Post by dazed on Aug 4, 2015 13:28:20 GMT -5
I am in the process of constructing a fairly small Z-Scale layout utilizing Rokuhan track. It has a good number of turnouts for its size, and I want to control at least a few of the turnouts (particularly 4 crossovers) via stationary DCC decoders.
My initial thoughts were that basically I'm dealing with Kato-clones regarding the Rokuhan turnouts and figured that anything I've done with Kato turnouts in N should translate. Well, NOT SO FAST. Apparently the Rokuhan motors operate on much lower voltage--around 8v--versus the 20v that the Digitrax DS64 puts out.
I have a stash of both DS64's and DS51K1's that I'd hoped to use, and based on the above info it would seem that at least the DS64 would be off the table as an option. HOWEVER, I do have 4 crossovers (pairs of turnouts to be thrown in unison) that I was planning to power with the DS64, so I'm wondering if that still might work as a solution. See www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/the-trinity-rail-link-in-z.83168 for more info on the layout, and I'll also post the layout design below for reference.
So my questions:
1. Can I use a Digitrax DS64 to power TWO Rokuhan turnouts setup as crossovers for each output? I assume they would be wired in parallel and would take (roughly) 10v each from the decoder, which is probably an acceptable voltage range. (or possibly add resistors and/or diodes to further "correct" the situation)
2. What is the output voltage for the Digitrax DS51K1? Will they safely work with Rokuhan turnouts? I would be fine using ONLY these since they solve another problem I have which is space....the DS51K1's are compact versus the DS64 which seems unnecessarily large. I need to be able to cram these inside cavities carved out of the foam on the layout which is only about 2" deep and with limited spaces at that depth.
3. Other options? One is the ESU SwitchPilot 2.o which supposedly solves the voltage issues and is slightly smaller than the DS64. But again can one "channel" of the SwitchPilot handle a crossover? Are there any other single turnout decoders like the DS51K1 that would work? (and ideally not much more than the $12/decoder price point?)
My initial thoughts were that basically I'm dealing with Kato-clones regarding the Rokuhan turnouts and figured that anything I've done with Kato turnouts in N should translate. Well, NOT SO FAST. Apparently the Rokuhan motors operate on much lower voltage--around 8v--versus the 20v that the Digitrax DS64 puts out.
I have a stash of both DS64's and DS51K1's that I'd hoped to use, and based on the above info it would seem that at least the DS64 would be off the table as an option. HOWEVER, I do have 4 crossovers (pairs of turnouts to be thrown in unison) that I was planning to power with the DS64, so I'm wondering if that still might work as a solution. See www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/the-trinity-rail-link-in-z.83168 for more info on the layout, and I'll also post the layout design below for reference.
So my questions:
1. Can I use a Digitrax DS64 to power TWO Rokuhan turnouts setup as crossovers for each output? I assume they would be wired in parallel and would take (roughly) 10v each from the decoder, which is probably an acceptable voltage range. (or possibly add resistors and/or diodes to further "correct" the situation)
2. What is the output voltage for the Digitrax DS51K1? Will they safely work with Rokuhan turnouts? I would be fine using ONLY these since they solve another problem I have which is space....the DS51K1's are compact versus the DS64 which seems unnecessarily large. I need to be able to cram these inside cavities carved out of the foam on the layout which is only about 2" deep and with limited spaces at that depth.
3. Other options? One is the ESU SwitchPilot 2.o which supposedly solves the voltage issues and is slightly smaller than the DS64. But again can one "channel" of the SwitchPilot handle a crossover? Are there any other single turnout decoders like the DS51K1 that would work? (and ideally not much more than the $12/decoder price point?)
