I ordered a DCS51 for the NG portion of our club layout. We had been running the layout with a DCS50 but wanted the extra features supplied by the DCS51. Our other intention was to connect the DCS50 as a booster to the DCS51 on the loconet and run our stationery decoders that operate our tortoise switch machines. That way, the turnouts are isolated from short circuits on the track. Everything went well until I did the "quarter" test on the track to make sure the booster held up the stationery decoders. As it turns out, the short circuit test only recovers properly about 40% of the time.
I removed the booster and tested again with the same results. I removed the DCS51 from the track and retested with two 12" pieces of 14 gauge wires, attached to the track connections on the rear connector. I had the same result. I moved the unit to another house outlet and still had the same problem. I even took the test scenario to a friends house to make sure it wasn't an incoming power issue. Same results.
When I short the screw terminals directly at the connector, it works correctly every time. I have sent the DCS51 back to Digitrax 3 times with no luck. In fact, they sent a brand new unit back the second time and the new unit does the same thing. They claim they don't see any problem with the overload circuit. I asked them if they used the same method I described to them to test the product and never got a clear answer.
Have any of you seen this problem? Try it with your DCS51's. Try it 10 times bac-to-back and see how many times it passes. A good test will show a "walking 0's" pattern in the display and the track power will stay on after the short is removed. When it fails, the display will show 8888 and the unit will power down, forcing you to push the power button to restore normal operation.
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I would reset the DCS51 to factory defaults by closing Option Switch 39. Procedure is in the manual under DCS51 Option Switches.
Would also check the terminal to see if the screws or wire contacts are intact. Also check the power supply. Unlike the DCS50, it needs a DC supply and should measure at least 13.8 volts. possible that the power supply may be drooping. Center pin on plug is positive.
You can swap the seven pin connector from your old DCS50 but do not swap the DCS50 power supply. It is AC and will not work with a DCS51.
"When I short the screw terminals directly at the connector, it works correctly every time. "
That statement would seem to indicate there is nothing wrong with the DCS51.
Start there and add things one at a time, testing at each step.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
When I would have something like your problem I always start at my DB150 and work from it. I have to agree with Dave's thinking that it not your DCS51 that is the problem. That's the reason Digitrax could find nothing wrong with it
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
Hi,
I have reset to factory defaults several times and the outcome is the same. I've tried two different connectors and the wire connections were good on both. I used the power supply supplied with the first DCS-51 and the power supply supplied with the second one. I checked the output of the power supply and it was 14.07 VDC. In all cases, the result is the same, The "walking 0" pattern only passes about 40% of the time. I have tested two DCS-50's in the same test setup and they both pass the test 100% of the time.
So here is my request. If you have a DCS-51 and have it connected to a layout or test track, place a screwdriver or quarter across the rails. The display should show the "walking 0" pattern until you remove the short circuit. The DCS-51 should recover back to normal with the track power light on and it should be orange. If you have to press the power button to turn the track power back on, then the quarter test they refer to in the instruction manual has failed. Repeat the test 10 times to see how many times it failed to pass the test.
What I'm trying to find out is how many other folks have DCS-51's that may have the same problem mine has. It could simply be that Digitrax received a bad batch of FET's and multiple units shipped with bad parts. Your help would be most appreciated.
I just did the quarter test on my Zephyr Extra and it failed 3 out of 10 times! I wonder if that has anything to do with the 5% failure rate I'm seeing in my 2 AR-1's
Dean
30 years 1:1 Canadian Pacific.....now switching in HO
Have any of you installed the firmware updates that Digitrax has for the Xtra?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Randy,
How does one install the firmware update after downloading it? I've searched the Digitrax site and the DCS51 manual and can't seem to find the procedure. I'm probably overlooking something obvious but would appreciate a little enlightenment. Thanks
Joe
You need the DigiIPL program from the Digitrax site and a PR3 or MS100. Some have gotten it to work with a Locobugger USB but ohers have bricked devices, mainly UR92's.
Thanks for the info Randy.
Hi Dean,
Thanks for your help with the experiment. I suspected that mine wasn't the only one having problems. In my application is crucial that it pass 100% of the time because I'm using a booster and when it fails, it also shuts down my booster which defeats the reason for having a booster.
I would like to hear from anyone else that is having the same issue.
Best regards,
Leonard
Hi Randy,
I checked the revision of firmware on my DCS51. It is revision 2.0 and the latest release of firmware is also 2.0 Since the unit is brand new, I suspected that they wouldn't have sent me a new unit with old firmware. But checking it made sure that was the case. I think the problem stems from a bias issue with the FET's in the overload circuit. That would explain why it works sometimes and fails at other times. This would also point to a hardware problem and not a firmware problem.
It you have a DCS-51 connected to a run track or test loop, could you run the experiment to see if you have issues with the "quarter" test?
Thanks,
Hi Joe,
Go to http://www.digitrax.com/downloads/ Scroll to the bottom where you'll find
July 9, 2011 (version R2) - Routine Update. We recommend that all Zephyr Xtra's be updated with this code.
