Digitrax Zephyr Help

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Does anyone know how to clear all the addresses off of a Zephyr? I don’t know what addresses are in it and it is full. Is there a magic reset button? I know the way to clear single addresses, but that doesn’t help. Anyone?

2

The magic reset is on page 31 of the manual. What you will be doing is changing Option Switch 36, which clears the system memory of loco addresses and consists.

  1. Be sure everything on the layout is at 0 speed

  2. Press the PROG key

  3. Press the SWITCH key

  4. Enter 036

  5. Press the c/- key

  6. Press the EXIT key.

I’d be a little concerned that the system is not purging loco addresses. Make sure Option Switch 14 is set to T. To do that use the above steps, but enter 014 in step 4 and press the t/+ key in step 5.

3

Or to be really safe close Option Switch 39 and reset the entire unit to factory default.

–Randy

4

A couple things to remember about Digitrax:

  1. A loco in consist still takes up a slot even if the lead unit has been deselected. IOW, if you have a loco No. 1234 as the top address in an MU, then add No. 5678 to it, you are using two slots. Now, if you release 1234 without un-MUing 5678, you are still using up one slot…the one for 5678. So to preserve more open slots, always un-MU any consist when you’re done running or you’ll use up your slots very quickly.

  2. Digitrax treats addresses in 5 different ways, only one of which doesn’t use up a slot. They are:
    a) In Use
    b) Common
    c) Top of Consist
    d) In a Consist
    e) Idle

a), b), c), & d) all use up a slot in Digitrax memory, while only e) does not. a), c) & d) are self explanatory…b) is not. “Common” means that an address is available to be selected by any throttle as it is not currently being used, but it is still updated by the command station because either it’s still running (the throttle was left higher than “00”) or because there’s a function left on, like head lights (F0).

So on a Zephyr system, if you want to preserve slots so you don’t have to keep resetting OPSW036, make sure that you un-MU, throttle off and turn off all functions when you’re done running the locos.

I used to have to clear OPSW036 on my Zephyr layout until I read the “Big Book of DCC” and discovered the above. Now I can’t remember the last time I had to rest OPSW036.

Paul A. Cutler III

“Never let the facts get in the way of a good argument.” - Anon.

5

I was not aware of this one. Thanks Paul

Jack W.

6

Thanks, everyone.