There’s a fellow on the Digitrax yahoo list who INSISTS you can’t possibly run more than 3 locos with the Digitrax Zephyr, since it only has 2.5 amps. Well, I disagree:
Between the two of us, we now have 8 DCC locos. Tonight, I ran all of them at the same time on one Zephyr. The locos are:
3x Proto 2000 GP-7
Proto 2000 S-1
Proto 2000 SW9
Atlas/Kato RSD-4
Stewart F-7
Stewart DS4-4-1000
And a Proto 2000 lighted caboose.
No problems! Didn’t run too long, as it was hard to maintain seperation with no extra throttles, but it certainly did not overload the Zephyr, nor did the lights dim in the house, or any other silliness. Oh yes, all the locos had their headlights on, too. If I do it again I’ll try to get a wide angle enough photo to show all of them.
I have a friend who can run several locomotives coupled together or individually with his Zephyr. NO PROBLEMS! If more power is needed, a Digitrax makes a booster that can be attached to the Zephyr system.
Yeah, I just thought it was interesting. I haven’t seen too much of the same issue over here, where people recommend the absolute highes end system to everyone regardless of their stated needs. I posted the same message to the Digitrax group where this HAS been going on, so far the (indirectly) targeted party has not responded.
There is also a dealer on the other side of my state who does or at least in one case did the same thing. The poor customer drove across the state and visited my LHS for some help because they were hopelessly lost in the depths of an advanced system far beyond what they needed. That other dealer sold this customer a Super Chief Radio system (which no doubt set him back more than the entire rest of his layout) to run a simple 4x8 snap-track layout with 2 locos. This is the kind of thing that results in people LEAVING the hobby.
I’m realistic here - if I get to the point where I will have 5+ operators running trains, I KNOW I will need more power to reliably run it all. But right now there’s two of us, and the layout is only 8x12.
Hey Chip, maybe he has enough peopel and equipment to test out my little theory then. The ‘rumor mill’ says that the Zephyr actually has 12 loco slots, not 10 as advertised. I can sort of verify this by being able to select and dispatch TWELVE loco numbers before I get the FULL error, not 10. But since I don’t have any extra throttles, and only 8 total DCC locos, I can’t prove this out. An extra 2 slots could be the difference between staying with the Zephyr and upgrading to the DCS100 command station. 120 total slots WILL be overkill for me, but I’m not about to use a 22 slot DB150 as my command station, I like the CV readback of the Zephyr and DCS100.
Randy: If you don’t want to make the DCS100 upgrade for more locos, there is always the DB150. I think it handles about 20 locos, with the 5 amp power pack.
Yup, 22 slots. But it doesn’t have CV readback or a dedicated programming track. Prior to the introduction of the Zephyr, the DB150/DT400 combination sold as the Super Empire Builder occupied a reasonable position in the middle of Digitrax’s lineup. It did more than the old Genesis starter set, but not as much as the Chief with the DCS100. However, now we have the odd situation where the Zephyr actually does more than the next highest system in the lineup. Thus I agree with other individuals on the Digitrax list that the Super EMpire Builder is outmoded and should be replaced.
Whatever you can find out, thanks. Before long I will have 12 locos myself. No more from me, but in a couple of weeks my father in law will want to do his next batch.
I am half tempted to find my three large BLI steamers and hook them up under max volume and hold em all down at stall. Then we’ll see if that system will hold up.
I have budgeted for this system this year and will be able to execute this test when it goes onto the layout. I dont expect any power problems with just 3 engines on the track.
Oh yeah, I DO have 11 DCC locos, forgot about the 3 with sound - BLI M1A, GG-1, and an Atlas Trainaster. Hmm, time to retest, the 8 diesels plus the three sound locos. If it can run all that at the same time…