Hello,
I am new to model railroading and have built a 4x4 in N scale as a "practice" bed for a month. No scenery, just laying pico flex track. Now I have started collecting pieces to build a 9x6 N scale using all KATO track. I have 10 locomotives already. they are all DCC. unfortunately, my 11th loco is Analog. Any way I can use both on the same track considering I cannot get a decoder for that loco yet.
thanks
Vicky
Hello, I am using the NCE Power Cab (self contained unit). I am using that on my current 4x4 layout and am open to buying another unit for my 9x6 layout (actually I am going to buy a separate DCC system for it anyway) so any suggestions to whats cool? Ideally I would love to control all my loco's, switches and signals from a computer if at all possible. Not concerned about the price if its a good system
Hi, and welcome aboard!
When you say there's no decoder for your analog loco, do you mean there is no decoder specifically made for that loco? Well, that's usually the case, anyway. Most decoders are pretty generic, and will work electrically with most locomotives. Of course, you have to worry about size and getting the decoder into the engine, but if it's reasonably new, they probably allowed enough room for decoder installation when they built it.
I'd suggest letting the gang here know what kind of engine you are having a problem with. Include both the manufacturer (Athearn, Kato, etc.) and the model (GP-9, 0-6-0 and so on) and someone will probably be familiar enough with it to give you some good advice.
I have a Lenz System 100 for DCC on my HO layout, by the way. It works very well, and will allow you to run one analog engine in addition to your DCC engines. Running analog, however, is generally not satisfactory in the long run. You are actually going back to "running the track," which is just like DC. Nice things like automatic reverse loops don't work with analog engines, either. So, you're probably going to want to put a decoder in that engine, anyway.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Hi Vicky
With the Power Cab you can not run a DC loco. What you could do is set your decoder equiped locos to run analog and set up the old DC power pack thru a double pole double throw switch. Just make sure your analog unit is off the track before switching to DCC.
Hope this helps
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
ltiggis wrote:I have Digitrax DCC with their DT400 throttle and it allows me to run one DC loco at address 00, while running a DCC loco at the same time, although, when doing so, I get the dreaded motor hum in the DC loco. I don't believe that has anything to do with Digitrax however. No complaints about Digitrax here in HO. Anyone know how to eliminate the motor hum? Good luck VickiB with your expansion.
There is no way to eliminate the hum of a DC loco running on a DCC layout. It is an artifact of the method that allows the loco to run at all. That's one reason that many people don't use that mode much in 'real life', but rather as a quick test before doing a conversion. Another downside to the DC mode is that it reduces the amount of DCC information that can be sent through the rails, which might be noticeable if there are suffiecient DCC locos in operation. Also, some (usually older) DC locos do not like this mode, and will burn out. For my money it's pretty much a parlor trick, others may see it differently.
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
The National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) DCC Standards and Recommended Practices allows some DCC systems to run one analog locomotive on a DCC layout by stretching one of the command bits, either positive or negative, so a non-decoder equipped motor will run. However, this means that the motor is running on a square wave DCC pulse that is turning on and off at a high frequency. This is what makes the DC motor buzz, and can cause it to overheat and burn out. It also places an overload on a power booster if you also have several DCC locomotives on the track at the same time. The risk of burning out a motor or a power booster is also why most DCC manufacturers don't incorporate this "feature" of the NMRA's DCC standards.
Not only the BUZZ in the DC loco but it reaks havoc in some older soundtraxx decoders. Some of my decoders are set to run on DC and at shows when someone dials in 00 on the Lenz system they take off like a rocket and my soundtraxx units shut down. Thats why we have set the rules for the modules of no decoder no running.
Hello All,
Thanks for all the help and advise. Since all my loco's are DCC, I went on a Decoder Hunt and found the correct one for my Amtrack Loco. Did the conversion myself and everything is smooth as pie. I am so happy.
thanks again for all the help
I am now up to 21 loco's. Going to start building my 9x6 layout soon. Here is a link to the layout I am building: http://www.katousa.com/track-plans/richfield-fond-du-lac.html
VickyB wrote: I am now up to 21 loco's.
I am now up to 21 loco's.
That's a lot of locomotives.
Bear "It's all about having fun."