On my layout which is about 7 X 14 I am running the Digitrax Zepher well it does not give me the power I need to run my BLI steam and switcher at least with no sound. The next step is just to get a bigger system like Super Chief, but I just do not think I need all that power and I do not have the money for it anytime soon… I can only really have 4 or 5trains running at a time ( 2 main line , one in yard and mabey one more) Can I just get a DC unit to run it all ( will DC run DCC with sound and all? ) and mabey use the Zepher for signals a few switches and lights? Most of switches I do hav will be manual ground throws and and Cable operated. What do ya think make sense??? Joseph
Something does not quite add up. The Zephyr should run 4 or 5 engines. I would wonder if you had enough feeder wires or strong enough buss wires. Or dirty track or dirty tires. DC will cover more wiring problems, but won’t solve them.
The Digitrax Zepher system is rated 2 1/2 amps. That should be MORE than enough amperage to run (2) sound equuiped locos of any sort. I would suggest a thorough cleaning of the rails and add feeders if needed. Digitrax recommends feeders like every six to ten feet. I place mine between every other piece of flex track, or directly in front of the switch points, which ever is closer.
IF, after checking your wiring for good connections ,plenty of feeders, and clean rail, you really are having a power shortage issue, I would suggest you invest in one or two 2 1/2 amp boosters (they must be the same amperage as your base system) and seperate your layout into “power districts”.
Secondly, if I understand your question right, you want to us DC power pack to run trains, and use DCC to operate switches and signals and such. You can NOT use a DC powerpack to run trains on your layout with the DCC still connected to the tracks. you will fry the DCC unit. You would need to COMPLETELY isolate the DCC wiring from the track wiring.
Have to agree with ARTHILL. I run two Reading T-1 4-8-4 steamers and a switcher, all with sound and have no problem. also can run a ABA DC set all powered, at the same time on 00 address. would try to run more sound equipped steamers but at the present time that’s all I have. The Zepher should handle 4-5 easy. With feeders every three feet you shouldn’t have a power drop. I did have a problem with the Zepher shorting out before a reversing unit could do it’s job. Sent the unit to Tony’s they determined that the unit was ‘weak’ { their phrase} I’m no expert but they replaced the unit and the shorts disappeared. You could have a defect in the unit itself, but a properly operating unit should handle all your present needs.
You have lots of power, but it appears that you have a bottleneck someplace. You have many feeders, but from what are they fed? How are they connected to the rails? How are the rail segments connected? What gauges of wire are we talking about over the 14’?
My last layout comprised about 40’ of EZ-Track, 26’ of which was single main. The entire main was fed by two feeders about 13’ apart, and I had no power issues ever. A spiral mountain spur 14’ long had only one feeder.
I use a 12 gauge bus and the feeders are 20 gauge.
If you use the right configuration and lengths of appropriate gauges of wires for a bus and for feeders, 14’ isn’t long enough for a voltage drop sufficient to give you problems. Something else is going on here, I think.
I don’t have a Digitrax system myself, so please forgive me if this is a dumb suggestion:
Does the Zephyr have its own power supply, or do you have to provide power to it from an external supply? If you’re using an external supply, that may be the source of your problem. The Zephyr can provide 2 1/2 amps, which should be enough for 4 or 5 engines, but if you’re feeding it with a 1 amp supply, well, then all you’ve got is 1 amp, not 2 1/2.
Also, what else are your running besides engines? Do you have illuminated passenger cars? Or, are you running other lights on the track power, like buildings or signals? Those may not seem like much, but they add up, and they all count against your 2 1/2 amps.
So how can I tell exactly how many amps are going through my rails… I am going to go through everyones post slowly because I need to fix this problem as it is frustraiting and it is probably the 3rd or 4th time I have gone through this and still the same results my BLE switcher sometimes has sound but most times it does not… my light mike just sits there and it has been back too BLI 4 times no sound just lights and no movement… I have been wanting to put together a test track mabey being off tomorrow I should do that… J
My first layout was a 4X8 with the same Zepher and I had no problems at all it was just in the middle of the sun room and it did not make the wife happy hitting it everytime she came home ( and there really was nver a smile on my face … REALLY ). J
Have you by any chance muted your sound systems, even if inadvertently? If you have lights, but no sound, it suggests you have a decoder silenced using F8, or some other CV setting that might account for it.
I assume your socket is okay, and that you have a suitable wall wart plugged into that socket that is powering the base station? Could the power supply be defective and only providing sufficient juice to make the lights work? Maybe the wrong power supply altogether?
Believe me, I know the sinking, frustrating, and baffling feeling you are experiencing. Virtually all of us have to learn several hard lessons going through this hell, but that’s the way she goes.
It will be clear in due course, we just have to deal with it one step at a time.
Well I finally got around to putting together a test track and would you beleive it both trains reacted the same way as on the layout… Light mike no sound no movement only lights, Desiel started out with sound then slowly fades away… I soldered the wires right too the track this time so I am not sure that it would hurt… I have a meter around the house what number should I be looking for on it?
I have also done the reset on both trains to the factory settings… LMK Joseph