Back in August a number of you discussed converting 'old' DC locos to DCC and the problems met. A number of the youngsters (40 years plus!!) offered solutions from selling the old DC locos and buying new DCC friendly/fitted locos to changing frames and/or designing a DC/DCC layout to run both - all without brain surgery! One suggestion I came across - but not tried - is fitting a double pole/double throw (DPDT) switch between track and power source so that you can switch between two different power scources a have the best of both worlds. Is this a practical solution?
My situation is similar to the above youngsters. I have DC and am aware of the benefits of DCC but most of my locos are Life-Like and therefore not easily converted - or so I have been told! One of my favourites is my Proto GM&O DL 109 but how on earth can you fit a decoder in that loco unless you extend the decoder's wires and fit it in the B unit. Again, is this a practical option?
Come on, fellows, teach an old man some new tricks!
Peter
Tell people what they need to know and not what you think they should know!
Here I am replying to my own message! I forgot to say that I'm in N Scale!
Peter, get on the phone or drop an e-mail to Bruce at Litchfield station http://www.litchfieldstation.com/ also take a look at http://www.tcsdcc.com/installation_pictures_and_inform_N_Scale.htm
you may well find that there are drop in decoders that replace the existing boards for many of your locos.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
simon1966 wrote: Peter, get on the phone or drop an e-mail to Bruce at Litchfield station
I strongly second this recommendation.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
SirPeter wrote: Back in August a number of you discussed converting 'old' DC locos to DCC and the problems met. A number of the youngsters (40 years plus!!) offered solutions from selling the old DC locos and buying new DCC friendly/fitted locos to changing frames and/or designing a DC/DCC layout to run both - all without brain surgery! One suggestion I came across - but not tried - is fitting a double pole/double throw (DPDT) switch between track and power source so that you can switch between two different power scources a have the best of both worlds. Is this a practical solution? Peter Tell people what they need to know and not what you think they should know!
Yes, the DPDT switch to select the track power source will work with a couple of caveats.
Make sure the switch is the non-shorting type - breaks contacts before making the new ones when being thrown. Easiest way to ensure non-shorting (and probably desirable anyway) is a center off DPDT toggle.
Another way to accomplish the same result if you already have DC block wiring (preferably not common rail) in place is to substitute a DCC system for one of the DC power packs at the control panel. You then select which blocks will be under DCC control. WARNING: Don't operate both DCC and DC at the same time! Leave one system off or the other. When your metal wheels span the gaps between DCC-controlled blocks and DC-controlled blocks, the electrons rebel at being under control of 2 masters, and may cause the magic smoke to leave a decoder or control system.
Similarly, many DC locos without decoders resent their brethren with decoders. When shown a DCC control signal these discontented DC locos may make unusual noises in protest (sometimes mistakenly termed "singing") and eventually will get boiling mad, and release the magic smoke.
Finally, some older decoders are not DC compatible (newer dual mode decoders are). These single mode decoders only accept direction from their DCC master, and will not respond correctly to DC control. In fact, DC has been to know to scramble or fry the brains of single mode decoders.
For all these reasons, it is important to generally keep DCC and DC and their associated locomotives separate at all times. The exceptions are dual mode decoder-equipped locos (these go both ways) and one DC loco that will run acceptably with zero-stretching on DCC (NCE and MRC DCC systems do NOT have zero-stretching capability).
yours in segregated control systems
Fred W
Peter, I felt early that I wanted to get into sound and DCC. A member here offered me an unused and slightly needy Proto 2000 F2 A/B set that was DCC, but not sound. I asked my installer to dummy the B unit and to add a common and inexpensive Soundtraxx DSD100LC, a generic diesel sounding decoder. As you would imagine, I lost some hauling capability, but the result is quite nice otherwise. He did have to run some wires between the units, but I painted them black and then don't stand out much unless you purposefully look for them.
In retrospect, I would have asked him to mill the weights and leave the motor in the B-unit if at all sensible. But that is hindsight.
Thanks to all who replied to my DC to DCC questions. What a knowledgeable lot you are! You've given me plenty to think about. Thanks again.