Two Digitrax Questions-Upgrading from the Zephyr

[Anonymous]

1) If a Zephyr is to be used as a throttle and a DB150 or DCS100 is used as the command station, can the Zephyr still read back CV's through a programming track, or do you lose that function when you program it to be a throttle and not the command station? I have read the Zephyr manual and I am not satisified that I understand it. I want to defer the cost of the DT300 or DT400 if possible. I have two UT4's in addition to the Zehpyr.

2) Also do you need a DT300 or DT400 in addition to the Zephyr throttle if a DB150 or DCS100 is the command station, or can you do all the programming on the Zehpyr (consisting, programming decoders etc)? I want to defer the cost of the DT300 or DT400 if possible. I have two UT4's in addition to the Zehpyr.

3) When the Zephyr is used as a throttle, it is also a booster correct? I want to use it for a power district.

4) Is it safe to use the 8amp booster for HO? I am using Power districts and sub busses with tail light bulbs for short protection.

Ok I know that was more than two, but I couldn't help myself.

Thanks,

Mike in Tulsa
BNSF Cherokee Sub

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mike Rehling

1) If a Zephyr is to be used as a throttle and a DB150 or DCS100 is used as the command station, can the Zephyr still read back CV's through a programming track, or do you lose that function when you program it to be a throttle and not the command station? I have read the Zephyr manual and I am not satisified that I understand it. I want to defer the cost of the DT300 or DT400 if possible. I have two UT4's in addition to the Zehpyr.

2) Also do you need a DT300 or DT400 in addition to the Zephyr throttle if a DB150 or DCS100 is the command station, or can you do all the programming on the Zehpyr (consisting, programming decoders etc)? I want to defer the cost of the DT300 or DT400 if possible. I have two UT4's in addition to the Zehpyr.

3) When the Zephyr is used as a throttle, it is also a booster correct? I want to use it for a power district.

4) Is it safe to use the 8amp booster for HO? I am using Power districts and sub busses with tail light bulbs for short protection.

Ok I know that was more than two, but I couldn't help myself.

Thanks,

Mike in Tulsa
BNSF Cherokee Sub

If the Zephyr is no longer used as the command station, you can only use it as a throttle and booster. The programming track outputs will not work. If you are upgrading because of power (you still run 10 or less trains), you can set the Zephyr as the command station and use a DB150 as a booster for more power. I would not consider a DB150 an 'upgrade' from a Zephyr if you use it as a command sation. The DCS100 as a command station DOES have CV readback and all the other goodies. Only the command station has an active program track.
You will still be able to program from the Zephyr as a throttle - the command will be sent to the DCS100 and apply to that program track output, not the Zephyr's.
Yes the Zephyr will continue to function as a booster as well as a throttle. My plan is to use the booster output of my Zephyr when I expand to power my stationary decoder 'power district' since 2.5 amps can run a lot of Tortoises with stationary decoders.
As long as you provide adequate short protection, you can safely use an 8 amp booster. With proper power districts you could use a 50 amp booster safely, if they made such a thing (not legal in the uS - a 10 amp booster is the biggest you will find). They key is current limiting, such as the light bulbs. You never want all 8 amps in one section of track, a short with 8 amps will easily damage HO scale locos - actually if it was a full 8 amps the booster would trip, but you COULD have a resistive short drawing 7.5 amps melting things and the 8 amp booster will merrily continue supplying power.
You might want to try out a Dt400 anyway - much as I enjoyed using my Zephyr alone, now that I have a DT400 I never use the console controls. For the same reason I doubt I would ever buy a UT4. I just can't go back to 3/4 turn potentiometer controls after using the encoders. They offer much finer control.
My expansion plan is to first add a DB150 as I need more power, and then as my layout reaches the point where I can run more than 10 trains, add a DCS100. Although since I was able to run 4 sound plus 2 non-sound locos at the same time with just the Zephyr, I might be able to skip the DB150 stage. I may end up with more boosters but simply because of a bus length issue - my space is very long but narrow, and unless I distribute boosters along the space I will have bus runs of 100 feet or more - too long for #12 and I'm not going to try and pull something like #8 wire under the benchwork - I'll pull a phone wire and stick a booster remotely and keep the bus runs short.

--Randy

[WilmJunc]

Randy:

Great information. I to bought a Zephyr as an inexpensive start in DCC. Hopefully, I will need to expand in the near future.

[simon1966]

I completely agree with Randy regarding the DB150. I have added on to my Zephyr as a booster only. There is no way I want to downgrade to the DB150 comand station functionality from the Zephyr. The DT400 is a great addtion, so if you can pick up a more recent Empire builder set cheap, you can get the DT400 and the booster. I actually like the UT4, it has proven to be great for the kids.

My Zephyr is therefore the command station and the yard booster. The DB 150 powers the rest of the layout.

[Anonymous]

Randy and Simon,

Thanks for your input. I am to the point on my layout that I need to do something for both the number of addresses, and more power. My layout is approaching 150' of mainline. I currently have this split into five 30' busses with the Zephyr in the middle of the busses. Off of these busses, I have numerous sub busses, basically for each block. These are wired so that I can eventually make the yard its own power district to be powered with the Zephyr and the rest on a DB150 or DCS100. I am leaning towards the DCS100 simply because of the fact it can handle more addresses.

It is not uncommon for me to require the full 10 addresses the Zephyr is limited to. Consisting or Mu'ing is the main culprit in my case. MU'ing seems less friendly using the Zephyr consol that it looks using a DT300 or DT400.

BTW Simon, my parents live in St. Jacob and I grew up on a small farm outside of Troy off Lower Marine road North/East of Molden Elementry. Small world isn't it.

Mike in Tulsa
BNSF Cherokee Sub

[simon1966]

Mike, keep leaning towards the DCS100, I think you would be dissapointed in the DB150 based on the discussion so far.

Sure is a small world. My Wife used to work at St. John's Hospital in Tulsa, her brother lives in Broken Arrow, so I have spent a bunch of time in Tulsa visiting friends and family. It is a really neat place to live. Plus we are both modelling the Q though in different time eras!

[Anonymous]

Simon, I am leaning towards the DCS100, but it also means a DT400 Purchase along with the powersupply. So I am trying to get by on the Zephyr for as long as I can.

I had an option to transfer to Lambert Field ( I work for the major carrier there), but like Tulsa enough to stay. I don't live to far from the BNSF (x-Frisco) Cherokee Sub mainline (Tulsa-Springfield). It is a great town to railfan, a bunch of shortlines and the Port of Catoosa make for interesting traffic. Then we also have a UP branch that terminates in Tulsa.

Only drawback is no real good hobby shop geared towards trains. The closest one is in Oklahoma City 90 miles SW of here.

Mike in Tulsa
BNSF Cherokee Sub

[rrinker]

Depending on where you get it, get the Super Chief set then - the combined price is less than just buying the DCS100 and a DT400 seperately, plus you get a UP5 panel. As for a power supply - get the NCE one. Strange but true. It's the exact same 15V 5A power supply as the Digitrax one, but is significantly less expensive. I know how to build power supplies, but frankly I can't buy the parts as cheaply as the NCE power supply.

--Randy