My apologies in advance for the long-winded post. Believe it or not, this is the condensed version.
As some readers may remember, I posted a week or so ago that after doing my research I had decided to purchase a Digitrax Super Chief Xtra (402D throttle) for my first DCC system. I received the system 3 days ago and after reading through the manuals one more time, I installed it 2 days ago.
The GOOD:
The basic system was easy enough to figure out and place into operation. After spending a little time (again) reviewing the manuals, I was able to program the desired addresses into my locos. I was also able to do some basic CV editing (vol. settings, etc) easily enough. After working with it for a few minutes, the throttle lay-out and the programming sequence pretty quickly started to become natural and easy.
The NOT SO GOOD:
There are 2 things that IMO are major design flaws, and to be honest, I am having a hard time understanding the rationale for them. I was aware of these issues before I made my purchase so I accept them, but I still don’t like them. I hope there will be design changes made which can be retrofitted to the throttles.
The first issue is the short NON-REMOVABLE cord for plugging the 402D into the loconet. It is permanently attached to the top of the throttle. When using the throttle in tethered mode, the cord is to short to be of much use. Very restrictive! When using the throttle in the wireless mode, the cord is hanging in the way and will probably be the cause of me dropping the throttle to the floor before it’s over. A detachable cord would be much more useful and to me, seems like a deci
The short cord on the radio throttles was never intended for regular tethered use, only for acquiring a loco with the simplex radio, for syncronising with Loconet, and in case of needing to plug in in case of an emergency. It is one of those “can’t please all of the people all of the time” design features - which is worse, having a short permanently attached cable or a removable cable that you can’t find quick enough when your throttle’s battery dies and you need to plug in? To use the throttle tethered, you can get an extension cable fro it.
Small power supplies like the PS14 are the sort of thing a small company like Digitrax is not going to waste their time producing in house and you aren’t likely going to find one made in the US. I’m pretty sure it is the same way with NCE’s Power Cab power supply.
I have no doubt you are correct, unfortunately. Even so, I have a serious problem with the fact the item is packaged in a box with a bright red "Made in the U.S.A.’ label when in fact it is Chinese made garbage. Strong words perhaps, but nevertheless true.
My friends digitrax system that I run on has little plastic clips glued to the back of the throttle to hold the short tethers from dangling around. He picked the clips up at a local hardware store. He also wired in a mini toggle switch to one battery lead to shut off the throttles when not needed. There are extension cables hanging up on the layout for plugging in a dead battery throttle or acquiring locos.
I don’t know anything about the Digitrax product line, and I don’t know what a UR-92 is. However, looking at the Digitrax documentation for the PS-14 it says:
“2) You must protect the primary and secondary windings of the transformer from overload. A typical primary protection would be a 1 amp “slow-blow” fuse (in an appropriate fuse holder) wired in the primary line circuit. For the secondary we recommend a circuit breaker rated no larger than the minimum of either the transformer secondary current rating or the booster’s output current rating (typically 5 or 8 amps).” See http://www.digitrax.com/prd_ps_ps14.php.
Looking at the picture of the product, it appears that the input side is made to plug into a power strip. Or maybe a wall outlet. I know that the wall outlets at my house don’t have a 1 amp slow blow fuse. And if power strips have any fuses in them I’ve never gone looking for one.
On my Prodigy Sq. system, I was able to purchase a 14 ft. coiled cord. Love it, can reach the whole layout. Picked it up at an online electronics store cheap!
Short cord: Robert has already responded with A.J.'s reasoning on that. Makes sense to me too.
No on/off switch: Can’t figure why one has never been added. We’ve been requesting it since the DT100. Never seen a throttle permanently damaged by flipping the battery the wrong way. They get very hot and it usually takes only one time to learn the lesson. My throttles continue to operate with one ear on the battery cover.
Power supply: Well that PO’s me too. Made in USA means something to me too.
Any 12 to 18 volt DC power supply will work. Needs a 2.1mm female coax jack- center positive. If no jack’s availble positive can be connected to one of the track connections on the rear. Negative gets connected to one of the front screws.
Track power hooked up to the Track A and B terminals of your UR92 may also get you back in business. It works on UR91’s. It definitely won’t hurt.
I use Digitrax. I have a DT400r and a UT4r. I have installed an SPST switch in the UT4r so I don’t Have to remove the Battery, the DT400 will get one soon. There is room for a mini-toggle on the side. As for the dangleing short cord, I have made several six foot extension cords and can move around while tethered. Buy some six wire flat cable, some modular telephone jacks, and a crimper. With the cables you make you will save the money over buying premanufacturered cables. Extension cables are not made like the loconet cables, the White wires are reversed on one of the ends. Six pin inline connectors will allow you to plug them into the DT400.
