WIMorrison

Nick you are better asking this question in the iTrain forum than here. I also suggest that reading the guide in this link may help you plan how to use feedbacks to create blocks https://berros.eu/itrain/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10759 Iain

A pi with the latest Java will work with iTrain and if you look at the iTrain website you should see a pricing option that meets a tight budget. Regarding the z/Z21 for automation the better choice is always going to be the Z21 as that offers the Loconet T interface which gives access to cheaper occupancy detectors and other accessories. However if a budget is the driving factor then the DR5000 may be an option as it is very full featured and similar in price to a z21, though I would advise you that the mantra of your get what you pay for’ applies to model railways also perhaps start with the DR5000 with a Pi and move on later if you have issues?

I always look for the tiny (and I do mean tiny) Zimo logo on the box - if it ain’t there I don’t buy it. Normally I would buy OEM Zimo but sometimes speed needs and Bachmann fills the gap in those occasions

Some - but not all - Bachmann decoders are Zimo under the skin

What is the software?

In theory yes, but the resistance wild affect the performance - stripped 2.5mm mains cable is a much better choice I have also seen one layout where the actually used a bit of track as the bus!

Either I have lost the plot or this thread has started to go way of course, my view is that it is the latter.,

I guess that's the sort of video you end up with using that sort of kit - it does make it sound very difficult

Alternative would be to purchase a DR5033 and power the accessories from a Bus supplied by the DR5033?

I suggest that you give James at DCC Train Automation a call, he is the UK agent for Digikeijs

I am fairly certain that the idea of getting the DR5000 to echo the RS bus to LocoNet won’t work (but happy to be corrected by someone). I know that I looked long and hard for something to transceive from RS to LocoNet and failed completely if you wanted to replace the LDT I would go with Digikeijs which (with the exception of the DR5000) I find absolutely superb and very competitively priced - I would recommend Loconet as that has the best global track and most components with good prices and if you want to make your own there are a few people that do kits (Hans de Loof as an example). but changing will not, IMHO, give you any benefits at this stage whereas Ben is just starting and needs to looks at the component availability now which is different from when I had Lenz and when you started Iain

keith Can I ask that if you were starting afresh today would this still be your chosen solution? I know you have a significant investment in your current systems and most importantly it works, but would you still go this way given the range of equipments and peripherals available now? as you may recall I was a Lenz man until I entered the automation game and switched due to the paucity and price of available perhiperals compared to LocoNet.

Ben i have sent you a pm with a presentation that might be useful and answer some questions

What is the name of the layout being shown at Warley? Will be nice to see it ‘in the flesh’ after reading so much about it

What is the name of the layout being shown at Warley? Will be nice to see it ‘in the flesh’ after reading so much about it

You can buy other units that will work with a Lenz system such as LDT however you are quite limited as most manufacturers work with Loconet. As you have a larger layout a quick cost benefit analysis would suggest that it would be cheaper to change to a Loconet supporting command station such as Z21 (you can retain the use of your Lenz handsets) as you can purchase cheaper peripherals - and a greater variety.

I think that the question might be is the DR5000 an approved controller for use with TC, rather than will it work. As Shown above a DR5000 does work with TC9 however it is not on the published list of approved controllers. What might be worth you while doing is comparing what you get with TC9 Bronze, Silver and Gold as Bronze doesn't give you a huge amount and you may find that you need Gold to achieve the tasks that you wish to automate. I found that this was the case.

I don’t think I knew you are an NCE man and would agree that now is a good time to move away from it and get a system that will support the future. My preferences would be firstly for a Z21 as I have tried others and find this simply bullet proof and totally reliable supporting automation fully. The next choice might be the DR5000 which has a very attractive price but I found unreliable though I am sure others will disagree.l with my view. clearly there are others, but these have all the capabilities required.

Check Google - masses of info and videos on how to covert an ATX power supply into a standalone device.

You can run DCC locos in DC track but not vice versa a quick way to get up and running is to build the layout as DC but following good practices for DCC and gradually convert all your locos to DCC, initially running them all on DC. When you have enough DCC enabled then you simply switch command stations and start using DCC

If you mean mix DC and DCC locos on the same track then the answer is NO, you cannot do that. Track wiring for DCC is no different to wiring the track for DC

It is interesting that articles promoting the description of memory effect proliferate across Wikipedia (that well known source of self promoting ‘truth’) all of which provide definitive origins for the term memory effect, yet all attribute the term to different battery types What is consistent is that it exists and there are many peer reviewed and published papers that describe the term and its effects are, IMHO, a better source of truth than any Wikipedia article. a google search will show several and I refer here to one which I recent and describes the effect as seen in L-Ion batteries also. https://www.psi.ch/en/media/our-research/memory-effect-now-also-found-in-lithium-ion-batteries Meantime I am personally comfortable using the term memory effect irrespective of it derivation and I am also comfortable using it with reference to all types of batteries as they all suffer effects to a greater or lesser extent.

Because that is how IBM, Dell and HP described it and applying the charging techniques they described on new batteries significantly reduced the effect It may have first been described on satellites but it is an effect that has been well known in the mobile device market for many years.

My laptops and phones must have been used in satellites then as they have all (and the old ones still do) suffered from the memory effect. HP, Dell and IBM used to include instructions on how to minimise the memory effect on Ni-MH batteries when using them

3 bits of advice; 1) yes there is a limit which is as low as 500 times for the cheaper end to 1200 times for better quality 2) batteries have a memory effect and gradually lose the about to hold and deliver a charge when recharged before completely flat. 3) you only get what you pay for and £1.99 rechargeable is not as good at a more expensive. You should buy LI batteries to get the lowest self discharge, largest recharge cycle count, lowest memory effect