Click on DigiIPL (version 1.09) and use the unzip program to install it in the file of your choice. Also download
Hope this helps.
I don't have an Xtra, I have an original Zephyr. It works fine, has for 9 years or so now, but is only connected to my stationary decoders, my track power comes from a DB150 through a PM42.
Leonard,
Thanks for the link. I don't know how I missed seeing it when I was searching the Digitrax site. Probably a "senior moment" or two.
I have the same problem with a new Zephyr Xtra it works exactly the same as yours out of 30 tests i carried out with it connected to a spare piece of track it worked fine for 18 times 0000 and reset then the 12 times it cut power with 8888 showing then CS and shut down track power, and if you take a look on the Yahoo Digitrax users forum you will find many more with the same fault but some getting a constant 8888 and track power shut down every time, i think it points to a fault in cut out nothing to do do with software update , i live in the UK so it is not so easy to return to Digitrax very costly plus the time , i believe Digitrax have a major problem with some of the new Zephyr Xtras.
Tony.
UK.
Basically what appears to be happening is that on a short, the entire microcontroller is resetting rather than the short protection tripping. One would HOPE Digitrax is aware of the exact indications people are reporting - but the fact that you see all 8's AND then the C5 (really it's CS for Command Station - since the Zephyr is in Command Station mode, not Booster mode) indicates to me that the whole processor is resetting, which is further indicated by the fact that you need to hit the Power button to turn track power back on.
Digitrax finally managed to track down and solve the duplex radio issues, thanks to some users who were able to supply detailed Loconet traces of what happened when they couldn;t connect. Same sort of thing needs to be done with the Zephyr Xtra to track these problems down as well, although it appears this is more random and not a problem every Xtra owner has by a long shot.
A possible workaround is to Close OpSw 34 to enable the unit to power up with track power on. That way at least you might not have to hit Power after it resets. But to me what is clearly happening is that the whole unit resets when the rails are shorted, instead of the short protection tripping. Another possible workaround is an 1156 or equivalent bulb in series witht he track, so on a short the bulb will light up and limit current to around 3 amps, which may mean the breaker will not trip, so it will never shut down. Or even break the layout into multiple power districts with a different bulbs rated at say 2.1 amps each. NCE has a 6 zone protection device like this that uses light bulbs.
Somehow I missed this thread when it was originally posted. Glad to see I'm not the only one who has had this problem. I have sent my Xtra back 3 times for repair, this last time they replaced the entire motherboard, so basically I have a new DCS 51.
Last month, my PS314 crapped out (no green light). Guess what, that is the only thing that will power the command station and you can only get it from Digitrax. There aren't any other power packs with that type plug for the command station.
What's really scary - when I called Digitrax and spoke with "repairs", I explained what had happened: I am rebuilding my layout and I am testing the power as I install track, spurs, turnouts, bus lines, feeder lines, etc. I attempted to do a "quarter test" and the CS went blank. While attempting to troubleshoot, I noticed the "green light" on the PS314 was out (non-illuminated). Her response nearly floored me, she said "I'm not familiar with the quarter test". As I was explaining what a quarter test is, I thought to myself "and this person is repairing our devices"??????
The PS314 is scheduled to arrive in a few days, hopefully the CS is still working. Won't know until I have power. Guess I shoulda just sent the CS in along with the power pack.
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The PS314 is just a common sourced laptop sort of power supply. The plug is also one of the standard types that can be found many places, radio shack probably has the correct one. The actual power supply can probably be found on eBay for less than $20, it's remarkably simliar to one I picked up to power extra things around my layout, the one I got was meant for some sort of LCD monitor. Basically a 13.8VDC power supply of about 3.5 amps. Even one without a connector is useful - just lop the wires off the dead PS314 and splice them to the new power supply.
They like to make you think these things are proprietary - but NCE has done this too, gone to a generic laptop switching power supply instead of the old hefty transformer types. Much cheaper, there are Chinese companies making these power supplys by the millions, the old style ones are hadly used anywhere else. Plus the switching supplies are more consistent in voltage and generally more efficient.
You must have better luck than me. I dug up every power supply/adapter we had in the house, not one had a plug that would fit into the back of the command station. The diameter of all the plugs I had were bigger than the PS314. I did search ebay, amazon and a general internet search and didn't find any.
I have several power supplies that have the same the label as the PS314 with the same input and output rating. But didn't have any way to get that juice inside the command station.
Compatible plug ought to be this one from Radio Shack
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103612
Specs in the instructions say 2mm, but the connectors are always odd fractions, so the 2.1mm is probably it.
Thos one would work but needs the plug changed: http://www.ebay.com/itm/14V-5A-AC-DC-power-adapter-Supply-for-LCD-Monitors-TV-/280427970150?pt=US_Monitor_Power_Supplies&hash=item414acf3e66
it's listed as a 2.5mm even though it's the same yellow. Under $13.
