New at DCC. Have n scale Using Kato utrack #6 turnouts with Digitrax zephyr control & Digitrax 64 stationary decoders. Want to use loc net but want to have panel with push button switches with LED direction bulbs. Told by Digitrax can use panel switches but no LED's. Any suggestions on how to combine LED's with switches on panel.
You'd have to 'waste' half of the DS64's and use them to drive the LEDs. Using routes, a button on one input would trigger an output set to change a DC solenoid like the Kato Unitrack, and it would also trigger the output of another DS64 set to stall motor control, to which you would hook the LEDs.
There's no easy place to rig a microswitch to be activated by the switch points moving, which could be used to control the LEDs.
There are some other Loconet devices from other vendors that can drive LEDs and are controlled by stationary decoder switch inputs - such that pushing the button for the DS64 with the address of say 12 would also change the output of this device on address 12 to switch an LED. Things like the LocoIO from Hans Deloof. This would work because even when you use a pushbutton to controlt he DS64, it sends out Loconet messages every time you hit the button. Anything connected to Loconet can see and act on those messages.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hi Randy, was all set to purchase Digitrax 64's along w/Atlas 200 snap relays when fellow railroader recommended 2 other units that should meet my desire for manual panel switches & directional LED's. He personally has not used either, but has heard that they are units that meet all my needs without the costly burden of purchasing numerous 200's along with four 64's. I have done some research & they seem to be more cost affective, but do not know any users. Wondering if you can provide any input/ recommendation. The decoders are:
*DCC Specialties 4 quad high voltage Jack Wabbit with loc net
*DCC Concepts Solenoid DCD-ADS-8SX ( Australian)
thanks, greatly appreciate your help
John
The jack Wabbit Quad with all those options is significantly more expanesive than a DS64 ($95USD MSRP vs $60USD MSRP for the same functionality - plus the DS64 is in a nice plastic case instead of having the circuit board exposed.
I know nothing about the other item.
Hookup diagrams are in the DS64 manual - nothing special to do, other than in your case you will actually be hooking up the Snap Relay per the diagram for 3 wire solenois machines, and the Kato turnouts per the diagram given for Kato turnouts - at the same time.