I tested a ZoneShare ZS4E on the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy, Model Railroader‘s club layout. The ZoneShare comes in a 5″ x 7″ black plastic case that I placed on a shelf under the layout. You can also purchase a version of the ZoneShare (model no. ZS4X) without the case at a substantial savings.
I commend CVP on providing easy-to-follow instructions with clear illustrations and examples. The booklet gives you everything you need to know to use the product, in plain English. And you’ll find a simple six-step setup guide on page 2.
Though I tested this unit with CVP’s 7 amp ZoneMaster booster and EasyDCC command station, the ZoneShare can be used with almost any brand of DCC system.
Just as a reminder, circuit breaker modules, such as the ZoneShare, don’t add power to your layout, they simply help you manage what your DCC system’s booster already provides. So the 7 amps of power running into the ZoneShare from a CVP ZoneMaster is shared among the four power districts as needed. If you have a larger layout that requires more zones or additional power to run more trains, then you’ll be best served by adding additional boosters. CVP recommends one ZoneShare per booster.
To connect the ZoneShare, I first wired it to the DCC system’s booster – CVP recommends 12 or 14 gauge wire for this job. All the terminals on the ZoneShare are equipped with sockets and screws, making it an easy task to attach the wires.
Next, I connected the bus wires for four of our layout’s power districts to the A through D track outputs. (Remember that power districts must be electrically isolated from each other in order for the circuit breakers to work properly.) Output A contains the auto-reversing circuit. If you need this feature, you can activate it by setting DIP switch 4 (X1) on the ZoneShare in the up position. You can use a pencil to set the switch.
Once powered, the ZoneShare’s green pilot LED illuminates, indicating its status. In the case of a short circuit, the zone where the short occurs is indicated with a red LED, which remains lit until the short is removed. The unit also includes an audio alarm. To activate this feature, DIP switch 1 (BZ) must be set to the up position.
I tested the ZoneShare in a variety of short circuit conditions, everything from hard shorts using a quarter across the rails, to various derailments, to leaving small tools on the track. The unit worked every time using the factory settings. However, you can also make manual adjustments to the trip sensitivity and the trip delay time. To set the trip current level, use the two small screwdriver-adjusted dials. The range is 1.5 amps to 4 amps, and there’s a separate dial for the reversing circuit (zone A). You can also adjust the circuit breaker’s trip delay time using DIP switches 2 and 3, as explained in the instruction booklet. The range here is 10 to 40 milliseconds.
Dividing a DCC-equipped layout into power districts will always help provide a smoother-running railroad, and the simplicity of CVP’s ZoneShare makes it possible to do this task quickly and easily.
Price: ZS4E $179.95
ZS4X $129.95 (circuit board only)
Manufacturer
CVP Products
P.O. Box 835772
Richardson, TX 75083-5772
www.cvpusa.com
Features
Audio alarm
Adjustable trip current and trip delay
Four independent circuit breakers
LED short circuit indicator lights
One auto-reversing circuit
Works with most any DCC system
