I was looking into purchasing a Digitrax Zephyr for my small 4x8 Layout. One thing I wanted to add were some walk around throttles and panels. Is it possible to add a UP5 with this system and if so do I need to power the panel or is it powered simply by the system itself.
to the forum. Your initial posts are delayed in moderation, which goes away if you participate. If you are one post every 2 or 3 years it takes a while.
One of many idiosyncrasies of the forum is the Community tab show recent posts with responses, but not those without any response so I'm giving your post a bump. Lots of Digitrax fans, and NCE, but the Dig guys will know and us NCE guys might guess.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
You will need the proper cables to add a UP5. I have several on my layout and don't power them. Digitrax makes a cable kit. It comes with a roll of cable, connecters and crimping tool. Joe
Yes, you can add UP5 panels, you can also add the radio unit (UR93) and use wireless throttles. Or the LNWI WiFi interface and use your phone as a throttle.
If you are only adding one or two throttles, you do not need to power them. Sufficient power is supplied by the base unit.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
You can add a lot of the 5's, just can't use them all at the same time. They work great, just did that upgrade.
Walkaround throttles can get expensive, especially when you consider that most of the visitors to your layout already have a smart phone in their pocket that can be used as a wireless throttle if you purchase the right setup. Digitrax, NCE and MRC all offer WiFi modules that can communicate with multiple smart device throttles. I personally use the MRC Prodigy (not squared) DCC system, originally equipped with two tethered throttles. I later added two wireless throttles and later yet wanted to add two more wireless throttles. About that time, MRC released their WiFi module which cost less than a single tethered throttle but communicates with up to eight (8) smart throttles. Best yet, the MRC WiFi can be used as a stand alone network with no computer or other WiFi connection needed. It is incredibly easy to install (just plug it in) and it works as advertized. The only warning I would give would be to use at least one dedicated circuit breaker between the layout and your command unit. If you rely on the breaker in the command unit, track shorts will trip the command unit breaker, interrupting power to the WiFi module and dropping its connection to all the smart throttles. When the layout powers back up after the short is cleared, the smart throttle users are forced to first reacquire the WiFi connection, then reacquire their train. The extra breaker will protect the track and trains while keeping the command unit from tripping and interrupting power to the WiFi module and throttle bus.
Hornblower
You can add as many as you like. I think Digitrax mentions a limit somewhere but they also assume having that many throttles plugged into them. UP5's don't draw power. Throttles draw power when they are plugged in. So if you are plugged into the Zephyr, that throttle is drawing power. Move it to a remote UP5 and it is still only drawing the same amount of power. UP5,s have several options for adding power if desired. One is to connect to the track power. Doing so adds power to light up the led on the front of the UP5. That also adds a nice remote indicator that track power is on. Comes in handy when you can't see the command station's led.
I have 4 UP5's connected to my Zephyr without powering them and 2 UT-4 utility throttles constantly plugged into the UP5's without any issues. The UP5's are daisy chained from the 2 Loconet ports on the Zephyr.
Make sure that you get/make the correct straight through wired cable to go from the Zephyr to the UP5.
Scott Sonntag