Expanding from a Digitrax Zephyr system to a Super Empire Builder system
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ahacman <ron@...>
Last year I purchased a Zephyr starter set with DCS 50 all-in-
one command station/booster/throttle and use it to run my new layout (single power district running two locos on a small layout). It works great! I just purchased a Radio equipped Super Empire builder set for my layout expansion currently under construction with DT400R throttle and DB150 command station/booster plus an additional UT4R throttle, a PM42, plus some other stuff (will probably expand to 6-8 loco addresses max. with 2 or 3 users max. at a time). My question is can I switch my Zephyr DCS 50 to a throttle and booster only to run my original layout portion (still as a single power district) and use my new DB150 as my new booster/command station driving the new expansion subdivided into 4 new power districts? I will subdivide my expansion into 4 power stations (main line, freight yard, side spurs, etc.) so I also purchased a PM42. Do I have to reprogram my current two locos to run from the new command station? Since I will be greatly expanding my layout I think I would prefer to switch to the DB150 as my command station now as it will offer more addresses, etc. although I probably will never exceed the 10 max addresses of the Zephyr DCS150 so I want to do whatever is easiest. Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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Doug Stuard <dstuard@...>
The DCS50 can be optioned to separate the throttle and booster
functions (and disable the command station) so your DB150 can be used as the command station. The DCS50 manyual describes how to do this. The DB150 can feed your PM42 and the DCS50 can feed yet another power district for a total of five. Keep in mind that the DB150, when use as a command station CANNOT read back CVs, so you may want to keep the DCS50 so you can switch it back to command station mode for programming. Doug Stuard NVNTRAK --- In WiringForDCC@..., "ahacman" <ron@r...> wrote: layout (single power district running two locos on a small layout). Itbuilder set for my layout expansion currently under construction withDT400R throttle and DB150 command station/booster plus an additional UT4R8 loco addresses max. with 2 or 3 users max. at a time).4 new power districts? I will subdivide my expansion into 4 powerexpanding my layout I think I would prefer to switch to the DB150 as myI probably will never exceed the 10 max addresses of the ZephyrDCS150 so I want to do whatever is easiest. Your advice is greatly
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Ron Massa <ron@...>
Doug: Thanks for the info! This is all still pretty new to me so I
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appreciate "experienced" advice. Can I connect the DT400R throttle via loconet (not in simplex radio mode) and use that for programming instead of switching the DCS50 back to command station mode? If not, switching the DCS50 back to programming mode in the rare occasion that I need to program doesn't seem like a big deal. Regards, Ronald A. Massa, Sr. RMA Electronics, Inc. 35 Pond Park Road, Unit #12 Hingham, MA 02043 TEL: 781-749-9700 FAX: 781-749-9707 Email: ron@... Specialists in Vision and Imaging since 1986
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From: WiringForDCC@... [mailto:WiringForDCC@...] On Behalf Of Doug Stuard Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 2:44 AM To: WiringForDCC@... Subject: [WiringForDCC] Re: Expanding from a Digitrax Zephyr system to a Super Empire Builder system The DCS50 can be optioned to separate the throttle and booster functions (and disable the command station) so your DB150 can be used as the command station. The DCS50 manyual describes how to do this. The DB150 can feed your PM42 and the DCS50 can feed yet another power district for a total of five. Keep in mind that the DB150, when use as a command station CANNOT read back CVs, so you may want to keep the DCS50 so you can switch it back to command station mode for programming. Doug Stuard NVNTRAK --- In WiringForDCC@..., "ahacman" <ron@r...> wrote: layout (single power district running two locos on a small layout). Itbuilder set for my layout expansion currently under construction withDT400R throttle and DB150 command station/booster plus an additional UT4R8 loco addresses max. with 2 or 3 users max. at a time).4 new power districts? I will subdivide my expansion into 4 powerexpanding my layout I think I would prefer to switch to the DB150 as myI probably will never exceed the 10 max addresses of the ZephyrDCS150 so I want to do whatever is easiest. Your advice is greatly http://www.WiringForDCC.com _____ YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS * Visit your group "WiringForDCC <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WiringForDCC> " on the web. * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: WiringForDCC-unsubscribe@... <mailto:WiringForDCC-unsubscribe@...?subject=Unsubscribe> * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> Terms of Service. _____
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Doug Stuard <dstuard@...>
The DT400R can be connected to the command station via loconet for
programming. If you are usingthe DB150 as your command station however, yo will be limited to the DB150 programming features (no CV readback, no separate programming track). Or you can re-option your DCS50 as a command station. 6 of one...... Doug --- In WiringForDCC@..., "Ron Massa" <ron@r...> wrote: I appreciate "experienced" advice. Can I connect the DT400Rthrottle via loconet (not in simplex radio mode) and use that for programminginstead of switching the DCS50 back to command station mode? If not,switching the DCS50 back to programming mode in the rare occasion that I need toprogram doesn't seem like a big deal.[mailto:WiringForDCC@...] On Behalf Of Doug Stuardsystem to a Super Empire Builder systemdo this.in- UT4Rone command station/booster/throttle and use it to run my newlayout(single power district running two locos on a small layout). Itbuilder 6-throttle, a PM42, plus some other stuff (will probably expand to 8(stillloco addresses max. with 2 or 3 users max. at a time). intoas a single power district) and use my new DB150 as my new 4tonew power districts? I will subdivide my expansion into 4 power althoughrun from the new command station? Since I will be greatlyexpandingmy layout I think I would prefer to switch to the DB150 as my Isubject=Unsubscribe>probably will never exceed the 10 max addresses of the ZephyrDCS150so I want to do whatever is easiest. Your advice is greatly
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