Currently I have the Digitrax DCS-50 command station and I’m thinking about getting a DT-400R radio throttle and its companion UR-91 radio receiver. I know with the DT-400R I can control two locomotives but my question is can I have simultaneous control of a third loco using the DCS-50?
Jarrell
Yes. The throttle on the DCS50 will still function independently when you have a UR91 radio receiver connected.
jacon12,
Let me put it this way: I have three DT400R’s and a UR91 on my DCS50 (Zephyr) layout, and we have controlled up to 5 different trains, all of them working simultaneously. And yes, that includes using the Zephyr’s own throttle.
The address limit on the Zephyr is 10. That is, you can control up to 10 different addresses at one time. That could be 10 trains with one loco, or 5 trains with two locos each, etc.
Once you go wireless, you’ll wonder how you ever put up with a tethered throttle… I know I do.
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven
Jerrell,
I just bought the DT400r and UR91, and I certainly agree with Paul… once you go wireless, you’ll wonder how you put up with the tether. As everyone already said, your other throttles (including jump throttles) still function fine along side the two additional on the DT400.
Two things that I thought were “cheesy” that you might want to be aware of before you buy… You can’t select (change) a locomotive while wireless. You must be tethered to do that. And each time you shut down, you must remember to open up the case and remove the battery(!) or it will burn out.
Much obliged for the help, fellas. I’ve watched people that had ‘wireless’ throttles and it seemed sooooo nice to be able to walk around with the train and not have to keep unplugging and plugging back in.
Jack, do you mean every time you end an operating session you should remove the battery from the throttle? There’s no way to turn off the power so that it doesn’t drain the battery?
Jarrell
That’s right. Every time. I couldn’t believe it myselft and ran the question up here on the forum… was verified by some of our DCC gurus. It was also mentioned that some guys wire in their own on/off switches to work around it. Like I said, seems cheesy to me.[V]
Just a couple of thoughts to add here… Remember that the 10 slot limit has nothing to do with the actual number of locomotives on the railroad. This number is relative to the total number of distinct addresses being used, and throttles that are attached to the Loconet buss. For example, advanced consists only use one address, so 10 consists of 4 locomotives each (or 40 separate locomotives) can be ran simultaneously. Also, the slot limitation is only relevant to active addresses on the throttles. Locomotives that are started and then left running can be dispatched from the throttle and do not count towards the slot limit, meaning power and collision issues aside, you could have several hundred locomotives running on a layout using a Zephyr! I worry that people getting into DCC get confused about what these numbers really mean.
The battery issue with the Digitrax throttles is really not that annoying when you understand why it is there. For one thing, the throttles don’t use the battery when they are attached to the loconet buss, and Digitrax recommends leaving the throttles attached to the Loconet buss when not in use. The second issue is the slot assignment of the locomotives being lost when the throttle is unplugged and the battery is removed. For some this may not be an issue, but for others (such as myself), I like to come back to the universal consists I’ve built when I start up my layout… [;)]
For the record, I currently use a Zephyr for three separate layouts. All of them are small and have their own power districts with boosters and throttles (all DT400R with UR91 receivers), and I never have a problem with the slot limit. Even when I have multiple friends over, careful dispatching of locomotives that aren’t being run keeps things running smoothly.
Good luck with that new throttle!
Jeff
One of our club members, when he finishes a session, will open the battery compartment and REVERSE the battery, so the + side of the battery is in the - position. He says it won’t hurt the controller, and he doesn’t forget the battery that way. Any comments from the forum DCC champs…Is this ok to do with your controller?
Sense we are on the subject?Does any one make an radio control throttle for non-DCC??
JIM
With Digitrax controllers, that’s OK. They’re designed to permit that- in fact, I’ve been doing that for over eight years with mine, with no ill effects.
RCS of Illinois used to sell one that worked quite well (I have one that I no longer use since going DCC), and Aristocraft still sells their CREST Train Engineer system that replaces a regular throttle. See http://www.aristocraft.com/catalog/crest/trainengineer/index.html for specifics.
My modular club uses up to six of the older version of the Aristocraft CREST system throttles when we run conventional DC power at a set-up, and have found that it works quite well.
I thank you all for the information, now I’m a lot better informed and I’ll know what to expect. I think I’ll give Digitrax a call and ask them about the battery deal.
Thanks guys,
Jarrell
Reversing the battery poles is fine, and is in fact recommended in the DT400 manual. As Jeff points out, the manual also says that the battery needs to be removed only when the throttle is unplugged from the system. I found however that the battery drains if left in the throttle even when the throttle is plugged in. I do kill the power to my Zephyr when I leave the train room, so maybe that’s what’s going on. Perhaps by “plugged in to the system” Digitrax means plugged in to a POWERED system. Don’t know. Jarrell, if you do pose the question to the Digitrax folks, let us know. (The one time I needed tech support, I found them to be very nice, and very helpful).