dcc

[ramoutandabout]

ok help been out of the model railroads for years when i left zero one was the big name. can you give me some comparisons on units i kinda like the looks of the MRC unit and can i retrofit old amh units and steam engines with the dcc thnaks im sure you will hear more from me

[challenger3802]

Good place to start is Tony's Train Exchange

http://www.tonystrains.com/index.html

Comparison charts a plenty and lots of useful hints and tips to get you started.

O'h and [#welcome] to the forum [:)]
Ian

[Anonymous]

Ian,

Thanks for the Link to Tony's!

I have been absent to the Hobby for over 30 Years, but intent to get involved again soon. I built my last layout back in the late 1960's. The demands of business and raising a family did not afford the time required to work on it, so I dismantled and sold it.

My occupation as a Civil Engineer did allow me to participate in the construction of the real deal though. I have been most fortunate in being asked to design some of the industrial spur lines on many Santa Fe, Southern Pacific and Union Pacific properties.

I noticed in your profile that you are an Electrical Engineer. Perhaps you could post another link that discusses the wiring of reversing loops. I have in mind to construct another layout described as an East-West running track with reversing loops at each end

I understand from reading the material in your last link that the reversing loops need to be electrically isolated from the main track at both the entrance to and exit from the loop. I suspect that while the train is at the precise point of change from the main line to the loop or from the loop to the main, the polarity of the DC current fed to the motor is reversed. Is that correct? If so, what method is employed to determine which route (along the straight vs. curved leg of the turnout) the train is traveling on when entering or exiting the loop?

Thanks for you help!

Jerry M1

[ereimer]

you can also check out the main message threads here about dcc

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=36389
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=49375

a great site for wiring info is
http://wiringfordcc.com/

sounds like you had a job most of us would pay to have [:)] . any interesting stories you could share with us , perhaps in the prototype info forum ?
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=13

[Anonymous]

Good Mornimg Ernie,

The links you posted are right on topic. Thanks! The site http://wiringfordcc.com/ seemed to make the subject a little more cloudy, but that is probably because I am just beginning to learn about this (New to Me) technology.

Today, I am going into town to visit the Hobby Shop. I will look over the publications available and pick up some that discuss DCC. From what I have read so far, it is just the ticket for a new layout, and I want to learn as much as I can before purchasing any equipment.

You asked about stories. Do you know how the Locomotive Engineers of the Southern Pacific get their nick names? More about that later.

Thanks again!

[SpaceMouse]

Jerry,

Actually, wiring for DCC is easier than wiring for DC. You are right about the reverse loop. You have to reverse the current while the loco is in the loop. That can be done automatically with a circuit board or with a manual switch. Otherwise, you are just talking about two wires to the track (every 3 feet or so.)

[Anonymous]

Chip,

You Wrote: That can be done automatically with a circuit board or with a manual switch.

That's the part I am hung up on right now. The last layout I built was made up using Peco Track and Turnouts. Are the DCC Turnout controllers simply wired between the turnout solenoid and the track bus or do they get power from their own bus?

I am probably making to much of this point. I'm going to do some more research and figure it out.

Thanks for the help and encouragemen!

Jerry

[SpaceMouse]

The turnouts are independently controlled just like in DC. You can however, add a stationary decoder control it remotely. When I switched from DC to DCC, all I did was connect the two leads from the DC power to the DCC power.

[Stevert]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jerry M1

Chip,

Are the DCC Turnout controllers simply wired between the turnout solenoid and the track bus or do they get power from their own bus?

Jerry

Jerry,
Could be either, or even both, depending on which stationary decoders (DCC turnout controllers) you decide to use and how you decide to use them. Here's a link to some information and comparisons. Be sure you also check out the "Navigating the ... Jungle" article linked to at the bottom of the page.

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

As an example of some of the many possibilities, I use a Digitrax PM42 to split my track buss into four sections. Three of those sections power various tracks on the layout and the fourth is used exclusively as a stationary decoder buss. The reason for this is so a short on the track (say an engine running a turnout thrown against it) won't prevent me from setting that turnout to it's proper position to clear the short.

I have both Digitrax DS54 stationary decoders and Team Digital SRC8's (Switch and Route Controllers) used in various combinations to power Tortoise switch machines. My DS54's get their commands from and are powered by the stationary decoder buss. However, although they also have an option for external power, I have not found it necessary to use that external power in my application.

On the other hand, the SRC8's, which are set up to directly power some of the Tortoises, are not connected to the stationary decoder buss at all. Instead, they are powered by an external (non-DCC) power supply, and they get their commands from the Loconet.

It can be confusing, so I recommend that you skim over the info at the link I posted. Get a general feel for the options that are available first. Then you can narrow it down as you become more familiar with the details.

HTH,
Steve

Edit: Clarified some wording.

[SpaceMouse]

Or you can power your turnouts with your old DC power supply and MOMs.

[Anonymous]

Ernie, Chip & Steve,

I drove into town about noon today and purchased a copy of the book DCC Made Easy by: Lionel Strang. I read it several times and then did some research on the Internet.

I will digest what I discovered today and post tomorrow about what I learned. You guys have certainly pointed me in the right direction. The WEB sites in your posts above shed a tremendous amount of light on the subject. I am not sure that I would have found them without your help.

It's time to bank the fire and turn down the oil lamp. I will be back in the morning.

Thanks again for all of your help!

Jerry M1