ok newbie here. searched around but found nothing too comprehensive (still continuing my search too) im about ready to set my track in place after figuring out a layout (n scale) with the help from people here. im looking to buy a digitrax Zephyr. it says on their website that it has turnout control but what else do i need? is it as simple as wiring all turnouts to a switch machine and then switch machine to zephyr? im looking to hide my turnouts under the table and figuring i need something like a deluxe atlas switch machine. i dont even know how that switch machine works. the ATL-65 switch machine i can understand how it works with that little prod that throws the switch but the deluxe one doesnt have any of that. or heck if this gets too complicated ill just get some caboose hand throws...just something not as obtrusive as the atlas stock stuff.
You'll need a turnout motor and a "stationary decoder" that can control it. The machine could be one of the atlas switches, or a Tortoise, or a servo motor like what's used in R/C cars and airplanes. The decoder needs to be able to control the machine. The Zephyr then just sends commands to the decoder, just like it does to your locomotives, only instead of "go fast" or "turn your lights on", the commands are "switch". One example - and the one I plan to use - is the Tam Valley Depot Singlet (or their larger Quad controller) and a servo motor, also sold by TVD. There's comparable solutions involving Tortoises and other types of switch motors, but they all have the same basic topography - a DCC decoder driving some kind of electromechanical device to move the points.
TwinDad is correct. Let me preface by saying that I haven't done any of this yet, but have done a fair amount of research... I also have a Digitrax Zephyr, and I plan on using Atlas snap switches. I'm buying the turnouts that have the switch machines as part of the turnout, and have 3 wires that dangle off of it. For me, that means some kind of stationary decoder that will send the pulse to the turnout that is required for the snap switch to work. I've researched both the Digitrax and RR-Cirkits solutions for that and have decided that for my layout, the Digitrax DS64 is the correct unit for me. It will attach to the Zephyr via the 6 wire telephone data wire. This allows the Zephyr to tell the DS64 which switches to throw. I then hook up the turnout wires to the DS64 to complete the system. In reading the DS64 manual, it says that it can power 2 snap switches from one of it's 4 turnout ports. For me, this is very good, as the turnouts will be in pairs to allow a train to move from one line to another. So the turnouts need to be switched in pairs - both should be thrown at the same time. The DS64 also has connections for a manual switch if you want one, and also generic sensor ports for block detection or other sensor inputs (I'll be using these for IR detectors). ~Moose
ah yes very helpful info. i do have 3 wire connection points also for the switches but for me since i dont want them show on the display themselves i will have to hide it under. looks like i will need a couple of under table switch machines but are these even manual or can they be hooked up? that dual switch function of the DS64 is something very handy Moose, let me know how your setup plays out. id be very interested to see how and if you got it all working. thanks for that advice too twindad! all this is slowly making sense. train modeling has so many facets
