Digitrax Empire or Chief. Which one to buy.

to do for me? I had one retailer tell me that it wasn't necessary to read.<

It makes a very big difference. First, based on the size of your layout, maybe you could get by with a Zephyr but 6 engines at the same time will be it's upper limit. Now as far as readback it's really nice to have especially if you get into sound or setting speed tables. If you plan on having someone else do all your CV setting then it doesn't matter. If you are going to do the work then a programming track is a must. You will learn this after having a system for awhile. I'm really suprised a dealer would say it isn't a good thing to have. I would also suggest you learn about DecoderPro (JMRI) to do the setting of CVs.

Thanks I will be wanting to tinker with the sound and such, so Chief it is. I'll look into the DecoderPro

I just purchased the Empire Builder and just assumed that it would read back codes... especially since the lower-priced Zephyr does. My mistake ane my disappointment.

Readback is to me a major benefit of the Digitrax system and I really wish I had done more research and bought the Chief

Carter

Having a separate programming track ( a Chief and Zephyr feature) is also a big help since you can program decoders without disrupting layout operation.

Dale Gloer

Carter Braxt> I just purchased the Empire Builder and just assumed that it would read back

Why aren't you thinking of the Zephyr? From

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Super Chief (w/DT400 & UP5): $349.95 + MF615 Power Supply: $39.95 = $389.90 Zephyr: $159.95 + DT400: $139.00 + UP5: $15.95 = $314.90

Difference: $75.00

The Zephyr does everything the Chief does except that it has only 10 slots and 2.5amps vs. 120 slots and 5 amps. Plus you'll get another DCC throttle on the Z itself and the additional "Jump" ports that will allow you to turn two old DC analog power packs into throttles as well. I am a Zephyr owner, and use it to power my 25' x 50' HO layout. I run weekly with up to four operators (running 4 trains), and I rarely run into the 10 slot barrier after I learned to un-MU my trains after each run (and have never run into the 2.5 amp barrier). That extra $75 would buy at least 4 more decoders...

Paul A. Cutler III

************* Weather Or No Go New Haven *************

Um, no. Sorry. I am a Zephyr owner and I know that 6 locos is not the upper limit. It's advertized as a 10 slot system (some say it's actually

12) at 2.5 amps. And as long as you don't have old Athearns or Penn Line with 1 amp DC70 motors in them, you won't have too many problems with only 2.5 amps. That being said, sound locos do add one problem in that they all have capactiors that charge upon start up which can trip the internal circuit breaker of any system. A delayed start up circuit breaker (like those from Tony's) can help prevent this.

Paul A. Cutler III

************* Weather Or No Go New Haven *************

upper limit.<

I think in general terms of 1/2 amp per engine. This would account for them under full load or many a sound engine (I believe the poster stated he was interested in sound).

I simply ruled out the Zephyr because I figured it wasn't powerfull enough, or lacked some of the features of the bigger system. Guess I better take another look. I now have an Atlas Commander which has been somewhat disapointing so I'm leary of small units.

Also, Can the Zephyr work with sound. I do have the booster module from PowerPak (or some name like that).

For power, as long as you are running recent models (made in the past 15 years or so), you really shouldn't be running into the 2.5 amp limit too often. In my experience, these recent models with can motor drives usually only pull about a 1/4 amp max while operating normally, less than that when not under a load. I know I personally have run 8 locos at one time (Atlas, Stewart, P1K, P2K) at once on my Z, and have had no problems. But if you have lots of old Athearn (with the steel colored motor), old Bowser, old brass, etc. you could max out the 2.5 amps with only a few locos. As for the Z's more limited features, I don't know what they would be...as long as you also buy the DT400 throttle, you'll get an almost identical system to the Chief as the DT400 is what supplies access to F9-F12, a Fast Clock, etc. What I like is that for $75 less, you get another DCC throttle. I use my Z throttle in one of my yards near my switch controls as I don't move around too much anyways in a yard.

Paul A. Cutler III

************* Weather Or No Go New Haven *************

Sure, the Z does sound. You may need to program it on the mainline ("Ops Mode") or buy Tony's Power Booster for programming tracks (but you'd probably need that for any system, not just the Zephyr). It's no big deal, but programming sound takes a little more "oomph" than most low-voltage programming tracks provide. The DT400 will supply the access to the higher functions like F9 to F12 for sound locos like QSI-equipped Broadway Limited or Atlas Gold models. The Z all by itself only goes up to F8. I use a QSI-equipped E6A on my layout all the time, and it operates flawlessly (as much as anything does).

Paul A. Cutler III

************* Weather Or No Go New Haven *************

and

I don't use switch routing, so I wouldn't know. I know the Z will operate stationary decoders, of course. But routes? Good question. As for anything else, I can't think of any.

Paul A. Cutler III

************* Weather Or No Go New Haven *************

I think 1/2 amp per loco is a little high for recent types. I know I have operated up to 8 locos at one time (4 of them P1K RDC's) and I didn't hit the 2.5 amp limit. As for sound, it's not so much what they pull while running, it's the start up from charging all those capacitors. A slow charging circuit breaker like the new PSX's from Tony's ought to fix that.

Paul A. Cutler III

************* Weather Or No Go New Haven *************

I figure that I know the answer, but it never hurts to ask so,.. Is there any way to upgrade or modify my existing Empire Builder so that it CAN read decoders? (besides buy the Chief)

Carter

Carter, Unfortunately, no.

However, instead of buying the Chief, you can buy the Zephyr and use your existing EB as a booster. That way you gain CV readback *and* another 2.5 amps of power for your layout while still using your existing throttles, etc. The downside is that the Z only has 10 (or

12?) slots compared to the EB's 22.

Another CV readback option is the SPROG used in conjunction with software such as JMRI. The SPROG is available here:

or here: depending on which side of the pond you prefer to order from. JMRI is available here: HTH, Stevert

here:

or here: on which side of the

here:

Wow! what great information. It's was very helpful for a beginner like me. Thanks so much.