Or maybe this one, only this seller doesn't tell you the tip size. http://www.ebay.com/itm/14V-AC-adapter-power-for-IBM-9512-AB1-15in-LCD-CORD-supply-charger-DC-NEW-/370544900220?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item564632787c
Or like I said, if you had a suitable power supply but with the wrong connector, just cut the wire on the PS314 and splice in. CHeck with a meter to make sure the polairty is correct.
I have a second Zephyr that's missing the power supply, not sure if I need to actually use it for anything, so it's just a spare for now but if I do I'll have to track down one of those supplies, or just feed it from the one I have, which at only 12V is probably too low to use the track outputs but should power it up.
Oh yeah, besides being cheaper, another reason to go to these kind of power supplies is that they are universal, 110-240V, 50-60Hz, so they work worldwide. It used to be if you were in a country that didn;t use the US voltage standard you were on your own for a power supply, the new ones simply need the proper plug adapter to work anywhere. They are not, however, very tolerant of overloads. And being mainly sourced from China they likely have inferior capacitors in them like the counterfet Japanese ones that a lot of computer makers got hit with a few years ago.
WOW! Late night for you!! Since they (digitrax) had worked on it recently, I thought they extended the warranty, which is why I sent it in. Once they received it, they called and said "sorry, that'll be $25". At that point, I didn't have much choice but to pay it.
Thanks for all the info, especially since the Xtra is no longer under warranty and I am free to cut/splice/solder at my own fate.
Terry
I have same issue as many! Opened new xtra couple days ago.I have older version of Zephyr and know how it should work. Once short detected you should get floating 0000 ,when short terminated the loco number will return and operations continue.At no time does the power go off.Faulty unit appears to and shows 8888 power goes off period and you have to push power button to get power up.The other issue SW 36 will not clear the address accumulated at any time and when its FULL.The only way which is incorrect is to use Sw39 which is the Sw to clear and reset the unit to factory specs.I sure hope Digitrax can get to bottom of this and get us fixed up.In the mean time i am using the old Zephyr. I also checked the power at the rail a and rail b terminals on the back....................so with the meter set to 10 volts touching probe on rail a or b terminal and the other probe to the ground on the back i think you should get about 6.5 volts each.................same reading each side.I get 7 volts on one and 6.25 on the other.This sounds not correct. Seems many guys have this issue and thats the only the guys that have picked up on it on varoius forums. I have no idea if units have these symptons if its detremental to the unit itself or anything it is feeding if you continue to use them ?.Steve
Guys i was ondering if one of you who has this issue could tell me if their unit clears addresses from unit on SW36, mine will not.....................i have to use SW39 which is the complete reset. i am wondering if the units with short issues have the samw Sw36 issue.Thanks steve
I'm wondering is this is a power supply issue or the unit itself. I wish I could think of a non-destructive way to test the theory, other than to buy a coaxial socket and plug and make a little jumper setup where you could connect a meter. Specifically monitoring the voltage from the PS314 when you short the rails to see if maybe it's dropping too low and causing the processor to reset.
Although the fact that OpSw 36 doesn;t do anything leads me to believe there is a firmware issue int he unit. It couldn;t hurt to reinstall the latest update, even if the Digi IPL program says it already has that version.
Keep careful track of what happens specifically, and give that information to Digitrax. With detailed information they can better work to resolve the problem. It finally worked witht he duplex radio stuff, some people used JMRI to capture Loconet traces to see EXACTLY what was happening and as a result the latest firmware for the radio systems has solved the loss of control issues.
Just an update and some info.....I received my new replacement PS 314 for the Zephyr Xtra just before Thanksgiving. I have shorted the system (purposely and on accident) at least a dozen times since receiving it and have noticed the short circuit protection responds differently (indicates short and if you don't remove the short within a few seconds, shuts down the DCS 51) and has performed flawlessly (knock on wood) since then. As soon as the short is removed and power is restored, the command station resumes just like nothing happened.
Yep, that's the way your Digitrax system should work.
My Zephyr Xtra will fail the 'quarter' test about 2 out of 10 times. I seem to be getting better results that you were getting. Now that you have your replacement Digitrax PS314, what is the process you used to get it? Just do the on-line 'service' thing via the web? Mine was purchased last summer, so is still under warranty.
Jim.
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Jim,
Mine completely failed. I had a short one night and the command station went dead. When I tried to turn it back on, there wasn't any power. I checked the ps 314 and the green "ac" light wasn't even on. I thought it was still under warranty, so I used digitrax's on-line return form. When they got it, they told me it wasn't under warranty anymore, so it cost me $25.
After posting last night, I had another short. One of the turnouts didn't get "thrown" completely. The loco's front truck went straight and the rear truck went on the diverging route. Even though I watched it transpire, the short protection kicked in. I removed the loco while it was still indicating the short and the system resumed like nothing happened.
i would call or email brenda at digitrax. You could also use Randy's suggestion above and find a 13.5 volt adapter