DCC?

[Anonymous]

Out of the hobby 40 years & starting new shelf layout (near ceining) running two parallel loops around large room (80' each loop).

Thinking of running two separate trains on each loop. Unfamiliar w/ DCC, but it sounds interesing. Confused about the many sound functions, decoders, locomotive selection, etc.

Anyone believe in the KISS Principal?

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

[Jacktal]

Even if you don't need or desire all the bells and whistles of DCC,it still is the modern way to go if you are planning to run one or more trains at a time.It becomes a must if you want to have two trains on the same section of track and have them controlled independently.

Basic DCC systems are available at quite reasonable prices and won't come that much more expensive than having multiple speed controllers that you would need to control multiple trains,not counting all the switches and goodies you'll need to build "block control".Add to this the multiple advantages of operating with DCC plus the much simpler electrical circuits to design,construct and eventually troubleshoot,DCC is definitely the way to go...in my opinion.

[cacole]

I suggest that you read up about DCC by going to the Tony's Train Exchange Web site and reading his "DCC For Beginners" item.

http://www.tonystrains.com

[Robert Langford]

I also have a problem. I'm just getting back into R.R. I had to give up my room in 1975 for bedrooms for the family. I kept all my equipment and I have a lot of it. I have been cleaning and lubeing and testing all my engines. I would like to go DCC, but I'm not sure if I can convert all my engines to use decoders. Any sugestions?
Thanks BOB
SANDY SOUTHERN RAILROAD

[rrinker]

Basically, you can install a DCC decoder in ANYTHING. The real questions are how hard is it going to be and what else is involved, and the answers to those depends on the locomotive in question.
If most of your equipment is pre-1975, it will likely require some work. For DCC, the motor must be isolated from the chassis, and most if not all older models, as well as quite a few still today, use the loco chassis as one side of the power pickup, directly through the case of the motor, and only have a single wire going to the pickups for the other rail. Some of these are fairly easy to isolate, some are not. Some would likely require remotoring, both for isolation purposes and to replace motors with extremely high current draw.

--Randy