Chaning what is "Forward" and what is "Reverse" on my New Zephyr

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M

MikeL

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OK, admittedly, nothing worse than the owner of a new toy, when they're old enough to speak, and use a computer on a forum - apologies and thanks in advance!

Brought my Zephyr home today, got my loco's working right away, just programmed my 10 turnouts (cool and very easy - and their KB is pretty good), but nowhere does it tell me how I change what is considered forward, and what is considered reverse. So right now, I have to run my locos in "reverse" on the controller to go "forward on my track layout. This was easy to change on my Bachmann EZ-Command, so I have to believe it's easy possible to do on my new Zephyr.

Can someone tell me how?

Thanks!
 
what did you think of that bachmann easy command? I was thinking of trying one of those out for my first DCC controller. good or bad?:confused:
 
I thought it was very, very good for a first DCC unit. The most important issue, it seems to me (who has very little experience) is just whether you'll outgrow it too quickly. It should handle 8 DCC turnouts, and I think (theoretically) 9 locomotives, however while you could program that many different loco addresses, none of the starter units have the power to run that many devices.

The Dynamis system (EZ-Command's big brother from Bachmann) seems to have some detractors, but it does seem to have some good qualities as many of the others do also.

But if you've got any specific questions on the EZ-Command, please post them and I (and of course people much more experienced than me) can answer them.

Bottom line - I thought it's a great first DCC Controller. Less buttons to mess stuff up, no programming to learn and besides power inout, only one other cord which had a phono plug - doesn't get easier to start, learn, understand, and then expand some with this.

I'd be happy to sell my EZ-Command at a reasonable price, and I'm guessing from your ID that you're not too far north of me...
 


I should also add that my turnout positions are also all backward, i.e. a closed turnout is showing as "t" on the Zephyr, not "c".

Worst case, I'll be up early to call DigiTrax and have them help me in the morning.....
 
I have a zephyr, and I think if you switch the wires going into "Track A" and "Track B" it should reverse the "direction" of the command unit... It's worth a try?
 
Well, I spoke to Tech Support at DigiTrax and he took me through trying to change the CV 29 value to 7 to reverse the direction, but no go. And, of course, Bachmann is closed today for the holiday (bah Humbug - I'm trying to play with my holiday toys here!) so I can't find out if their locomotives even respond to CV 29 commands.

I guess I'm learning now about what level of CV commands are supported by different manufacturers.

But the DigiTrax TS guy said I could run my Atlas RoundTable by the Zephyr and control it's movement with the throttle. Now I just have to figure out how to wire it.....
 
MikeL said:
Well, I spoke to Tech Support at DigiTrax and he took me through trying to change the CV 29 value to 7 to reverse the direction, but no go. And, of course, Bachmann is closed today for the holiday (bah Humbug - I'm trying to play with my holiday toys here!) so I can't find out if their locomotives even respond to CV 29 commands.

I guess I'm learning now about what level of CV commands are supported by different manufacturers.

But the DigiTrax TS guy said I could run my Atlas RoundTable by the Zephyr and control it's movement with the throttle. Now I just have to figure out how to wire it.....
Click to expand...

efram: because its alternative you cant change the polarity by swapping the wires :D

Two thing: did you wired the loco by yourself ? and what brand is it ?
CV29 control 4 different thing : look into the decoder manual that came with your zephyr and look in the index for Normal Direction Of Travel (NDOT) there is a chart that show cv29 different possibility


To wire the turntable you will need any loco decoder, you wire the turntable motor as if it was a loco. then you select it on the throttle and run it like a loco
 
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I'm printing out the thread mentioned (thanks!) and am also now looking at what the Zephyr manual has for NDOT - I think I've got it and will now call Digitrax again and work through it - more to come! Thanks for the help!
 


Thanks for all the extra help and the reference info - all printed out and filed where I keep my train stuff.

It turns out that we were trying to set CV 29 to 7, when it need to be set to 6. So that's done. Happy about that and that I now have the means to make a programming track.

Apparently, I can also hook up a DCC decoder to the motor in the Atlas RoundTable and control that with the throttle as well.

Good - more money I can spend before everyone closes today....
 
