this is my very first post so please be gentle on responses. So I am looking at buying a digitrax Zephyr system for three reasons, but i am not sure this is capable of handling this. Here goes I want to be able to utilize sound on all my Kato AC4400CW Locos, and i want to be able to have a few running at the same time around the same track, while at the same time once again on the same track have my other locos sit dormant without moving. Also want to be able to control track switching remotely. The thing that bothers me right now is on my 4X8 HO layout when I run a loco, if I have other locos anywere on the track they also move. I want the ability to keep them on the track and have them stay still. Also I read about sound but is it difficult for a newbie to download sounds and install them onto these locos ? I have 6 exactly the same Kato AC4400CW BNSF. I am going to add an engine yard to keep all the locos on the tracks, but if i do that now they will all go haywire and crash. So I want them to stay put !! Here are the products i think i need to buy http://www.digitrax.com/prd_zep_basic_set.php http://www.digitrax.com/prd_mobdec_sdh104k1acombo.php
Welcome, friend! What you want to do is all exactly what DCC is about. I have a Zephyr and am very happy with it. However, the sounds are more dependent on the decoder than the controller. The sounds are programmed for various function keys that all controllers have. The motor sounds run continuously, and vary according to the speed of the loco, but the bells and whistles are function keys. I only have one sound loco, but I enjoy it very much. As for downloading sounds to your decoders, I have never done this. The pre-programmed sounds in my E7 are fine with me. The Zephyr, and as far as I know any brand of controller, won't download sounds. I've been given to understand that it takes additional hardware. I'm not sure if it requires connecting a computer to your controller with special software, or if it is a dedicated device. Maybe someone else here can enlighten both of us. Best!
That should do it. Once each decoder is installed and programmed with a unique address, the engine won't move until it's told to move. The decoders you picked come programmed with AC4400 sounds so no downloading is needed. Most sound decoders come with preloaded sounds or the dealer will load them for you if needed. You just choose from an available library of sounds and order.
For operation of switches you will need stationary decoders. Depending on the type of switch machines the ones listed on this page are available for use with Digitrax systems. http://www.nscalesupply.com/DIG/DIG-StationaryDecoders.html I don't use them. I have more than 50 switches and the cost dissuaded me. Ben
Cool , so I can use this to have engines just sit on tracks not moving or burning up motors, while others are freely moving about the tracks right ?
Each engine will need a decoder. The decoder acts as the switch between the power on the rails and the motor and lights. Tell it to run and it runs. Turn on the lights, they light. Same is true with sound although they can be left idling on the track as well.
DCC applies a pulsed +/-14v AC square wave to the rails, encoding speed, lighting, and accessory (including sound) instructions to each locomotive address on the layout. If multiple locomotives have the same address, they get the same instructions. The DCC controller cycles through its list of locomotives sending speed commands to each one several times a second; this ensures that the loco knows its current speed setting even if DCC signal is garbled a bit by dirty track or other interference. The maximum number of locos on your layout is determined by the size of your controller's list. The Digitrax Zephyr allows 10 locos, the NCE Power Cab handles 6. The decoders in each locomotive have a full wave bridge rectifier that converts the +/- 14v DCC pulses into 14vdc power. The decoder also has a digital computer that reads the pulses and executes the commands they represent, applying DC to the motor in appropriately proportioned 14vdc pulses for a given throttle setting, turning lights off and on, blowing the whistle and ringing the bell. If the throttle setting for a loco is zero it doesn't move. If that loco is a sound loco, it makes idling sounds. For more, go here: All About DCC -- Part 1
One more quick question, does this (Zephyr)attach to the two wires i have going to my dc railpower the same way ? or do i need some fancy wires and setup ? I only have a 4X8 layout, but want to add a train yard to have all my Locos sit dormant in the yard while running a few. The way i have the power supplied to the tracks is by the 2 wired rail joiners that go directly to my railpower 1300.
All DCC systems connect to the rails the same as your DC power pack. However, there are two other connections that go to a separate "programming track". This doesn't have to be a permanent track on your layout, though many of us make a spur for a programming track. You can just set up one or two pieces of straight track as needed when you have to do programming. Locomotives equipped with DCC come preset to address 3. As discussed above, the addresses must be unique for locos to work properly on the layout. You put new locos on your programming track to reset their addresses to numbers of your choice. You can do other programming tasks on the programming track to tune your locos performance, but newer locos allow much of this programming to be done on your main track now.
Attached is my layout in progress, take a look at the track at the end, its the two trtacks that attach to the rest of the layout, but are seperate at the same time. Is that good enough for the program track ?
If you mean the Y in the loops at the right, that would be great. I didn't mention that the programming track doesn't run the trains, its only used for programming them. There's an easy way around this if you or someone you know is handy at all with simple electronics. You can make yourself a switch box. You isolate your programming track from the layout by gapping it and run its feeders from your switch box. The inputs to the switch box are both the regular DCC track lines and the programming track lines. Then you can switch to programming, put your new loco on the spur, change its address, switch back to regular DCC, and run 'er out onto the main part of the layout.
Always glad to help. And I know there are a number of other Digitrax users here on TrainBoard who will be glad to also.
