The EZ09 was designed primarily for O Scale model railroad lighting applications.  Previous designs like the EZ05 are limited to 16 volt input power and roughly 50 milliamps of output current.  Higher power ratings are needed for O Scale applications.  The EZ09 was designed to accept up to 35 volts PEAK AC or DC input voltage, while supplying up to 1/2 Amp of total output current for all of its outputs combined.  It uses switching regulator technology, meaning that it remains much cooler than other similar modules due to its extremely efficient power supply.  Although it was primarily designed for O Scale, modelers in G, S and HO Scales have found it to be good for applications requiring a higher input voltage and higher total output current.  The module measures 2” (50.8 mm) long and 1/2” (12.7 mm) wide.

The EZ09 has a very flexible design, and the module can be configured in a large variety of ways.  This variety is often confusing to the potential customer.  In selecting a configuration, the purchaser needs to consider the following:

1. Are lights desired for one direction of motion (Example:  forward only) or two directions of motion (forward and reverse)?
2. Is the lighting desired simple (steady lights only) or complex (special effect lights)?
3. What steady lights are desired, and how are they to respond to changes in direction?
4. What special effects lights are desired, and how are they to respond to changes in direction?

SIMPLE vs. SPECIAL EFFECTS -- If the EZ09 is required to generate special lighting effects like Mars Lights or beacons, it requires a microprocessor for control.  If it has simple lighting that changes to another form of simple lighting based on direction (Ex:  Bright forward / Dim reverse) it also needs a microprocessor for control.  These situations require more components (a microprocessor and some transistors) and these increase the cost of the unit.

DIRECTIONAL LIGHTING -- If the EZ09 has no need for special control circuitry (no special effects and no directional control), no microprocessor is required.  This is the least expensive version, and it has a part number in the form “EZ09-0yz”.  The “0” (zero) can be thought of as meaning “Zero Control Circuitry”.  If the EZ09 is to operate in only ONE direction but with special effects, a few more components (including a microprocessor and software) are required.  These modules have part numbers in the form “EZ09-1yz” where the “1” means ONE direction operation with special effects.  If the EZ09 is to operate in BOTH directions with directional control and/or special effects, even more components are required.  These have part numbers in the form “EZ09-2yz” where the “2” means TWO direction operation with special effects.

AVAILABLE LIGHTING PATTERNS -- There may be no limit to the variety of available lighting functions or patterns that an EZ09 can generate, EXCEPT the standard module is limited to FOUR processor-controlled outputs.  (Steady lights are generated without involving the microprocessor.)  Available lighting patterns that have been identified so far are:

· Alternating (bright/dim -- EX: alternating ditch lights)
· Bright (Ex:  Normal Headlight)
· Dim (Ex:  Headlight when running in reverse)
· Flickering (firebox flicker -- uses two outputs)
· Gyralight (simulates rotary sweep pattern)
· Mars Light (simulates horizontal figure “8” pattern)
· Off
· Prime Stratolite (simulates sequential flashing of 4 stationary lamps)
· Strobe (Periodic brief, bright flash)
· Strobe not synchronized with normal strobe (Slightly longer delay between flashes)
· Western Cullen rotary beacon (Similar to Strobe)

Steady lights can include such functions as:

· Headlights and Ditch Lights
· Cab Lights and Ground Lights
· Marker Lights
· Number Board Lights
· Stairway Lights

The only difference between types of steady lights is where they are located on the locomotive.

LIGHT SOURCES -- The EZ09 can be supplied with a wide variety of light sources, including small and medium sized incandescent lamps and LEDs in all available colors (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, White, etc.).  Standard lamps are 2.4 mm diameter (40 mA) and 1.4 mm (15 or 30 mA).  Standard LEDs are 3 mm or 5 mm diameter.  Other options are readily available.

PART NUMBERS -- Our computer needs part numbers in order to understand what is to be produced, but customers can avoid dealing with part numbers and just specify in detail what end result if desired.  For those who care, the part number for an EZ09 module is in the form “EZ09-xyz”.  As mentioned above, the “x” is replaced by “0”, “1” or “2” as discussed above.  The “y” is replaced by a number specifying the number of INCANDESCENT lamps installed, and the “z” is replaced by the number of LEDs installed.  (If either “y” or “z” exceeds nine, hexadecimal notation is used (e.g., 10 = ‘A’, 11 = ‘B’, etc.).

SPECIFYING AN EZ09 MODULE -- List EVERY light quantity and type.  Then specify the type and color of the desired light source and the directional requirements for each light type.  Example:  Two headlights (2.4 mm lamps, bright forward, dim reverse), two Mars Lights (2.4 mm lamps, forward only), one Stratolite (5 mm yellow LED, non-directional), two marker lights (1.4 mm lamps, non-directional).

PRICING -- The module price is calculated by starting with the base price and adding $2.00 for each lamp or non-white LED ($6.00 for each “white” LED).  Base prices are  $34.00 for the EZ09-0yz, $40.00 for the EZ09-1yz, and $52.00 for the EZ09-2yz.