That was a great intro to Digitrax and setting it up. I’m glad you have used both and can compare them. Most times you just get people who bought one and all they do is defend what they bought . Thanks.
Absolutely, people can get very defensive :) Each to their own. Some people love NCE and everything works great for them, so there's no need to look at Digitrax. People build their own systems with Arduinos and DCC+ and can run trains quite happily. For what I wanted my DCC systtem to do, and for how much I didn't really want to mix and match or worry about future troubleshooting and maintenance, I've put my marker down on the Digitrax range. Hopefully that decision pans out! Iain
I'm glad I "found" you again. You did incredible work on your last layout. Watched you pack up and leave Washington State and wondered if we would see your great modeling again? You will definitely have one of the bigger N scale layouts I would think? You are the first to be so thorough by laying this system out the way you did. I hope many others who are considering Digitrax will watch this. I was a Brakeman for the Southern Pacific back in the '70s. My father was an Executive Officer at the corporate office of San Francisco. Love of train runs deep for me. Thank you for taking us along!
Thanks! Glad you found the new channel. Leaving Seattle was rough, as I really enjoyed building up that layout, but this new space has so much more potential! It's definitely getting to the point where I'm realizing just how large of a layout it's going to be. Thanks for following along. Iain
1 year later - How is the Digitrax System ? I am in research mode, doing benchwork etc ... for my new layout, about a 1/4 size of yours, but will have about 600' of track. Digitrax seems to be more plug and play and offers accessories within their brand. Nice wiring job by the way. I see the blue and white wires are for DCC track coming out of the PM74 What are the red and black ? - going to terminal strips ??, and it has a power feed ?? Appreciate your response - thanks.
I've had no problems with the Digitrax system, and overall happy I went that way. Was easy to expand. I didn't want to spend lots of time DIY'ing things together, even though I could / have before, as I just want this to work. Blue and white is for DCC, yes, just my preference. Red and black are for DC accessory bus. They run off terminal strips and currently connects to a single 5amp DC power supply. It was more just to pull the wires while I could, nothing is currently hooked up to it. Gives me options in the future, and I could power the separate DC runs if I want / need to at some point. Thanks for following along. All the best with your build! Iain
Hi, a quick question. How have you actually mounted that UR93 onto the wooden beam? I just got one and was expecting to see two or three screw holes to fix it in place, but I’m now wondering if those four plastic ‘collars’ sticking out of the sides are intended to be used to hold screw heads?
Yes - the U-shaped plastic collars are where you would screw it into place, as far as I can tell. Have to be a little careful not to over-tighten, but it works well and has held up for a year now. Iain
I am glad i found your video you explain better and in more detail than watch all of the Digitrax videos. Sorry you left Seattle I have lived here all of my life and my father work for Burlington Northern. Where did you end up moving to if you don't mind to ask. Thanks for your time Michael
Thanks! I'm looking forward to getting the rest of the Digitrax system up and running in time. We moved out to the Minneapolis area to be closer to my wife's family. I miss Seattle, but I didn't quite have the basement space like this back there! Thanks for following along. Iain.
Hello again this is Michael from Seattle I trying to set up my layout I was wondering did you set up your PM74 has a switch trying to read the manual my head exploded so I went to Eastside trains but they really haven't experimented with the new Digatrex stuff. When I read threw the manual you are supposed to set up the PM 74 as a switch so i went in to my controller and set up the pm74 as a switch and then set the power area one has open and the i was going to set up the second area has revers loop when I wired the revers loops and i wired it the way they have in the diagram and has soon has i turn on the system the relay just keeps tripping and when i put a volt meter on the first power area I have no power but i have power going to the A and B from the power supply. So being an absolute novice to all of this. if you cloud shed any light on some of those issues are maybe a couple of videos on how you did the programing that would be a lot of help thank you. Gald you could be close to your family and man you have a big basement for you lay out can't wait to see it come together. talk to you soon Michael
Invest in the rechargeable battery pack. I thought I would just change out batteries, but I run a lot and was going through batteries like no tomorrow. Rechargeable are the way to go.
Makes sense, thanks. It's one where as much I feel like a lot will be controlled by JMRI, I'll still end up using the throttle a lot. How do you like your Digitrax system - any issues or gotchas? Iain
I'd tried changing settings for the auto-reverse detection, but seems more like this unit isn't designed to run a return loop _and_ other parts of the layout on the same unit. So, I put in an auto-reversing module and it's fine. Other than that, I haven't needed to change the voltage trim or reset the command center. I did expand on this with 20amp power supply and dual 5-amp booster - th-cam.com/video/nVmwrPnNLjU/w-d-xo.html
to measure voltage: one lead on Rail A and the other on ground; then same procedure on Rail B and ground. Add two voltage measurements together to get voltage to the track. That is going to be a very large layout.
