I am in the process of building an N scale layout that will have about 200 feet of track - mainlines, sidings, yard, everything. Does a Zephyr handle that much track without any extra boosters? Also, the Digitrax auto reverse is (I believe) 6 amps, which is more than the Zephyr. That's not a problem, is it? I would think that just means you can't plug anything into it that is more than 6 amps.
Any other helpful hints or advice for a DCC novice?
As long as you have sufficient feeders, the length of track is not an issue. What is an issue is how many locos (and other current-drawing DCC devices, such as stationary decoders/switch machines) you have, and how much current do they draw? Add up the total current draw of all the current-eating devices to see if it exceeds the 2.5 amps the Zephyr can provide.
As for the auto-reverse, I'm guessing that's the max curent it can handle. Check the specs to be sure. If that's the case, you're fine.
The only other suggestion I can make is to read up on basic DCC implementation. You're off to a good start by asking questions, so no slight intended, but the nature of your question (asking about track length as opposed to current draw) leads me to believe you need to get a better grasp of some of the basic DCC concepts. I haven't read it yet, but I've heard that the recent Kalmbach DCC book by Lionel Strang is supposed to be pretty good.
Good luck and have fun!Steve
The amount of track isn;t really an issue. As was said, what's mor eimportain is how many locos you will have runnign at the same time, and how much power they each draw. With N scale there's another consideration. The Zephyr can only control 10 locos at a time, and with N scale it's easy to get 10 locos that don't use up the 2.5 amp capacity of the Zephyr.
The limit of 10 is how many can be under control at one time. You can own thousands of locos, just with the Zephy you can only control 10 of them at a time. You'll need extr throttles to actually control 10 locos, but you can start one up and then switch over to another. The first loco will continue to run in the same speed and direction while you actively operate another.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Based on my understanding, I would agree with Steve. If you ensure you have an adequate gauge of, first bus wire, and then short smaller gauge feeders here and there, the amperage will almost certainly get to where you need it. It is only when your "work" requirements are likely to exceed the maximum rated capacity of the Zephyr system to deliver that you then break the layout into one or more power-boosted districts. Or, it can also be that inadequate wire diameter (higher gauge number) erodes the voltage to the far reaches of your track system, and that causes the more serious problems of both signal-to-noise ratio for the DCC signal, and your short detection circuitry's abililty to protect all your rather costly decoders.
As Steve advises, you should add up reasonable estimates of amperage usage for all devices, and then add a forecast of likely usage based on projected growth...we all add a loco or two a year, or we get friends over to run more trains. Maybe our trains will get longer and that means more current draw. In other words, be easy rather than hard on yourself....think ahead, add a buffer, and go with that. If the resultant figure is close to the limit for the Zephyr, your way ahead should be obvious.
-Crandell
Yeah, Steve, there's a lot I don't know! I'm trying to learn before I buy. Thanks for the help.