DCS50 2.5-amp Booster/Command Station/Throttle Console
PS315 3-amp power supply
LT-1 LocoNet Tester
Zephyr and Decoder Manuals
Our exclusive Complete Support System

Decoders sold separately.

The Zephyr is the ONLY starter set with its simplicity, wide variety of advanced features, and a clear positive upgrade path to bigger and better things without obsoleting anything. It is the Absolute Best Entry-Level System and makes a Great Add-on Yard Throttle and Booster for existing Digitrax systems.

For an entry-level system, the Zephyr has many impressive features - practically a mini-Chief. Check out this list of Zephyr features:

Command Station, Booster, and Throttle all contained in one "Console" station.
Large Loco control spin-knob throttle
Large Direction knob with Brake position
Two "jump" ports that allow you to use 2 traditional DC analog throttles to control 2 trains
LocoNet (6-wire phone cable and RJ12 jacks) peer-to-peer network for throttles and accessories
Accepts all existing Digitrax LocoNet throttles: plug-in walk-around, Infrared, and Radio
Up to 10 throttles (engineers) at one time
Control up to 10 trains at once
14, 28, and 128 speed steps
Two- and Four-Digit Addressing, selectable with 10-key pad
Analog loco controlled with address "00"
2.5-amp booster with 13.8-volt (N/HO) output
Additional boosters can be added as needed
Control front and rear lights plus up to 8 other functions with built-in throttle
Control up to 13 functions with optional DT400 throttle
Control up to 999 turnouts
Turnout feedback: memory, positive, and exact
Basic, UniVersal™, and Advanced MU consisting
Separate programming track allows programming in any mode while layout continues to run.
Program all CVs with any required value
Read/Write programming, even in OPS-Mode, if layout is wired with Transponding Receivers
OPS-Mode programming. The Zephyr throttle display will not do OPS-mode readback. But a DT400 connected to a Zephyr can do OPS-mode readback if the loco is in a block with Transponding.
Braking feature that allows you to set and release the brake with a lever on the console..
Use MS100 interface(s) to connect one or more computers to the system
Easily upgrades to the Chief without being obsoleted
Can be added to any system to be used as a yard throttle with it's own booster for the yard
5-Year Warranty

When used within its design limits, there are no real deficiencies with this system that I know of. The Zephyr is so well designed that all current and future LocoNet devices are usable with it. This means the Zephyr is not a dead-end system as some basic entry systems are. Having all the features you'd expect of an advanced system, all you have to do for more power and trains is add more throttles, boosters, or other LocoNet device. Check out this list of devices that can be used with the Zephyr.

• Digitrax's IR receiver for operation with Digitrax's DT100IR, DT300, and DT400 throttles
• Digitrax's Radio receiver for operation with Digitrax's DT100R, DT300R, and DT400R throttles
• Digitrax's UP5 throttle panels for use with any Digitrax LocoNet throttle
• Logic Rail's Fast Clock
• Team Digital's Switch and Route controller
• Digitrax's DS54 for turnout control and feedback
• Your PDA with a Digitrax Palm Cable
• Computers with a Digitrax MS100
• Digitrax's PM42 for block isolation and track status reporting to the computer
• Digitrax's BDL162 or BDL168 block detectors for signaling and automation
• Digitrax's RX4 Transponding receivers connected to BDL162s or BDL168s
• Digitrax's Plug-n-Play Signaling system
• Any other LocoNet device already available, or to become available.

As it comes from the factory, the Zephyr can control one train with its built-in throttle. You can connect up to two traditional DC analog throttles to the Zephyr's exclusive "Jump" ports to control a second and third train. To control more trains, just add LocoNet cables and throttle jacks to use as many (up to 10 throttles combined) BT2, UT4, DT100, DT300 or DT400 throttles as you need. If you want to operate wireless, just add an Infrared receiver to use any Digitrax Infrared-ready throttle, or a Radio receiver to use any Digitrax Radio throttle.

The Zephyr booster puts out 2.5 amps, which can run up to about 6 or 8 HO-scale locos continuously - more in N scale. To run more locos, just add a DB150 booster. Adding a single 5-amp DB150 booster will provide enough power to run up to about 18 locos total (more in N scale) on 10 trains. To run more locos, on 10 trains, just add more DB150 boosters. They connect by simply plugging them into LocoNet.

The Zephyr's booster cannot operate O- or G-Scale locos because it doesn't put out enough voltage or amperage. It can, however, be in integral part of an overall larger system. To start with, the Zephyr can be used for testing during layout construction. Once the layout is operational, the Zephyr becomes your command station driving as many DB200 (8-amp) boosters as needed to power all the trains you want to run. The Zephyr's throttle becomes the yardmaster's throttle, and the Zephyr's booster powers your turnout decoders - everything used, nothing obsoleted.

NOTE: By powering your turnouts with a dedicated booster, such as the Zephyr's, a derailment short circuit at that turnout doesn't turn turnout control power off - because it's powered by a separate booster. This technique works with all scales.

Note: DB200s are NOT recommended for S-Scale (hi-rail AF can use DB200s) or smaller without also using a PM42 to provide lower-amperage short-circuit protection. A short circuit with 8-amp boosters can melt N and HO scale locos without the additional protection of the PM42.

The Zephyr was designed to be the perfect entry-level system, and as an add-on throttle and slave booster for any LocoNet system. With the console throttle, and its 2.5-amp booster, it's perfect for yard operations with any LocoNet system, including the Chief

But what if you have an Empire Builder or even the older (now discontinued) BigBoy? If you don't need to run more than 10 trains at one time, the Zephyr actually becomes an upgrade - even for the Empire Builder. Except for the number of trains that can be run at one time, the Zephyr has more features than even the Empire Builder - the most important one being the separate programming track output for read-write programming.

What about Digitrax's original Challenger? Well, the booster, throttle network cabling, and all your decoders are still usable with the Zephyr. The CT4 throttle can't be used with it directly, but with some work the housing could be used for a "Jump"port throttle for one train - using one pot, a 9-volt battery (or other power source) and a toggle switch. We'll publish more information as soon as we get more from Digitrax.

Note: Jump port throttles cannot control the train's functions (lights, etc.). It can only control the train's speed and direction. However, the lights can be turned on before the Zephyr passes train control to the Jump Port throttle.

.If you want all the features offered by the Zephyr, and need to run more than 10 trains at one time, you need the Chief. The Chief is the ONLY system that can do everything the Zephyr does, plus more, plus run as many trains as you'll ever need to run with as many throttles as you'll ever need. Even so, the Zephyr is right at home with the Chief as a yard throttle.

The Zephyr's booster puts out 13.8 volts. If you're running N-scale, you may need to adjust the slave booster's voltage up to match this, or use a pair of diodes to reduce the Zephyr's voltage. Even so, you just can't go wrong starting with a Zephyr!