I'm looking for a DCC stationary decoder to control several turnouts (using Tortoise machines). I currently have a Digitrax DS52 controlling two turnouts with Tortoises, but I have more I need to control, and I also want to get out of using track power as I'm planning to use more locos with sound.
I know Digitrax has the DS64 which controls four machines, can use its own power supply and retails for around $50. Are there alternatives on the market that can control more and/or cost less?
I heard of one machine called the DAC20 by a British company called CML Electronics. However, upon further research, that company went out of business a few years ago, so this product is either no longer available, or support no longer exists.
Are there other stationary decoders that control multiple turnouts out there?
If you doon't need it to report position back to Loconet if using local pushbuttons, the NCE Switch-8 is probably cheapest per turnout aince it controls 8.
The DS64 is more than some because it does a lot moore - it operates any type of switch motor with the same unit, instead of having different models for different types of switch motors. It also has both local control buttons in 2 ways, either 2 buttons per turnout, or 1 that toggles back and foorth. If you use the toggle mode, the other button input can read a block detector. When you use the buttons, it reports the position back through Loconet - say you had a JMRI panel controlling a turnout via a DS64, and also had local pushbuttons on the fascia. If you pushed the fascia button to throw the turnout, it would show on the JMRI panel as well. Or say it was turnout address 123, and you look on your throttle and it shows 123 as currently Closed. Press the fascia button that opens the turnout, and the throottle will now show it is thrown.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Some time ago, I built a 4-turnout yard throat and decided to try stationary decoders instead of a control panel. I bought a DS44. It was easy to wire, well-documented, but I was disappointed that I was misinformed about its capabilities, and it could do neither routing nor push-button control.
It was more about my own preferences than the equpment. I had not worked with stationary decoders or throttle control of turnouts, but I wanted to at least give it a try. I found the extra effort of punching in an address for every turnout I wanted to set to be awkward. I prefer to leave my throttle set for the locomotive I'm running.
When I finally get this yard throat finished (so I won't have the rest of the project hanging around) I think I'll replace the DS44 with a DS64 to get the remote button capability. I built the control panel, minus buttons or toggles, just to get a schematic with position indicators, so the upgrade should be simple.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I use NCE Switch-It mk II boards and Switch8 with button boards to control turnouts. I configure them to use a single button to toggle the turnout direction and I use bicolor LEDs to display the turnout status.
Modeling an HO gauge freelance version of the Union Pacific Oregon Short Line and the Utah Railway around 1957 in a world where Pirates from the Great Salt Lake founded Ogden, UT.
- Photo album of layout construction -
Digitrax SE8C. Each unit can act as a stationary decoder and control eight slow-motion turnout motors (like tortoises). Turnouts can be thrown or closed easily from the hand held throttle or from a computer running JMRI via PR3. The SE8C also allows very simple direct wiring of push buttons mounted on the fascia or on a remote panel, with or without lighted indicators. And oh yeah, the SE8C does a bang up job of driving complex multi-aspect signals.
In the Digitrax family of goodies, it is one of the best of the bunch.
Highly recommended.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
Okay, I just answered my own question, but I just discovered THIS from a Dutch company called "Dijikeijs":
Anyone have any experience with this? Apparently this controls 2x the turnouts the DS64 does for a little bit less than the same price!
https://www.digikeijs.com/dr4018-16-channel-switch-decoder.html
Since one setting has an option for twin coil and another that just says "switch motor" I assume this can control stall motors like a Tortoise. Otherwise I can only go by what it says in the manual. I'm not one to randomly experiment with stuff you most likely can't buy here.
This also has no option for local pushbuttons like the DS64 or NCE Switch-8.
rrinker Since one setting has an option for twin coil and another that just says "switch motor" I assume this can control stall motors like a Tortoise. Otherwise I can only go by what it says in the manual. I'm not one to randomly experiment with stuff you most likely can't buy here. This also has no option for local pushbuttons like the DS64 or NCE Switch-8. --Randy
There's an American DCC retailler that sells them. The price is marked up a bit but it probably evens out the shipping cost, and it's still cheaper than the DS64 at MSRP.
I'm not interested in pushbuttons, so this might work for me.