Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
Cap'n G., I don't know. All I can tell you is that I have not, in three years of using my SEB, had address changing problems with five or six different decoders, Soundtraxx DSD100LC, their Tsunami, QSI variants, and Loksound (versions 3.0 and 3.5). I have always used just the two main output posts on the DB150, with its 5 amp potential, to power either my main or the short "programming track", which doubles as my lead to the turntable...it's right there at the front edge of the bench, so railing engines is easy. I use Paged Mode first to effect the input to the decoder, then I switch to Ops Mode and dial in CV 29 and set its value to 34 to "enable" the long addresses. I exit programming, dial in the new address, toot the horn to confirm (always rewarded at that point), and drive the new beastie off to parts of the layout.
About readback of the CV values...no, it can't be done with the SEB. The DT400 throttles will not display the last value input if you acquire an address, enter programming mode, and dial up a given CV. The value sector remains blank (I think..) until you dial one in and enter it.
The QSI decoders will announce any changes immediately, but you can't start up the system, dial in a loco, and then somehow get the decoder or the system to tell you what the last input value is on any one CV. Also, the real experts here will tell you that the SEB is old stuff. In fact, many of them wonder why Digitrax still sells it. I wouldn't know the difference, except to guess that it serves the level of performance that many would-be users want. It still has a reasonably healthy market in other words. If you want readback of CV's, get a newer system from any manufacturer, or put your efforts toward the spiffy JMRI computer interface where everything is displayed on your computer screen. Keyboarding is all you need, plus some specific cables and hardware.
About power sufficient for a layout of any given size; if the wiring is done right, I would say somewhere between 2-4 amps will serve the huge majority of users well. It would only be in the instances where there are mulitple lashups with long trains or serious grades, and multiple users, where you would need over 4 amps. Of course, if you add accessories that need power, including lighted passenger cars, it creeps into that total. All things being equal, the power of an SEB is going to be overkill for 70-80% of all users. Few of us can manage more than two trains at a time, three or four if two of them are running freely without the need of intervention by being on closed loops.
I have no problems changing addresses on my 11 engines, including two Tsunami steamers. I do the initial inputs on a programming track, but using the normal posts wired to the programming track via an SPDT. Once the initial change has been done, I switch from Paged Mode to Ops and change CV 29 to a value of "34" or "38", depending on wanting sensitivity to DC current. That last step enables a long address....if this is the issue for you. You must change CV29 to enable an extended address.
I use the Digitrax SEB with a DT400 and the base unit is a DB150. Never any issues changing decoder addresses with my system.
Some have trouble while using Digitrax. A booster is needed. I use the Micro-Tsunami and NCE POwer Cab with no issues. Others mileage will vary.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
relation wrote:Trying to change address and can't get it done on my digitrax chief can someone help is it the decoder are all Tsunamis hard to change CVs