If you have to set it to 6 then that means that you had set it to 7 when using the ez command which was actually backwards. Not a problem since you have it running. I highly recommend that if you program it as a value of 2 if you don't use the engines with DC. What happens if you leave it at 6 is the DC mode is left on. Sometimes DCC engines with the DC mode on will all take off at full speed and be uncontrollable. Turning off DC mode fixes that.
Also note that once you set to 4 digit addressing on the engine the CV will be changed again, often automatically.
Good Luck
 
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Now that we're on the subject of using the Zephyr, is there a way to consist two locos running back to back, (aka with opposite orientations for "FWD" and "REV"?) Or does this come down to changing the CV29 value also?
 
efram said:
Now that we're on the subject of using the Zephyr, is there a way to consist two locos running back to back, (aka with opposite orientations for "FWD" and "REV"?) Or does this come down to changing the CV29 value also?
Click to expand...

yes,changing cv29 is the way to run them back to back, i usually do this at the club because i can haul freight on both direction
 
efram said:
Now that we're on the subject of using the Zephyr, is there a way to consist two locos running back to back, (aka with opposite orientations for "FWD" and "REV"?) Or does this come down to changing the CV29 value also?
Click to expand...

julienjj said:
yes,changing cv29 is the way to run them back to back, i usually do this at the club because i can haul freight on both direction
Click to expand...
That's not necessary with the Zephyr. To MU two locomotives back to back, all you do is push "loco", enter the number of the engine you want to lead, push "loco" again. Turn the direction control to "reverse", then push "mu". Enter the engine number of the trailing unit, then push "c+". If you succeeded, the readout will return to the lead unit number. Run the engines a few inches to make sure they go in the same direction, couple to your train, and head out.
 
hamltnblue said:
If you have to set it to 6 then that means that you had set it to 7 when using the ez command which was actually backwards. Not a problem since you have it running. I highly recommend that if you program it as a value of 2 if you don't use the engines with DC. What happens if you leave it at 6 is the DC mode is left on. Sometimes DCC engines with the DC mode on will all take off at full speed and be uncontrollable. Turning off DC mode fixes that.
Also note that once you set to 4 digit addressing on the engine the CV will be changed again, often automatically.
Good Luck
Click to expand...

That's absolutely right - when I set up my Bachmann EZ-Command, I had to switch the forward and reverse directions. That unit doesn't directly deal with CV's, just a sequence of keys (I forget what) to make that happen. So changing it back makes sense.

What's now really surprising is that normal Left & Right Bachmann DCC Turnout decoders show backwards (i.e. the normal I think 18* versions) actually reverse turnout and mainline, and I can't see how to get them to show normally (other than pull the wires and reverse them),

HOWEVER, the #5, and #6 Turnout DCC Decoders from Bachmann show normal (i.e. when on mainline setting, they properly show "c", rather than "t")

Why the reaction is different depending on the decoder is really strange and confusing.


But I have to say, the Zephyr is really cool. Looks and functions way better than the pictures make it look, and even stuff like controlling my turntable is (relatively) easy. What a difference from the EZ-Command, but then, for just a few locos and a few turnouts, the EZ-Command is much easier to plug in and go. You do have to understand a bit more to run a Zephyr.

Thanks for all the help!
 
I'm sure I'll get to add throttles soon, but in my case, I still have to finish my layout - lots of work to do..... But they make some cool add-ons. And it even seems like my Bachmann DC power units can act as additional throttles through the jump ports....
 
yes, the dc power packs can be hooked up as additional throttles.

Also, keep in mind that when changing the normal direction of travel with CV29, that some brands of decoders like the Digitrax DH123 may also swap the front and rear headlights too so be sure to test the headlights to make sure they are in the direction that you want!

If not, you can remap them.
 


Thanks for the tips - I appreciate that. I'm just getting to really understand CV's, issues between vendors and all sorts of confusing stuff around this "standard".

And since we have only basic DCC loco's, we'll probably go out this weekend and buy one with sounds, several lights, and the other cool stuff - and I even have an excuse - This way I can learn more about CV's, basic train control, etc.

Now if I can just find someplace today to buy a multi-purpose meter, I could go wire the turntable.....
 
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