Dec '04 Model Railroader DCC Walk around Cabs article

[hminky]

The DCC walkaround article in the December '04 Model Railroader said that data cables and not phone were used with DCC. Is this peculiar to the Lenz based system? Digitrax uses commom phone cable control bus wiring. I have a webpage describing wiring my layout for Digitrax using common home improvement phone components. I have used the extension cables combined for 100 ft and have had no problem[:D].

My data bus webpage at:
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/4x8/dcc/

Just a question
Harold

[cacole]

Different DCC systems use different cable types. CVP's EasyDCC, for example, uses plain coax cable and phone jacks/plugs. I think MRC uses regular telephone wire, and Digitrax requires data cable.

[hminky]

The reason I am questioning the article it was written as a general information piece and presented as a one size fits all. Digitrax uses phone cable, I use the round cable and the two jack wall outlets. It works really well
Harold

[rrinker]

The difference in meaning in the article is this: A 'phone' cable swpas the pins from left to right - if you lay out flat cable and put the plugs on so both have the tab facing up, when you look at the two ends and call the left most pin Pin 1, the order of the wires in the other end will be reversed. In a 'data cable' if you hold the ends up the order will be exactly the same.

For Digitrax, it will actually work either was IN MOST CASES. That's because the way they designed the Loconet bus, the wires are basically duplicates of each other. However, wiring it this way can cause some odd problems with certain Loconet devices and it is best to just avoid the problem.
To wire Loconet, you can use flat wire or round wire, but the extra expense of data-grade cable (Cat 3, Cat 5, etc) is not really worth it, the system was designed to work with plain old flat wire. It's easier to crimp ends on the flat wire, too.

Most other systems that use 'telephone type' cable would also want a 'data' layout where pin 1 at one end is pin 1 at the other end.

--Randy

[hminky]

Randy,
Thank you for the information. The crimping is the reason I use the round wire and the wall outlets. My method just requires screwing the wire into the color coded terminals on the wall outlet plates. I use a phone bus header with screw terminal that plugs into the command station. I have used crimped cables and I would rather use screw terminals than fuss with crimping.
Harold

[rrinker]

With a GOOD crimp tool (not a $5 special), flat wire is VERY easy to crimp. Darn near foolproof. Twisted pait wire, ont he other hand - it's not exactly hard to do, but to keep it within network specs, you have to maintain the twists right to the edge. Doesn't bother me, I've done plenty of it at work AND wired both my old house and this house.

--Randy

[ClinchValleySD40]

Agree with Randy. Crimping is much quicker and easier than screw terminals. Takes all of 15 seconds to do one.

[hminky]

And I forgot to add the wall outlet plates only cost $3.79 a piece and the bus header $5.00, if you are wiring a small layout it is probably more economical to use my method. I have crimped wires at work, the screw terminals don't take that much more time.
Just a thought
Harold