DCC Concepts ADS8FX

Discussion in 'DCC Control' started by ed, Aug 21, 2017.

  1. ed

    ed Full Member

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    I've been looking at accessory decoders for the points on Latton Fields and these seem very good value for money.

    Just wondering if anyone has tried using them for frog switching as well as the solenoid control.

    (Think you had one on Weybourne Ron)

    I have read reports on other forums about the ADS-8fx forgetting which way the point is set at power up, which could be a bit nasty if the frogs are not the right polarity, but it seems throwing all the connected points after powering up solves the problem.

    Think I'll be alright power wise as my DCS51 Zephyr is a 3 amp system and I doubt any trains would be moving while throwing points as the layout isn't big enough, so basically I wouldn't need an additional power supply.

    The alternative I quite fancy is the Digitrax DS64, but that only controls four point motors so I'd need two which works out more expensive, and frog switching would have to be handled by the point motor.

    Either way, as I have 10 points I'll need at least one other accessory decoder for the other 2. But that could be a Digitrax DS52, a DCC Concepts AD-S2sx, or any one of various other manufactures NMRA compliant decoders.

    Ed
     
  2. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    I do Ed, but not used fro frog changing. I also found 3 of the outputs soon packed up which is a pain.Not that impressed to be honest and I am looking at a Train-Tech decoder for the points on Rush City yard instead of the DCC Concepts unit.
    Cheers
    Ron
     
  3. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    A friend has one of the DCC concepts units and it packed it in on 2 of the circuits that stopped the entire unit working only been in use a month.
    DCC concepts warranted the unit in that they isolated the 2 failed channels and returned the unit plus gave him a 2 channel unit as a fix for it missing 2 channels. And they express posted the items back and forth in a week.
     
  4. ed

    ed Full Member

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    Not looking good so far, two failure of two or more outputs on two separate units :(, and ......

    .... how on earth can you give somebody back a broken piece of kit, along with something else to do the bit the broken one doesn't any more :confused:

    Looked at the Train-Tech ones Ron, but a few people over on RMweb have posted that they don't have enough oomph to throw Seep and Peco motors if powered from a Powercab.

    Think the Zephyr has a slightly bigger power supply than the Powercab, but both the ADS-8fx and the Digitrax DS64 can be powered if necessary from a separate power supply.

    Ed
     
  5. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    For point motors

    The MERG ones work well, I've used both the CDU version (£12 for 4 outputs) and the stall motor version (£10 for 4 channels - or 8 on/off connections).

    For general accessories - lights etc, I use arduino's.

    Paul
     
  6. ed

    ed Full Member

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    Food for thought Paul :thumbup:

    There is another version I discovered, AD-S8sx with power off memory and protective case for about £12 more.

    Still cheaper than 2 x DS64s, but bit concerned about these output failures, although I've had a reply on another forum where one has been in use for over three years with no problems

    :scratchchin:

    Ed
     
  7. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    I only need 4 outputs for Rush City yard, I'm doubling up on 2 sets of points.I'm going to use 2 AD-S2sx 's, I,ve got 2 on Sheringbourne to make up for the dead ones on the ADS-8fx board and they are easy to fit and program at £25 each, although the Digitrax DS64 also looks a possible contender ? :thumbs:
     
  8. StevePower

    StevePower Full Member

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    My 10 cents worth with anything from DCC Concepts is Buyer Beware. I spent a lot of money on their Alpha Box control system and it was rubbish, I returned it and got my money back as it didn't half of what they stated it would do. The quality control is very poor as the products are made in China. I have friends who have had so many issues with the stuff they've bought from there.
    To say that they had a very high failure rate would be an understatement. I'd look for an alternative brand.
     
  9. ed

    ed Full Member

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    Noted, thanks Steve :thumbup:

    Ed
     
  10. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    Think I'll go with the Digitrax DS64 myself!!
     
  11. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    Just been to Digitrains in Lincoln, I met a man from DCConcepts who was checking some kit and got to talk to him. I explained the problem I had with my 8sx board (only 3 working outputs) and he explained what had happened and how they had changed the board and added a capacitor discharging button.I also bought 2 of the high powered ADS-2sx boards for Rush City yard instead of the Digitrax unit which looked a right pain to program!!I am checking my old sx8 board and sending it back to him to sort.. (somehow?)
    Cheers
    Ron
     
  12. ed

    ed Full Member

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    Sounds promising Ron.

    Ed
     
  13. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    Fitted and working a treat! :thumbs:
    [​IMG]
     
  14. ed

    ed Full Member

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    Just wondering if it's better to go with more accessory decoders with less outputs, so that if you get a failure it doesn't affect as many points.

    Ed
     
  15. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    It also keeps the wiring run shorter to each point motor.

    Paul
     
  16. ed

    ed Full Member

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    Ron wrote:
    Bought one of these some time ago and having finally been able to do a bit of work on Latton Street I'm trying to wire mine up.

    Problem is, I seem to be having a real problem actually getting the 16x0.2 hook-up wire into the terminals, it's as though the hole is too small (or the wire is too big) :scratchchin:

    Since the terminals are (allegedly) able to take "32x0.2 3-plaited solenoid wire" I'm beginning to wondering if I have duff terminal blocks on this accessory decoder, or I'm just being daft:confused:

    Ed
     
  17. Sol

    Sol Full Member

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    Contact Richard Johnson direct in DCC Concepts
    rejohnson@dccconcepts.com
     
  18. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    I use those Ed, they can be tricky to get the wire in but I managed all mine OK so perhaps you have a 'duff' unit??
    Cheers
    Ron
     
  19. ed

    ed Full Member

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    Thanks guys.

    I'm persevering and have managed to get a couple in.

    I'd normally twist all the strands together before trying to insert them into the terminal block, but this appears to make them too thick to fit.

    A slight twist to try and keep the strands together but flat(ish) seems to work, but the wire needs to be pretty perpendicular to the terminal.

    Any bending of the wire just after it leaves the terminal causes too much tension and pulls the wire out.

    Report back later, now need a coffee :twitch:

    Ed
     
  20. ed

    ed Full Member

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    Success.

    I've mounted this on top of the baseboard with a view to the signal cabin covering it.

    Good job I did, as I think if I'd been trying to get these wires in under the baseboard I would have given up and sent it back.

    [​IMG]

    Of course, despite considerable time spent trying to figure out which way round the frog switching wires should go, I got them round the wrong way.

    Once removed from one terminal they wouldn't go back in without snipping the end off and re-stripping the end of the wire.

    Apart from getting the wires attached, what a great little unit.

    Ed
     

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