Manufacturer:Lenz
DCCWiki, a community DCC encyclopedia.
| Summary | Manufacturer of DCC equipment including command stations, throttles, stationary and mobile decorders |
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| Main URL | http://www.lenz.com/ |
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| Device Types |
Contents |
[edit] Booster
The current booster is the LV102 which provides five (5) amps of track power. Its primary use is to assist operators in providing sufficient power to large layouts or for larger equipment (Gauges O and higher (U.S.)). For large layouts, the layout is divided into power districts, each powered by a booster. The Command Station provides the DCC signal for operation; the booster provides power and transmits the Command Station signal. The throttle connects the user to the [[command station ]] which sends the desired signal to the locomotive or auxiliary equipment the user desires to operate.
[edit] Power Supply
One of the few items Lenz does not supply is a Power Supply. It has several recommendations for these.
[edit] Decoder
Lenz offers only silent (i.e., no sound) decoders. The Gold line are their most expensive and full-featured decoders; the Silver line represents their "value" line. The recent upgrade to system 3.6 has permitted more commands to be processed through the throttle to the decoder.
[edit] Throttle
Lenz offers the LH100 (Dispatcher Throttle) and the LH90 (Engineer Throttle). The former is entirely push button with a full numeric key pad. It generally makes operating multiple locomotives relatively easy. The latter is a dial control with a limited function key pad. While all functions can be accessed from the latter, the LH100 tends to be more intuitive. The LH90 tends to be a better single locomotive controller, although this would vary from user to user. Those persons used to dial throttles (such as most standard DC models) will generally find the LH90 preferable, particularly if only lights, sounds and direction are to be controlled by the operator. If more sophisticated function programming has been performed on the locomotive or auxiliary decoder, the LH100 might be preferred.
Both of these controllers are Tethered (i.e., wired). They use Express Net, which is compatible with an Atlas system (Digitrax, too) Lenz has an unique wireless system which uses a device called XPA which permits a wireless phone handset to operate as a throttle, and it would operate similarly to the LH100 because of its full numeric key pad.
[edit] Computer Operation
Lenz has enabled computer operation of the system through LI-USB and RS-232. These may be most helpful on the programming track, although much more can be done, particularly with auxiliary devices, so that a Yardmaster's duties could be replicated, as well as a Division or District Roadmaster.
