Digitrax System & Booster Upgrade Paths
Hello Guys, Years ago my son and I were really into HO Scale and built a large layout using a Digitrax DCS 50. We have as many as 10 locomotives, mostly being in the engine shed. Anyway, my son is all grown up but we want to get back in to it again. When we stopped building our layout 10 years ago or so I knew we needed more power but never pursued it. So, my question would be, how can I get more power to my layout? I Googled this but, of course, came up with a dozen different opinions. Possibly a DCC booster? Help..........................Joe D.
Hey Joe,
You can increase the available power [amps] to your layout by increasing the power rating of the DCC booster and/or adding additional DCC boosters. This leaves you with several options:
- Add a DCS52 [command station AND booster]
- The new DCS52 will be the command station for the layout
- The old DCS50 will be a booster only
- This will divide the layout into two booster zones
- Add a DB210 booster [requires PS615 power supply]
- The DB210 is a booster only
- The DCS50 will remain the command station
- This will divide the layout into two booster zones
- Add a DCS240+ [requires PS615 power supply]
- The DCS240+ will be the command station for the layout
- The old DCS50 will be a booster only
- You will want a new throttle [DT602 and/or UT6]
- This will divide the layout into two booster zones
- If you decide on option 3 AND new throttles, then go with a EVOX system [far more cost effective]
- Of all the options above, we recommend either a new DCS52 or the EVOX systems
- Option one, the DCS52, is the most cost effective and provides an up to date AND far better command station compared to the old DCS50
- Option 4, a new EVOX system, provides all the power you will need, reliability AND walk around capability with everything in the box
- https://tonystrains.com/product/digitrax-evox-evolution-express-advanced-5a-8a-starter-set-north-american-version
- https://tonystrains.com/product/digitrax-evox-evolution-express-advanced-5a-8a-duplex-starter-set
- https://tonystrains.com/product/digitrax-dtxzepe-zephyr-express-starter-set-dcs52
- https://tonystrains.com/product/digitrax-db210-single-3-5-8-amp-dcc-booster
- https://tonystrains.com/product/digitrax-dcs240-8-amp-dcc-command-station-&-booster-1
Digitrax throttles article:
- https://tonystrains.com/news/digitrax-duplex-throttles/
Don't forget to use PSXX circuit breakers to protect you locos, decoders and DCC system from accidental short circuits and nuisance shut downs: