dcc addresses equal maximum number of engines?

[m sharp]

I am getting ready to purchase my first dcc system for a small HO layout.  I have way too many engines and freight cars for the size of the layout, though I will have space in "staging" for the locos...about 80.  So, will I need to purchase an expensive system in order to run any given engine, or set of engines on any given day without constantly reprograming?

I will have only two throttles and only about a dozen engines on the scenicked layout at any one time.  But as I said, I would like to be able to choose any of the 80 engines from staging at any time. 

Thanks for any help someone may have.

Mike

[howmus]

Although my experience is limited to the Digitrax system, as long as each loco has its own number (from 1 to 127 for 2 digit addressing or up to 9983 for 4 digit addressing with digitrax) you can call up the individual loco and run it without having to reprogram anything.  There is a limit on any system as to how many locos can be run at the same time with any system, so if you want to run all 80 locos at once you will probably have some problems.........   You aren't going to have any trouble with it on any of the systems that I am aware of.

[tstage]

Mike,

I don't know what your scale of "expensive system[s]" is but you can purchase either the Digitrax Zephyr or the NCE Power Cab for $160 and $140, discounted.  They will both handle up to 9,999 locomotives.

The Zephyr has the advantage of being able to store up to 10 locomotives in the recall stack at any given time.  The Power Cab can only store 2.  Even so, I only run one or two locomotives at a time from a single throttle anyhow so that "limitation" wasn't a deal breaker for me when I bought my Power Cab.

If I need to "call up" another engine that's not in the recall stack, I just press SEL LOCO, then the 4-digit locomotive number, then ENTER - I'm now in control of that locomotive.  Both are very good systems and worth looking at to see which one will best suit YOUR needs and preferences.

Mike, if you are interested in reading a review on the NCE Power Cab, click on my web site link at the bottom of the post then click on Reviews on the left side of the page.

Hope that helps... 

Tom

[Gandy Dancer]

I have way too many engines for the size of the layout, though I will have space in "staging" for the locos...about 80.  So, will I need to purchase an expensive system in order to run any given engine, or set of engines on any given day without constantly reprograming?

No,  I can't think of any entry level system currently in production that cannot handle a scant 80 locomotives.  I think the very cheapests ones do 127.  The only liablility is that you might not be able to make the assigned channel number match the number printed on the locomotive.  

[Anonymous]

You are going to look at the Super Chief from Digitrax; Im pretty confident it will store all 80 of your engines as long there is no conflict among them. Should there be a duplicate two digit, you can enter a 4 digit one and move on.

I would stay away from entry level systems like the Bachmann Easy DCC, I dont expect you to be able to round up the brood and keep everyone in the "Stack"

[m sharp]

Thanks everyone for your quick responses.  It seems I should have no trouble selecting a dcc system.  I can base my buying decision on other factors.

Mike

[jbinkley60]

Thanks everyone for your quick responses.  It seems I should have no trouble selecting a dcc system.  I can base my buying decision on other factors.

Mike

This might help.

http://www.tonystrains.com/productcompare/dcccomparison.htm

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for your quick responses.  It seems I should have no trouble selecting a dcc system.  I can base my buying decision on other factors.

Mike

It would help in trying to answer your original question of we knew what type of loco's you have and how many need to actually run at the same time (as opposed to just sitting on the track).  Do these loco's already have decoders installed?

 

[m sharp]

Alan, I have mostly Athearn B/B, Genesis, Proto 2000, Kato, Atlas.  Only a few engines currently have decoders installed.  I will be running a maximum of 5 engines at a time with two throttles. 

Mike

[bearman]

I don't think the Digitrax Zephyr can store more than 10 addresses and run more than 10 locomotives at one time.  But, the point regarding amperage is well taken.  The Zephyr is a 2.5 amp system which suits my needs, but you might want to consider a system with a minimum 5 amps.

[locoworks]

80 loco's if they are all newish will need aroud 40 to 50 amps to run them all at once. if you have enough boosters and power districts or sections you could with the digitrax chief as an example, used as a command station run them all at once. the specs for the chief say it can run upto 120 loco address's at one time. the snag is you would need a lot of boosters and $$ to do this. the amount of loco's you can run is usually limited by the current available on the track. 5 and 8 amp versions of the chief are available but you need a suitable transformer to power them. as long as each power district or section is not asking for more current than the booster can supply the loco's should pass from section to section without problems. if i win the lotto i post a video about a year later.

[Anonymous]

Alan, I have mostly Athearn B/B, Genesis, Proto 2000, Kato, Atlas.  Only a few engines currently have decoders installed.  I will be running a maximum of 5 engines at a time with two throttles. 

Mike

A max of five loco's with two throttles will work with just about any system, except the bottom of the line stuff.  Pick a system that fits your operating style and that "feels good" in your hand.

Can you use tethered throttles?  How long do the tethers need to be?  Several of the systems will allow ports to be placed around the layout to plug in throttles where needed.  Some of the systems will allow you to move a throttle from port to port without loosing control.  Wireless is nice, but more expensive.

I use a Prodigy Advance on my layout and love it.  I use two throttles and two people could easily control 5 loco's.  I have a Zephyr on my work bench because I wanted computer interface there.  Both systems are expandable and both "feel" different to use.  If possible, you need to play with a few systems.

The last consideration is power.  Most systems are easily expandable with boosters.  I installed a RampMeter in my layout because I kept hearing how power hungry sound locos were.  I model small steam and was surprised to find that my average loco while running, with sound on, only drew 0.15 amp.  Eight sound locos, just sitting on the layout, with sound on, not running only draw 0.12 amp.  There have been several threads on power consumption on the General Discussion forum.  You need to find out how much current your typical loco consumes and go from there.  Either measure a few on DC with an amp meter or use a RampMeter with DCC.  Do not rely on reports from others that have not actually measured current consumption.  Some of the Model Railroader review include current consumption information. 

What does all this mean?  Get any system that delivers 2 amps or more.  Get the system that feels good and fits your layout use.  Then worry about adding boosters if needed.  With two operators and five running locos; you will need to use several power districts anyhow, for "best" operations.

 

[MisterBeasley]

A couple of other subtleties to consider:

Most systems have what they refer to as a "stack" of locomotive addresses.  You can use the controller to quickly "scroll" through the stack and select a locomotive, rather than having to punch in the numbers each time.  My Lenz system, for example, has a 32-engine stack.  Only engines on the stack can be run, but others can be on the layout and inactive.  If your stack is full and you enter another locomotive's number, the system will discard one of the entries on the stack and replace it.  I think they use a "Least Recently Used" algorithm to decide which one to toss, but I'm not sure.  The stack size may also be throttle-dependent.  The Lenz "Dispatcher's" throttle supports all 32 stack engines, but the less-capable "Engineer's" throttle only supports 10.  As I recall, though, the stack itself is maintained on the system, not the throttle, so you can't have 2 throttles, each with a different set of 32 engines on it.

When you talk about "running 5 engines," are you referring to 5 locomotives, or maybe 5 trains?  With DCC, you can control "consists" of multiple engines as if they were a single engine, but in that case the current requirements (in amps) must be added up.  I don't know the internal addressing requirements of consists, but I suspect that once you've set the consist up, you only need to keep the consist ID in the stack, not the individual engines.

I've got several sound engines.  Each different type of sound decoder has slightly different interpretations and uses of the button codes for the functions.  My Lenz system allows me to set up whether a particular function button (horn, bell, brakes, etc.) are momentary-contact or toggle.  For example, I set up function code 2 (the horn/whistle) to be momentary-contact, so the whistle only blows while I'm holding down the button, but function code 1 (bell) is a toggle, so once I turn it on, it keeps ringing until I turn it off.  This information is stored in the stack, so if you replace that engine with another one, you'd have to reprogram the button usage.  This is probably not a big deal, but it's one of those small things to consider.  I don't know how other DCC systems deal with this.  Maybe someone else could fill us in.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that power use will increase dramatically when one uses DCC functions like F9 "Heavy Load" that will literally pull on that power supply.

One other thing to consider, sequenced start up of your railroad. That Roundhouse holding 30 engines will be a draw on your system the moment you flip the switch.

[m sharp]

Thanks for your input.  I think this clears things up quite a bit.  Although there are a lot of finer points to consider when choosing a system, at least I understand now that what I get will be able to supply my needs.

Mike