Automate Your Layout The Easy Way! How to Add A Zen Black DCC Shuttle Module 

Great video for introduction to automation, automation is a very fast growing sector of the hobby!

Cheers Jen youve cracked this old nut and saved me brain power.

When this Video was uploaded I thanked you and stated that I was having issues with Zen Black Shuttle and Hornby Railmaster ELink. Over the last week I have had more issues with ELink due to Windows 10 updating drivers for my computers mainboard, USB Port drivers in particular. As a result, I wired my " Arduino / JMRI " controller straight into my DCC track via a DPDT switch, I can now switch from ELink to Arduino at the throw of a toggle. Up take is, without changing anything else, the Zen Black Shuttle controlled section of my layout now works perfectly. I can throw my "Toggle" one way and run ELink and the shuttle misbehaves, Throw the "Toggle" the other way and go to Arduino/JMRI and the shuttle works perfectly. What can be taken from this is that, in my case, a bad experience with Zen Black shuttle modules was 100% the result of using Hornby Railmaster and Elink. Thank you again for your videos.

Hi Jen. I've been using this system for some time now. 5 diodes and a switch or relay to bypass them is all that's required. They're cheaper but less convenient than the DCC concepts module. I use ZIMO decoders at £20 each which have ABC and all the other functions required to do the same thing as you're doing. They also have superb motor control, and I highly recommend them. Thanks for all you do for the hobby.

Very helpful. Simple step by step explanations. Thanks!!!

Thank you for this Jenny, this is something that I would like to try for my layout too. Thanks again, Chris

Great video Jenny! I’m very interested in trying one of these for a Christmas display. One thing to remember is a Dremel is your friend! 👍 That is one of my tools I simply can not do without. Very versatile in a host of other projects beyond cutting track.

Very informative and well presented as always Jenny - I’ve always been a bit intimidated by these things but more inclined to have a go now I’ve got a better idea how they work!

fantastic video jenny

Love the content!

Very informative and we'll demonstrated and thanks for bringing to our attention. Definitely something I will look into, as you say once intiated frees up your hands to do other things whilst creating operational interest for shuttles, or automatically stops an engine automatically once you have sent it on its way. Looks like the section you have isolated gets switched between the normal dcc signal and dc, the decoder responding differently (but as programmed in relevant CVs) to whichever supply source it sees at that section. Stephen

Thank you Jenny, another wonderful video done to the proper "KISS" format (Keep - It - Simple - Stupid), brilliant .... now off to order my Zen Black decoders and ABC Mods,,, thank you again for taking the time and trouble to make this great video. 10/10 .

Omg so much to learn and take in, 👍👍.

Hello, Jenny and Zoe, you work great together ,watched for long time, your uploads have been of great interest to me, and I have learned a lot , I also really like the Monday club, you know the business , looking forward to next upload, both of you keep well and safe, Allan.

Great tutorial, thanks

Nice one, Jen. But I really wish DCC Concepts would sort out their ridiculous 90 degree website menu.

Watching your video has been enlightening and I now know that I'm not the only one who has had gremlins with Zen Blacks. I have 2 shuttle lines, totally separated from the rest of my layout, with a DMU on each track. My Zen Black setup misbehaves badly. I need to run the DMU's first forward, then backwards, then forwards again whilst outside the Zen controlled area, then I can let them enter the Controlled area and they will then shuttle back and forth with out issue, for a while. If I shut down my layout whilst the DMU's are in the controlled section, then turn the layout on again they will come out of the controlled section move about 2 feet then go back into the controlled section, eventually after going in and out 3 or 5 times they will start behaving properly by going from one controlled section to the other and reversing correctly. At a random interval my running shuttles will revert to this exiting and reentering the controlled area, then after a number of in and outs will return to shuttling. I'm using Hornby Railmaster with E-Link and have been advised by my supplier that E-Link might be the problem. To hear you say that the Loco does not work properly if placed on the track the wrong way around is nice and is exactly one of the issues I have as well. I have just started playing with Arduino DCC++ and JMRI and will now expediate the change of the shuttle area to Arduino, as I had given up on ever getting the Zen to work correctly continuously.

Great video Jen nice bit of kit.Can it run with other decoders or just the Zens.Love your information videos.

I approve of automation

Hi Jenny, great video. Do you know if the stay alive does have any influence when the train passes the gap on the track from the ABC part?

Hi Jenny just viewed you ZEN BLACK V12 VIDEO. How do you get the right distance to get the gap in the Electric side of the track, for it to stop at the correct distance at the station. then wait and then pull away slowly and proceed to the other end of the branch line again wit for a given time and then proceed to return back again stopping at the station on the return Journey, I have the pack of 3 of these ZEN V12 BLACK DCD-ABC pack of 3 and they slow to stop. given, I bought these a couple of years ago and due to my health condition l have been in and out of hospital and now just got round wanting to build a end to end 3 meters long and 300mm wide with a siding part way along. I really enjoyed your Videos with so much definition and plain instruction, my problem is I am almost 80 years young and find it hard to come to terms with these modern days Electronics. If possible could you send me a wiring diagram how to wire these 3 up to the DCC l am hoping now to build having carried out the board construction having been a carpenter in my early days, again many thanks for your clear and precise explication of this World of Model Railways Workings Regards Richard in Cornwall United Kingdom .

Me again, how do you set the speed of the loco once it's away from it's stand still

How does the system know the address of the locomotive it is controlling, or is only good for one locomotive at a time?

Thanks for that, I've been thinking about one of these for a while to use on my branchline. Just one question. If you wanted other locos to be able to use the track when the shuttle was not running (manually as such), is this an option? Or is it shuttle only once you've installed this?

So you have to set the CV27 for this to work? if you want the train to ignore the shuttle in the future, you have to unset the CV 27?

Sorry if this seems a dim question: If a loco is DCC fitted but not with a Zen black decoder, will the DCC Concepts gizmo still work?

what decoder will this work with in n gauge? ie is there a 6 pin one?

VERY INSTERASING TKS FOR THE DEMASTRATION. IS THAT JUST FOR EU OR CAN I GET SOMETHING FOR THE US.

Thinking of using a DMU as a shuttle service, would I need to put one in each carriage to work with this shuttle board?

Are you accessible to speak to personally (via phone) about this set up please ?

Can these be used with sound loco's?