Yes, it's going to be a good sized layout! And thanks - like I said in the video, I was more just wanting to check the track was actually getting power as expected from the command station before putting a loco on it. I do the same when wiring turnouts since there's a lot going on with getting the right polarity across the frog. I do like the PM74s have built in circuit protection though just in case though - I've seen first hand a loco on a club layout get fried after shorting out on a turnout! Iain
I did explore the DCC Specialties PSX range and similar for solid state circuit breakers, but it didn't really seem necessary over the circuit protection the PM74s provide (and the previous PM42s). I could certainly add them in the future if it warrants it. Iain
They sell the Evolution Express Advanced 5A/8A Duplex set that includes the DCS210+ command station, UR93 duplex radio transceiver, and the DT602D advanced duplex super throttle - www.digitrax.com/products/starter-sets/evoxd/. The starter includes power supplies and cabling. This would be more than enough to get started with. The PM74 for the power subdistricts was separate. Iain
@@PaulFotschkyI wasn’t sure what to ask for either. I’m a newbie and I found talking to someone at Yankee Dabbler was great. They wanted to know my level of understanding and what I wanted to accomplish before they suggested combinations of units for me to get there. I don’t plan on a “basement empire”, just a 4x8 layout and maybe a small 2nd section. But watching this video and reading your comment makes it all seem plausible. Thanks to both of you!
Good luck if you buy this product! Be prepared for really poor customer service if your throttle fail. I’m serious been dragged through the mud with these people and will NEVER buy these products again, good luck.
Sorry you ran into problems. I've known just as bad experiences with NCE. They constantly seem to have supply issues, long before Covid become the go-to excuse. Good luck with your layout. Iain
Thanks for the reply. YA Every company seems to have some serious downfall. It would be interesting to see a company emerge that had a leveled out playing field for there customers. Aye! lol@@gncascadedivision
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That was a great intro to Digitrax and setting it up. I’m glad you have used both and can compare them. Most times you just get people who bought one and all they do is defend what they bought . Thanks.
Absolutely, people can get very defensive :) Each to their own. Some people love NCE and everything works great for them, so there's no need to look at Digitrax. People build their own systems with Arduinos and DCC+ and can run trains quite happily. For what I wanted my DCC systtem to do, and for how much I didn't really want to mix and match or worry about future troubleshooting and maintenance, I've put my marker down on the Digitrax range. Hopefully that decision pans out! Iain
I'm glad I "found" you again. You did incredible work on your last layout. Watched you pack up and leave Washington State and wondered if we would see your great modeling again? You will definitely have one of the bigger N scale layouts I would think?
You are the first to be so thorough by laying this system out the way you did. I hope many others who are considering Digitrax will watch this.
I was a Brakeman for the Southern Pacific back in the '70s. My father was an Executive Officer at the corporate office of San Francisco. Love of train runs deep for me. Thank you for taking us along!
Thanks! Glad you found the new channel. Leaving Seattle was rough, as I really enjoyed building up that layout, but this new space has so much more potential! It's definitely getting to the point where I'm realizing just how large of a layout it's going to be. Thanks for following along. Iain
Your layout is going to be amazing! As a Seattleite myself I love your plan.
Thanks, it's slowly shaping up pretty well! Iain
That absolutely counts as trains running on the layout!! Well done
Definitely counts. Trains running, on the layout benchwork with actual wiring in place, and sound! No brass though...
Very helpful video, thank you
That's a huge layout for N scale 🤠
Thanks! Yep, it's a big layout for N scale, but in a basement this size it really helps N shine, IMHO. Iain
This was very helpful. Thank you
You're welcome! All the best with your layout. Iain
1 year later - How is the Digitrax System ? I am in research mode, doing benchwork etc ... for my new layout, about a 1/4 size of yours, but will have about 600' of track. Digitrax seems to be more plug and play and offers accessories within their brand.
Nice wiring job by the way.
I see the blue and white wires are for DCC track coming out of the PM74
What are the red and black ? - going to terminal strips ??, and it has a power feed ??
Appreciate your response - thanks.
I've had no problems with the Digitrax system, and overall happy I went that way. Was easy to expand. I didn't want to spend lots of time DIY'ing things together, even though I could / have before, as I just want this to work.
Blue and white is for DCC, yes, just my preference. Red and black are for DC accessory bus. They run off terminal strips and currently connects to a single 5amp DC power supply. It was more just to pull the wires while I could, nothing is currently hooked up to it. Gives me options in the future, and I could power the separate DC runs if I want / need to at some point.
Thanks for following along. All the best with your build! Iain
@@gncascadedivision Thanks and Great to hear, with a layout of your size glad to hear Digitrax is working well. I really like the package they offer.
Hi, a quick question. How have you actually mounted that UR93 onto the wooden beam? I just got one and was expecting to see two or three screw holes to fix it in place, but I’m now wondering if those four plastic ‘collars’ sticking out of the sides are intended to be used to hold screw heads?
