Hi,
The new Zephyr Xtra uses power brick with cord to each side, one goes to power outlet and the other connects to Zephyr Xtra. Can someone tell me what's the length of the section going from the power "brick" to the Zephyr unit?
Mine is about 54 inches long.
Zephyrs any good to use?
tony314 Zephyrs any good to use?
I have been very happy with mine. I have had the original Zephyr in service now for over 7 years. The new version has some nice additional features.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
I just got mine, first DCC system. I found it easy to setup.
I like the fact that I can use the DC throttles I already own with the Zephyr as a second or (I think) third throttle, rather than having to buy an extra throttle right away. If I ever build a larger layout and need more power than the Zephyr provides I can buy a new Digitrax System and still use the Zephyr as a yard throttle. In my limited experience its worked well.
So 54 inches from the brick, hmm. I measured cord length on my original Zephyr and it's 6' (72 inches) in length.
I just received my Zephyr Xtra last week, but I had a defective AC power Cord. I don’t remember it being as long as was mentioned here, but I only saw it for a couple of minutes before realizing it was bad. The folks at Digitrax jumped right on it and sent me out a new cord on Friday.
I discovered that the power supply from my NCE PowerCab fits perfectly, so I’m using it for now.
I had quite an ordeal getting the new Zephyr to work in DecoderPro because they haven’t come out with a new version to handle it yet. I did down load a test version and so far so good.
I've seen your posts in the Digitrax and JMRI groups. The ONLY thing that shoudl probably not work properly witht he stock versions of JMRI is programming. That's where some change was made goign fromt he original DCS50 to the DCS51. For operating turnouts, it shouldn;t matter which command station you pick, really. My old Zephyr works even if I pick a Super Chief DCS100 - it does cause bogus displays in the slot monitor but JMRI throttles control trains just fine and my panels can operate turnouts. If they changed the way the system handles Loconet packets then there's be a problem plugging in an extra throttle. I think the most recent posts shoudl have fixed your problem - you need either track power or some other sort of power to the DS64s, they do not draw power from Loconet. They can get commands from Loconet, but they need a power source to operate.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker . I think the most recent posts shoudl have fixed your problem - you need either track power or some other sort of power to the DS64s, they do not draw power from Loconet. They can get commands from Loconet, but they need a power source to operate. --Randy
. I think the most recent posts shoudl have fixed your problem - you need either track power or some other sort of power to the DS64s, they do not draw power from Loconet. They can get commands from Loconet, but they need a power source to operate.
Yes, the track power was the key factor, but not for the power source. I had separate power supplies for all the accessories. It has something to do with feedback I believe., because it works, just doesn’t now it. I thought the loco net was supposed to take the place of track power and now that I know that little piece of the puzzle everything works great. I haven’t tried it with the older version because I’m not having any problems. Although I did have a false alarm earlier when I hooked up a SIC24AD and it was behaving the same way as the firs problem, then I realized that I didn’t press the on button on the Zephyr.
Yes, the track power was the key factor, but not for the power source. I had separate power supplies for all the accessories. It has something to do with feedback I believe., because it works, just doesn’t now it.
I thought the loco net was supposed to take the place of track power and now that I know that little piece of the puzzle everything works great. I haven’t tried it with the older version because I’m not having any problems. Although I did have a false alarm earlier when I hooked up a SIC24AD and it was behaving the same way as the firs problem, then I realized that I didn’t press the on button on the Zephyr.
So you have a power supply going to the AX terminals on the DS64's? Or a power supply plugged in to the coax power connector on the side? If so, then you don't need track power hooked up, you cna just run Loconet cables between the DS64s then back ot the Zephyr and then to your interface. You don't need both, but if you want feedback you MUST connect the Loconet.
Then, each DS64 needs a board ID set for the feedback to work. This is not the same as the switch addresses for each output. Setting the board id is kind of tricky, ignore any mention of times in the manual and pay attention to the LED indications. When the one changes flash rate, that's when you let go of the button and the LEDs with change again to the indications listed int he manual. The whole 10 second thign is off, I found it to be closer to 15, but it's critical to watch the LEDs as that is the actual indication, hold it too long and it won't work just like it won't work if you don;t hold it long enough. Except the lights behave as if it did work.
You can verify the addresses in JMRI, under Loconet there is a DS64 programmer. Enter the board ID and click the read button, if you changed them for Tortoise operation you should see at LEAST that checkbox change. If one of the IDs you think you have doesn't read, and the cable is good, it may not be at the ID you think it is.
My whole purpose of my having the Zephyr was LocoNet. And I have LocoNet connected to everything along with power supplies connected to everything. All the turnouts work with just the Zephyr and no track wires, NOT with DecoderPro.
The track wires are ONLY connected to the Track A&B terminals on both the DS64 and SIC24AD
Now I’m new at all this and I did try changing the settings but I couldn’t get it to work. Now that’s not saying a whole lot, because I’ve been making a lot of mistakes along the way. All I know is that it’s working with the track power connected in addition to the power supplies and I’m not adding anymore current drain from switching.
So for me the DecoderPro has to have the track wires connected. I have 3 DS64s and 2 SIC24Ads and they will start to flip back and forth without the track wires or if the Zephyer track power is off while using DecoderPro. So if I don’t use DecoderPro then I guess I don’t need the wires.