Wiring From Common Rail DC to DCC

[Anonymous]

I am getting my Digitrax Zepher soon and I was wondering excatly what I need to do on my DC common rail block layout so when I get it from the mail all I have to do is plug it in.

[TurboOne]

I bought the DCC wiring book from MRR. Helped a lot. Went down to local club, and picking brains of some veterans. Many still have DC and dislike DCC, so listen to who knows what. Also found a good website, Tony's with lots of info. Also here is another good site.

http://www.wiringfordcc.com/

Hope this helps.

Tim

[camarokid]

If you used Atlas' Controller and Selectors all you need to do it use the A or B option. Slide all the switches to either A or B (never move them again) and wire in the DCC to the appropiate terminal screws and you are ready to rock and roll. Or you can take the common wire and double its size ( I use 12 guage) and then get some more wire or use all the wire you are going to take away from your layout and run this wire about 4 inches parallel with the common and drop all your feeders that connected to the selectors to this wire and hook up your Digitrax and run trains. No more blocks unless you actually need them. All you have under your table now is TWO WIRES instead of all those selector wires running everywhere. Hope this helps you out some. TurboOne gave good advice also.
Archie

[howmus]

While you can (according to the manufacturers) plug and play by simply connecting the DCC to the old block wiring and leaving the switches in the A or B position, I would recommend that you, as soon as possible, convert your layout to true DCC wiring. Even a Zepher has a lot more current available than that old DC power pack. The fine wires often used on DC (#22 to #24) do not work well for long runs (two or more feet) although they can be used for feeder drops from the track and should be no more than 6" when possible. I would suggest you take a look at the discussion on wireing here: http://www.wiringfordcc.com/ I would recommend that you do not use the "lightbulb trick" he suggests as I have heard others say it has caused melt downs and fires.

Enjoy your Zepher! Digitrax makes excellent equipment.

[Anonymous]

Yes thanks for all the help!

Got it finished up tonite all works great.
I even hooked up on of the old CD power packs

Now if i could just get a decoder soon....

[BR60103]

Remember that the DC wiring only had to power the locos running in a single block (usually), while your DCC wiring will be powering every loco on the layout. Definitely look at a heavier gauge wire especially for the common return and any blocks that might have multiple locos running in it. (Are you planning to have friends over? then rewire every block.)

[Jacktal]

In your "thanks" reply,I understand that you hooked up one of your DC powerpacks to one circuit while DCC is handling the other one.OK....I might be wrong here but I feel you're playing with fire here and are likely to get burned.

True,if everything goes fine with DC,it should go just fine with DCC.However,DC is supplying Direct Current while DCC is supplying square wave AC,meaning that the two don't go together to my understanding.You can have both on your layout as long as both circuits are TOTALLY independent,meaning no crossovers or else.Otherwise,I fear that you'll experiment some weird,and probably destructive,reactions when a loco happens to jump the gap separating both systems.

Like I already said,I may be wrong but don't believe I am.However,there are other fine people in this forum,rrinker for instance,who can tell you more about this.But until you are sure,I suggest you operate with great care.My two cents............

[howmus]

Jacktal, the Zepher, I believe, can use a DC power pack as an axillary throttle. This is hooked into the Zepher and can be used to control a loco. I am not familiar with how it works, but I think that is what metallicarocks28 was talking about.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by howmus

Jacktal, the Zepher, I believe, can use a DC power pack as an axillary throttle. This is hooked into the Zepher and can be used to control a loco. I am not familiar with how it works, but I think that is what metallicarocks28 was talking about.

Yes this was excatly what I was refferring to.
Its called a Jump Throttle or something like that.

[Jacktal]

Thanks for the correction.I didn't know this.I own an older Chief system and I don't think this feature is possible for me.I guess I'll just go to bed a little smarter tonight.........