If I decide to go with a Zephyr or a Powercab and use Unitrack. What are my options on contolling my turnouts? It's going to be a small layout, quite possibly on a door. I don't think it's going to be necessary to control them via DCC. I'm mostly asking, what will power my kato turnout control boxes and any lights I may have on the layout? What are my options other than a DC powerpack like a MRC or Kato? The turnouts I can reach in the front I will do manually. Thanks, Everett
I would sum your options up as: manual / mechanical DC DCC Or even a mixture of all three If you do go DC, I would recommend a separate power supply anyway, as the DCC track bus is noisy enough without adding points to it (and if a loco shorts on a point, you can only throw the point to clear the short if the points are powered separately) I hear most people just use their old DC power pack; plenty enough juice. Even with DCC, it's probably a good idea to run separate power to the stationary decoders - most of them have inputs for it, and just tap the signal off the rails / wires from the booster.
Keep in mind that Kato Unitrack turnouts are powered differently from almost all other switch machines on the market. They are powered by momentary DC. (As opposed to momentary AC like most solenoid switch machines, or constant DC/rectified AC, such as a tortoise.) If I were you, I would use Kato's ready-made control switches until you might develop a desire for something different. You choice of how to control turnouts ought to have just about NOTHING to do with how you choose to power and control your locomotives (except to say that you wouldn't use DCC if you didn't have a DCC system). On a small layout, where you would always be close to the control panel, I don't see any worthwhile advantage in using DCC to control turnouts. Using DCC to control turnouts requires stationary decoders, and is generally more expensive vs. other methods, costing at least $8 a turnout. IMO it only makes sense on large layouts, (where you may end up far away from the turnout you wish to throw, or you have large yard ladders and use DCC to select a route), or for automated train running from a computer. You can power your turnouts with ANY power supply that outputs the correct type of current for the switch machines and controls you decide to use. I believe for Unitrack that is 12V DC. You can get a power supply at Radio Shack or a similar store, or online, if you don't like what you find where you buy your trains.
I power my Unitrack turnouts using Kato's control switches and powered by the AC terminal of an old MRC powerpack. Have been doing so for 12 years now. Actually a little more than that. Man how the time passes when you are having fun. Most any 5 amp AC power supply will do the same. Digitrax sells a nice compact-sized one but lesser priced ones can be had. Ben
At almost $6 discounted for the Kato controllers, I would have to disagree about going that route if you've already decided DCC. Get a DS64 or equivalent decoder that will allow external pushbutton operation. (in fact, you may not even need a control panel on a small layout that way....no blocks, and no turnout switches needed) Yes, the decoder will be more expensive per turnout, but I personally dislike the look and operation of the Kato controllers, and this way you can have multiple methods to control your turnout. (control panel pushbutton, local pushbutton, DCC throttle, computer)
Personally, if I didn't want DCC control of my switches, I'd just use the Kato power pack and the manual controls that come with them. I use my Kato power pack for lights, etc. If I didn't have one, I'd probably get some little 12 volt supply from Radio Shack or Frys. But as Doug A. pointed out, you're buying Digitrax anyway. A DS64 lists for $60 and can be found online sometimes for around $40. It will control up to 8 switches on four output ports. Switches connected to the same port switch together, great for sidings IMO. The DS64 also has 8 input ports for manual switches or using detectors to operate switches... this takes a little programming. If you only use one DS64 and its four ports there is no programming, and you can easily operate switches from the same controller you run the locomotives with. I have two DS64s and am planning on adding a third in the next few months.
Couple of clarifications... -It doesn't matter if you go Digitrax or not. That was not my point. The point was to find a decoder that could control the Kato turnout and preferrably with some type of external pushbutton control as an option. The DS64 is just one example and the one I am most familiar with. There may be others, and regardless of which system you choose, (Digitrax or NCE) the DS64 will still work fine. -For feature comparison, the DS64 only controls 4 turnouts. You can connect two turnouts to the same output like in the case of a single crossover, or 4 in the case of Kato's double crossover, but be aware they will all receive the same command. In the case of a true "siding"--as in a passing siding--there are scenarios where you might want independent control. Just a thought....comparing apples to apples you cannot really say the DS64 controls 8 turnouts. So, dollar for dollar you are looking at about $11 per turnout vs. $6 for the Kato controller. (both discounted pricing)
My mistake... I thought he said he had chosen Digitrax already. As discussed recently in another thread, the PowerCab holds up to 16 routes. The Digitrax DS64 holds its own routes, up to 8. This means adding more DS64s expands your route capabilities. Routes that span switches on multiple DS64 units require the DS64s to be hooked together with LocoNet.
I'm torn between the NCE Powercab and the Zephyr. I think I could get good help on here if I needed it with a Zephyr as many have it. The Powercab I think I'd be less likely to need help. I had never really thought about going the DCC route for turnouts. It's going to be such a small layout there likely won't be many I can't reach and do manually. I guess when you compare the price to the kato control boxes, it's not bad. How do you work turnouts from the zephyr if you have something like a DS64? say, if you are cruising along and come a few feet from the turnout and decide you want to switch the turnout, how do you go about it?
On the Zephyr you press the "Switch" button. Then you enter the address of the switch port you want to operate. Then you press the "c" button to close a turnout or the "t" button to throw it. These buttons are on opposite sides of the 0, like the * and # on a phone. To return to controlling your locos you hit the "Exit" button to exit switch mode. Your DS64s have a default ID of 1 and have default port addresses of 1 - 4. If you buy a second DS64 you would program its ID to 2 and its ports to 5 - 8 (assuming you want to keep things nice and sequential). If there's a sequence of switches you set repeatedly, you can program it as a "route". You assign the route an unused address, say 51c. Then you give it a list of settings... 2t, 1c, 4c. In switch mode, when you enter 51 and press c, it will execute the list of switch operations for you. This makes routing to the individual rails in your yard easy.
That sounds semi complicated, but it sounds really neat! Does it work the same way with the powercab? Can the powercab use the DS64 or does NCE have their own?
The PowerCab can work with DS64 units I am told, but NCE has their own. I'm unclear about the differences, except that PowerCab stores routes in the controller (limit of 16), and I don't know if it would be able to program routes into the DS64 using a PowerCab. The Zephyr doesn't store routes, Digitrax designed their system to store routes in the DS64 units (8 per unit). It is a little complex, but well worth the afternoon it takes to figure it out. Regardless of which you choose, Zephyr or PowerCab, there are a number of us here who can help.
