I have a zephyr and my layout is getting bigger and running multiple engines that all have DCC and sound. I was wondering on which booster to use and how it is to be wired? I will still need to use OPS mode for the Blue line engines. Please let me know how you would go about this?
Thanks for any input.
Get a DB150. It will add up to 5 amps of power. Just set it to Booster mode.
David B
I did exactly what David suggested. In fact what I was able to do was to get a complete Super Empire Builder set cheap off of Ebay. This way I got the DB150 5 amp booster and a DT400 throttle. I continue to use the Zephyr as my command station with the Zephyr powering my yard areas, with the DB150 powering the main lines.
Well, the standard way is to add Digitrax 5-amp DB150s. While the DB100+ is available with higher amperage (8 amps), it’s not usually necessary for use with a Zephyr, due to the Zephyr’s limit of controlling 10 locomotives or consists at a time.
It’s possible to use other brands’ boosters, but generally this requires custom wiring between the command station (the Zephyr) and the booster. If you’re not comfortable making your own cables, I wouldn’t recommend it.
The most commonly used configuration in the case you describe is to use a DB150 with one of more power management devices to break your layout down into different power districts. While Digitrax offers the PM42 to break a booster’s output into four separate districts, the DCC Specialties PSX-series DCC circuit breakers do a better job of handling the particular needs of the current crop of sound-equipped locomotives. Unlike the PM42, they are designed to handle gracefully the short-term power surge created by many sound-equipped locomotives when they are first powered up.
surely if you have a DB150 to add as a booster, you should set that as the command station as it can run 22 addresses at one time compared to the zephyrs 10, and set the zephyr as a 2.5 amp booster. you still end up with ( in theory ) 7.5 amps of track power. the only down side could be that you can’t use ‘jump’ throttles on the zephyr if it is set as a booster??? but i don’t know if you can or can’t???
I have kept the Z as the command station as I would lose the CV read back and the program track capability, neither of which are supported by the DB150 as a command station. The 10 slot limit is not an issue for me with the Z.
I would agree with the above comments, that you should see if you can pick up a DB150 on ebay. I have a Digitrax Chief and when I needed to expand the layout I bought a DB150 on ebay.
If you get additional throttles, I would just get the DT4 throttles. They are inexpensive and easy to use. Do your programming from your Zepher. Most visitors to you layout just want to run a train and not proggram things.
When I first got my Digitrax I only had two throttles but since several of my friends also had Digitrax, I asked them to bring their throttles with them when they came to run on my layout.
JIM
good points there, i hadn’t considered the loss of the functions with the Z set as a booster.