoke came bareling otu at me. so with this said what should i look into it's gonan be till january till i can afford a new dcc system id like to run my train's so what do i do what is a good dc pack and also what is a good dcc system and i plan on lighting my layout afterward's so the d pack will ge used even after the dcc system. thank's guy's zach flowe.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
  • 5,743 posts
Posted by simon1966 on Monday, November 28, 2011 7:25 PM

How about getting your Zephyr fixed?  http://www.digitrax.com/warranty4.php

$35.00 including the return shipping from Digitrax is the standard charge for a non warranty repair of the DCS50 regardless of what is wrong with it.  Insructions for the return are at the bottom of the link.   I think this is exceptionally good value and had to avail myself of this service on one occasion.

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

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • 66 posts
Posted by CSX17 on Monday, November 28, 2011 9:14 PM

fwell i really would like to upgrade to something with a teathered throttle and more power to it im going to have a 6 x 16 layout when all is said and doen and will be runnign a lot of train's on it. any suggestion's thank's.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
  • 5,743 posts
Posted by simon1966 on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 6:37 AM

Fixing the Zephyr is still a viable option.  You can add a tethered throttle to it, either a DT402 or a UT4. 

Regarding the need for more power, how many locos do you anticipate running at one time?  How many different people will be running at the same time?   I am curious why you feel the need for more power?  My layout is larger than yours and runs with a Zephyr as its command station and (until I went to radio) 2 tethered throttles.

If it is under powered for your needs then you really have eliminated the starter sets from consideration and would them be considering a system like the Digitrax Super Chief or  NCE Powerhouse Pro.  If you went the route of the Chief I would still get the Z fixed as you can use is as a static throttle at a yard area and as a second power district.  If not, get it fixed anyway as it will sell for a lot more on eBay working.

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

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: Thornton, CO
  • 763 posts
Posted by jwils1 on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 11:30 AM

Great advice from Simon. I wasn't aware of the Digitrax repair service. That' really a good deal. On my previous 6' x 18' HO layout I tested my Zephyr by running six trains at the same time with no problems. I couldn't really keep up with running that many trains without having some accidents but did it just as a test.

Another time I ran eight locos only as a test, again no problems. At $35.00 you have a nice foundation for some good expansion possibilities.

 

Jerry

Rio Grande vs. Santa Fe.....the battle is over but the glory remains!

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • 66 posts
Posted by CSX17 on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 6:21 PM

well i have plan's of me and a good buddy of mine running atleast 2 3 trains' apiece one each mainline running train of 3 loco's and a switching train made up of 2 loco's but i am readign all this nad am understandign get the z fized and go from that thank's guy's think i will do that and it will becoem the comande station and thorttle but be stationed at a yard thanks guy's zach.

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: Thornton, CO
  • 763 posts
Posted by jwils1 on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 11:44 AM

Thought I would test my Zephyr with my current N scale locos. I had 12 locos running at the same time, one with sound.  That's slot max so couldn't try any more than 12, and that's all the locos I have anyway.

Jerry

Rio Grande vs. Santa Fe.....the battle is over but the glory remains!

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Charlotte, NC
  • 6,099 posts
Posted by Phoebe Vet on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 2:29 PM

I, too, recommend having the Zephyr repaired.  Digitrax repair service is excellent and the price is fixed, no surprises.

Just a friendly suggestion:

Your posts would be much easier to read if you use punctuation and capitalization.

Dave

Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: South Carolina
  • 1,719 posts
Posted by Train Modeler on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 4:03 PM

I agree on fixing the Zephyr as per above several reasons.    As far as the DC powerpack, there are a few LHSs around  here that have some used ones pretty cheap.    Maybe you could pick up a used one until you got the Zephyr back or your new DCC.    There are used ones on Ebay as well.   The thing I like about a local used one is that you can test it.

Richard

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