DCC people

[Anonymous]

Hey people wats going on????? I'm 16 years old and have been in this hobby since i can remember.......it's awesome. I'm building another layout.....way bigger than my previous one. Anybody out there use DCC and if so do i have to wire my layout with all the complicated wiring or do i just wire one block and the switch machines???????

[ClinchValleySD40]

I run DCC and could not imagine doing it any other way.

Wiring for DCC can be much easier than DC. How large of a layout are you building? How many trains/people will be operating at one time? You can get by with just on pair of wires (bus) and attach all drop feeders to them, but it might be best (you decide) to break up the layout into a few power districts, each with it's own circuit breaker.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

If you want to say where you are located, perhaps someone might be close enough to help out.

Larry
Holly, MI

[Anonymous]

well my first one i built was only 5x4 ft. this one i am building is going to be at least triple that

[dave9999]

Well as Larry said, you should run a bus and feeders at least every three feet. DCC signal
can get lost, resulting in a runaway. Beyond that depends on how you plan to use the
layout. Power districts can detect a short and shut down without shutting down the
entire layout. Dave

[nfmisso]

Read: http://www.dcctrains.com/tonystips/dccprimer/index.htm

[cacole]

The only additional wiring I would consider is to isolate sidings through a toggle switch if you think you may ever want to park locomotives or lighted passenger cars on them, so the siding can be turned off if you want. Other than that, follow the suggestions that have already been made and divide the layout into two or three power districts with separate boosters on each for that large a layout.

[BentnoseWillie]

QUOTE: The only additional wiring I would consider is to isolate sidings through a toggle switch if you think you may ever want to park locomotives or lighted passenger cars on them, so the siding can be turned off if you want.

Umm...I suppose that makes sense for lighted passenger cars, but why locomotives?

[trollw]

If all your locomotives are decoder-equipped, you don't need to be able to switch off the siding they are parked on. However, they still draw a small amount of power so the decoder can respond if you want to 'turn on' the loco. This is not really a big deal and should not cause a problem. The second reason is to have a place to park a non-decoder-equipped loco (most DCC systems will let you run a DC loco along with the DCC loco's). I am planning on having a separate toggle switch for each track in my roundhouse so I can power up only the engine I want (at least to bring out of the roundhouse). I am also going to wire them so I can make each one a programming track.

[Anonymous]

whoa all this wiring siding stuff and toggle switches is blowing my brains out.........all i wanted to know is for dcc do u just wire blocks and switch machines???????????

[dano99a]

I run DCC (as well)

I originally had my layout wired with DC, had blocks connected to toggle switches and all that BS.

All I did was connect all the block feeder wires together and connected them to the Command station. You don't have to do blocks anymore if you don't want too(unless your doing a reverse loop) but it's best if you do cuz then it makes handling signals even easier. Just like stated above put a drop feeder wire every 3 feet and your good to go.

Yes you still have to wire switch machines (unless your gonna use a ground throw) but you can get decoders for the switch machines and control them through the DCC system.

You can also get decoders for rolling stock for uncoupling, BUT: a conductor still has to get out of the engine walk down the train and pull the pin and kick the couplers a few times then radio back to the engineer to move forward, so the only reason for having this is for your own satisfaction. I still use magnets and thin wire to uncouple.

I would recommend the Digitrax Big Book of DCC, it is quiet helpful.

Have fun

[Anonymous]

another reason for blocking your dcc layout: if theres a problem, you can isolate it instead of checking all your wiring (very useful on massive layouts)

[ClinchValleySD40]

Some good advice here, but to answer your question - you only really need to run two wires around the layout. Connect to the power source (booster) and connect your drop feeders to it. That's it, you're in business. Switch machines? Your choice. Run wire around to power them like on a DC layout or use an accessory decoder and get the power from the track buss. That answer it?

[Anonymous]

thank you clinchvalley........lol u answered my question............but if anybody else wanna post there ideas on how they do it i wont stop em