Kato DX controller (DC) advice

[GCS]

Hi all, 

 

Looking at buying a new controller for my DC pop out Kato layouts, I think the Kato DX twin controller looks pretty good.

 

Anyone got experience with it or any other good quality controllers you could recommend?

 

Would love to go DCC but not ready for that move until I move into a house with the space, so DC for the near future.

 

Guy

[Yavianice]

If you intend to do DC only temporarily, why not buy some cheap (used) controllers from KATO (the S or SX) instead of an expensive DX model?

[GCS]

2 hours ago, Yavianice said:

If you intend to do DC only temporarily, why not buy some cheap (used) controllers from KATO (the S or SX) instead of an expensive DX model?

I feel like I need you on speed dial Yavianice lol, you know everything!

 

I moved across country two years ago into a small flat, probably won’t be looking to move to a house for a good few years yet so space (and the dream of a permanent layout) is on hold for a while.

 

cant imagine my other half would be thrilled at my whipping out a soldering iron and trying to hardwire DCC decoders etc 🤣

 

Guy

[Yavianice]

I would first consider what kind of trains you want to run. If for example you want to run it with interior light, then the SX (or any PWM) power pack is better. If you don't care about that and want as much compatibility as possible (because some decoders/DCC trains don't like the PWM functionality of the SX, and trains with bulb lights are not recommended in the manual of the SX) get some cheapo S power packs which pop up on ebay every now and then. Or you can just get any old power pack for N gauge (max 12V) and hook it up to the track; it doesn't need to be KATO. 

 

And, I am on the JNS Discord if you quickly want to chat/ask something. 

Edited August 14, 2020 by Yavianice

[GCS]

Sound advice, really appreciate it mate 👍 I’ll have a look on eBay for an S pack as most of my trains have been retrofitted with lights. 

[Yavianice]

bulb lights then, you mean. because with LED interior lights it's better to get the SX pack.

[Kamome]

I have the older Hyper D controllers. They have some nice features but the output is more geared for HO gauge than N, although you can use it for both. The documentation states it’s designed for double- headed and fully lit trains as it has a 2A output. It was designed at a time when many of the preinstalled lights on Kato stock used bulbs instead of LEDs.
 

It’s not a twin controller as such, but has a main and sub track output with a single speed controller. This is meant for track plans such as those with reversing loops. So that you can switch the polarity of one of the sections whilst the train is navigating the other. The speed of the train stays consistent through the transition.The image is Google translated from the manual.

 

It works well with the Kato turntable as that also has to be isolated from the rest of the layout and would normally need a separate controller.

 

One issue with the 2A output is when you’re changing from one line to another(from one controller to another)

you get a sudden rise and fall of speed as each coach bridges the circuit from one 2A supply to the next.This is not hugely noticeable with HO as the motors need more power to turn, but with N gauge, it’s very noticeable. 

[GCS]

Ahhh ok I get the DX controller now, expensive considering it’s not for twin track control. SX controller it is then! 

[Shinkansen500kei]

On 8/15/2020 at 9:59 AM, Kamome said:

It’s not a twin controller as such, but has a main and sub track output with a single speed controller.

...

It works well with the Kato turntable as that also has to be isolated from the rest of the layout and would normally need a separate controller.

Hello @Kamome, I'm new to the hobby, having "discovered" N scale trains on my trip to Japan.

 

I'm trying to figure out the power options for my new turntable, would you say that (except the power rating) the Hyper DX power pack can be replicated by the SX with the 24-851 reversing switch? As I type this I realize that this switch doesn't provide the Brake/Off position. Not even sure if the switch's output is throttled by the power pack as I haven't tried these add-on switches yet.

[Kamome]

The Kato turntable works by powering the turning bridge, with power then being conducted to whichever track it’s currently connected to. 

 

Whatever your intended track plan is, one controller is needed to power your turntable and surrounding storage tracks/roundhouse. If you intend to have a mainline or branch line, the turntable area really needs to be isolated from any other part of your layout using insulated joiners.

 

You could use 2 of the standard SX controllers or similar and you just need to match the speed and polarity for when your loco transfers between power districts from turntable area to mainline. There are also polarity and on/off feeder switches from Kato for powering/isolating your siding tracks 

 

The DX controllers make the transfer easier as they have a main and sub power feed that have their own direction switches, with a single speed controller so there’s no noticeable change in speed as the loco cross the power district. The 24-851 will do the same job.

 

Just need to double check correct polarity on the turntable controller, towards/away from control cabin on the turning bridge as well as the direction on the throttle. So for a simple turntable area, and say a single branch line loop, you could use a single DX controller although you wouldn’t be able to use your turntable while another train is running around the loop and vice versa.

 

 

Obviously there are other non-Kato options as solutions. The Kato products are just plug and play if you’re setting up temporary layout ideas.

[Shinkansen500kei]

Thanks, @Kamome for your response.

 

I'm actually in Tokyo again and I tried to find out how exactly different options work, which wasn't too easy as the sales staff at various stores (including the Kato HQ) didn't seem to have much of an idea...

 

Long story short - I can report that the SX power pack with the 24-851 reversing switch works exactly as the DX power pack. When I wrote my original question, I only saw the catalog picture of the switch from the front, not knowing there are two outputs on the back (direct/pass-through and controlled/reversible) and that the cable is an input from the power pack. Also, there is a middle "Off" position on the switch so everything pretty much matches the DX - single throttle controlling reversible MAIN and SUB outputs.

 

Not too bad for roughly a half of the DX's price. To be fair, the DX has more power (as it comes with the big power supply) and has an extra start voltage adjustment knob. Base SX is about a third of DX's price, one has to add the power supply and the reversing switch.

 

Amusing tidbit: For a while I was thrown off by a dubious translation in the switch's instructions - they call the bottom non-controlled output "Constant", although the original word is ダイレクト (dairekuto = direct). They probably meant constant as unchanged, but they managed to confuse me (to the point that I bought the 24-833 3-way splitter just in case I needed to work around the misunderstood "constant" output 😄).

Edited July 7 by Shinkansen500kei
clarify wording