Yes - the U-shaped plastic collars are where you would screw it into place, as far as I can tell. Have to be a little careful not to over-tighten, but it works well and has held up for a year now. Iain
I am glad i found your video you explain better and in more detail than watch all of the Digitrax videos. Sorry you left Seattle I have lived here all of my life and my father work for Burlington Northern. Where did you end up moving to if you don't mind to ask. Thanks for your time Michael
Thanks! I'm looking forward to getting the rest of the Digitrax system up and running in time.
We moved out to the Minneapolis area to be closer to my wife's family. I miss Seattle, but I didn't quite have the basement space like this back there!
Thanks for following along. Iain.
Hello again this is Michael from Seattle I trying to set up my layout I was wondering did you set up your PM74 has a switch trying to read the manual my head exploded so I went to Eastside trains but they really haven't experimented with the new Digatrex stuff. When I read threw the manual you are supposed to set up the PM 74 as a switch so i went in to my controller and set up the pm74 as a switch and then set the power area one has open and the i was going to set up the second area has revers loop when I wired the revers loops and i wired it the way they have in the diagram and has soon has i turn on the system the relay just keeps tripping and when i put a volt meter on the first power area I have no power but i have power going to the A and B from the power supply. So being an absolute novice to all of this. if you cloud shed any light on some of those issues are maybe a couple of videos on how you did the programing that would be a lot of help thank you. Gald you could be close to your family and man you have a big basement for you lay out can't wait to see it come together. talk to you soon Michael
Invest in the rechargeable battery pack. I thought I would just change out batteries, but I run a lot and was going through batteries like no tomorrow. Rechargeable are the way to go.
Makes sense, thanks. It's one where as much I feel like a lot will be controlled by JMRI, I'll still end up using the throttle a lot. How do you like your Digitrax system - any issues or gotchas? Iain
Have you changed the the voltage trim for dcs210+ or have you reset your command center ?
I'd tried changing settings for the auto-reverse detection, but seems more like this unit isn't designed to run a return loop _and_ other parts of the layout on the same unit. So, I put in an auto-reversing module and it's fine. Other than that, I haven't needed to change the voltage trim or reset the command center. I did expand on this with 20amp power supply and dual 5-amp booster - th-cam.com/video/nVmwrPnNLjU/w-d-xo.html
to measure voltage: one lead on Rail A and the other on ground; then same procedure on Rail B and ground. Add two voltage measurements together to get voltage to the track. That is going to be a very large layout.
Yes, it's going to be a good sized layout! And thanks - like I said in the video, I was more just wanting to check the track was actually getting power as expected from the command station before putting a loco on it. I do the same when wiring turnouts since there's a lot going on with getting the right polarity across the frog. I do like the PM74s have built in circuit protection though just in case though - I've seen first hand a loco on a club layout get fried after shorting out on a turnout! Iain
@@gncascadedivision I just bought the PM74 as I want to use block detection and transponding. Your video has been helpful, Thank you!
I think the PM74 still uses mechanical relays -- consider using the solid state DCC circuit breakers ..
I did explore the DCC Specialties PSX range and similar for solid state circuit breakers, but it didn't really seem necessary over the circuit protection the PM74s provide (and the previous PM42s). I could certainly add them in the future if it warrants it. Iain
i want try that pc program app
What camera are you useing ?
GoPro Hero 9 Black with the media mod and light mod.
Does Digitrax sell that all in 1 package deal?
They sell the Evolution Express Advanced 5A/8A Duplex set that includes the DCS210+ command station, UR93 duplex radio transceiver, and the DT602D advanced duplex super throttle - www.digitrax.com/products/starter-sets/evoxd/. The starter includes power supplies and cabling. This would be more than enough to get started with. The PM74 for the power subdistricts was separate. Iain
Thank you, at least I will know what I am asking for.
@@PaulFotschkyI wasn’t sure what to ask for either. I’m a newbie and I found talking to someone at Yankee Dabbler was great. They wanted to know my level of understanding and what I wanted to accomplish before they suggested combinations of units for me to get there. I don’t plan on a “basement empire”, just a 4x8 layout and maybe a small 2nd section. But watching this video and reading your comment makes it all seem plausible. Thanks to both of you!
Good luck if you buy this product! Be prepared for really poor customer service if your throttle fail. I’m serious been dragged through the mud with these people and will NEVER buy these products again, good luck.
Sorry you ran into problems. I've known just as bad experiences with NCE. They constantly seem to have supply issues, long before Covid become the go-to excuse. Good luck with your layout. Iain
Thanks for the reply. YA Every company seems to have some serious downfall. It would be interesting to see a company emerge that had a leveled out playing field for there customers. Aye! lol@@gncascadedivision