The equipment is probably NOT made in the USA. The box probably ISN’T either. Thats where all the jobs went. I’m very satisfied with Digitrax. My club has two Digitrax systems, along with DS 64, PM 42, AR 1 and the PR3 with the JMRI download. I try to buy American whenever I can. Sometimes you can’t or you will be running around barefoot, naked and live in a cave in the rocks.
A UR-92 is the Digitrax Duplex Radio Transceiver Unit that is normally mounted on the layout fascia. It is the device used to connect the throttle(s) to the DCC system when used in tethered mode and also functions as the wireless interface (radio and infrared) between the throttles and the Command Station.
The section of the document you referenced is referring to a “do it yourself” transformer project, not the manufactured power supplies / transformers.
I love my Digitrax Super Chief system. The only complaint in your post with which I agree is the lack of an on/off switch.
The short cord is not a problem and I can’t imagine what you are afraid you are going to snag it on. Not one of my Digitrax accessories has ever failed. I have 8 DS-64s, 2 DT402Ds, 1 UT4D, 1 UR92, 3 UP5s, and 1 PR3. None of my PS14s have ever failed.
If you put the battery in backward the damage will be to the battery, not to the electronics of the throttle. There is no electrical connection between the tension springs and the electronics of the throttle. But, with a direct short like that I bet that the battery will get REALLY hot.
I love my Digitrax Super Chief. I have had radio (DT100R) for over 10 years. The on/off switch would be nice. I use rechargable 9v batteries, but there are times that I want to run a test train and don’t wnat to take the time to put a battery in the throttle. I have a coiled cord and a female/female modular plug that I attach to the trottle so I can use it like a teathered throttle. I can also use my computer as a throttle with Decoder Pro.
Michael, I just upgraded to Duplex wireless from tethered throttles on my layout and since I was coming from the bulk of the coiled tether, the short pig tail was a real benefit to me. I just double it back and hold it in my throttle hand behind the throttle, it then does not get in the way, catch on anything or even get noticed.
I just take my batteries out at the end of each session. I use rechargeables most of the time, so they have to come out anyway to go on the charger.
Someone most certainly screwed up on the PS14 label, I just dug out my box and sure enough a nice printed label with a blatantly incorrect “made in” notation. Since the main components are made in the USA (of course assembled from components and parts from all over the world) Digitrax does make a big deal about being a US manufacturer, my guess is that the graphics person made a mistake and nobody picked it up.
Someone above already gave you the spec for it. I found an old Walwort that met the spec for when I got a PR3 and forgot to order the separate PS14.
I totally understand your frustration, how staggeringly annoying for this to happen, when you want to get on and play with the new toys.
So what are upset about, the fact the power supply was made in China or the fact that it was labeled as “Made in the U.S.A.” If it is the fact that it was made in China, then you might as well forget about DCC, or even model railroading for that matter.
If the label is what you are upset about, without that label you would still have a dead power supply(unless seeing that particular label was one of the reasons you bought the system), but I don’t see any intentional lieing, “spin” or false advertising regarding where Digitrax products are made. I don’t know why that particular box had a “Made in the U.S.A.” label on it - maybe somebody stuck the wrong label on it, or maybe it is a generic “Digitrax - Made In the U.S.A.” label that they stick on all of there boxes - wouldn’t matter to me because it is generally understood that even though Digitrax is “Made in the U.S.A.”, certain components will not be(true not only for Digitrax, but for most things made in the U.S., especially anything electronic). I doubt if any of the components on the circuit boards are made in the U.S. and even the circuit boards themselves may not be made in the U.S., but the components are placed on the cicuit boards in the U.S. Again, this is true of anything electronic that is “Made in the U.S.A.” but I don’t expect manufacturers to have a disclaimer listing what components are not made in the U.S.
Just to be clear, the PS14 box has a custom printed color PS14 label with photo and description of the contents. After the address, is the typical DIGITRAX Complete Train Control logo with Made in U.S.A. on top of it. So it is not the wrong label, or a label stuck on by mistake, but almost certainly an error in the graphics layout prior to printing that was simply not picked up in the proofing stage.
My question is Why would a radio throttle need a cord? It’s amazing to me that in this day and age someone is selling a wireless product that has to be plugged in to acquire the network. Also the battery issue is uncalled for. Does the controller at least turn itself off after a period of time if not used?
Sound’s like MFM 37 is trying to start something over something he knows nothing about (probably because it is MRC) the Advance Sq. is not a radio throttle.
I also know someone that put the battery in backwards in his Digitrax throttle and had to seen it in for repair, so it must casue some type of damage.
The 402D does not have to be plugged in to acquire the network. It will remember the network to which it was linked the last time it was powered on.
Having the ABILITY to plug in to acquire the network makes it simple to acquire the correct network when you are operating in a multiple network environment like a train show.
He probably melted the battery. A short circuited battery can generate a lot of heat. Perhaps Digitrax should put a non conductive coating on the tension springs.
If you want to do it yourself, nail polish is a good insulator.