learning about DCC

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dabitsch

mfrns01,

QUOTE: Originally posted by mfrns01

I have a question. Will a DCC equiped locomotive run on a block wiring layout. The reason for the question is that I have block wiring now, but plan to switch to DCC in the future, but I want a new Loco....Mike

Yes. A DCC decoder equipped locomotive will run on a DC layout. This is an NMRA DCC standard. However, you will not be able to access the DCC features while under DC power. One manufacturer (Broadway Limited Imports) does provide some DCC features (sounds) to the locomotive while under DC power, but not all the DCC features are available. Go ahead and buy that loco you want.

Loco's equipped with Soundtraxx decoders will not run on DC powered analog layouts. Dave

[Anonymous]

mfrns01,

QUOTE: Originally posted by mfrns01

I have a question. Will a DCC equiped locomotive run on a block wiring layout. The reason for the question is that I have block wiring now, but plan to switch to DCC in the future, but I want a new Loco....Mike

Yes. A DCC decoder equipped locomotive will run on a DC layout. This is an NMRA DCC standard. However, you will not be able to access the DCC features while under DC power. One manufacturer (Broadway Limited Imports) does provide some DCC features (sounds) to the locomotive while under DC power, but not all the DCC features are available. Go ahead and buy that loco you want.

If your layout is wired using common rail wiring, you should look into changing this when you convert the layout to DCC. Even though is is possible to operate one's whle layout with only two wires and one block on DCC, it is not recommended unless you have a small layout (4x8 for example). Larger DCC layouts break the layout into "power" blocks. These are like your current electrical blocks (which you can convert to power blocks), except each power block is connected to a seperate DCC booster, or through seperate circuit breakers to a single DCC booster. What this does is when a short occurs in one power block (from a derailment for example), only that block will shut down. The rest of the layout will remain powered and trains will continue to run in the other blocks.

I recommend you read up on DCC. I refer you to any or all of the three DCC books mentioned in other posts to this topic: Digital Command Control by Stan Ames, Rutger Friberg, and Ed Loizeaux; The Digitrax Big Book of DCC by Digitrax, DCC Made Easy by Lionel Strang.

The Digital Command Control book was written by members of the NMRA DCC working group which worked to establi***he NMRA DCC standards so any DCC decoder equipped loco could operate on any DCC manufacturers' system.

The Digitrax book may seem oriented toward Digitrax products, but the DCC concepts presented are applicable to DCC in general and therefor to all DCC manufacturers products.

I have not read the DCC made Easy book, but I'm sure it is good as well.

also to www.WiringForDCC.com website.

Dale B.

[cmitcham]

i'll be buying digitrax within 6 months. maybe zepher, maybe higher-end. is there alot to get out of these books, more than what is in the manuals that come with the units?

calvin.

[JoeUmp]

Another decent site with DCC info is Tony's Train Exchange at http://www.ttx-dcc.com/ although it is not as comprehensive as Loy's Toys is.

Don Fiehmann's compilation will most likely be published by Carstens, the publishers of RMC.

Joe

[Anonymous]

EJEman:

All of the replies are good sources. The Big Book is a Digitrax publication but It's good. Frieburg's books are mostly european and DC related thoiugh he does have some NMRA DCC information. Loy's Toy's is a good site too. Download the manuals from all the manufacrurers and you will get a good view of whats's going on.

Ken

[Anonymous]

Hawk 21132, are you aware of the publisher for Don Fiehmann's compilation? Bob T

[Kent]

Here's one worth cheking out:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0890246165/f2002-20

[Anonymous]

I have a question. Will a DCC equiped locomotive run on a block wiring layout. The reason for the question is that I have block wiring now, but plan to switch to DCC in the future, but I want a new Loco....Mike

[Anonymous]

Dare I say it but Don Fiehmann wrote a series of 24 articles in Railroad Model Craftsman starting March 2001 and ending February 2003. I understand the series is to be published in book form early next year (2004).

[Anonymous]

I would check out the book that has just been put out by Kalmbach. I haven't read it yet, but it sounds good. I have the book from Digitrax and I think that it highlights every aspect of DCC very well. Has a lot of good information about decoders and layout wiring.

Steve

[Anonymous]

Conford, thanks for the sites.

The one should read www.siliconvalleylines.com - or it doesn't work.

Rob

[conford]

The Ames/Friberg/Loizeaux book is quite comprehensive, if dated. There is also a book by Lionel Strang, DCC made Easy, which is certainly easy, and, while short on detail, covers the basics pretty well. It is up to date, but not for the technical sophisticate.

The Loys Toys website has plenty of information,and you can also visit www.wiringfordcc.com and www.siliconvalleylines.com, [corrected 11/25/03 -- thanks Rob] both of which have extensive DCC sections.

There's always more to learn. Good luck.

Peter

[Anonymous]

The best book out there with the most theoretical is called "The Big Book of DCC." It is mostly about Digitrax, but the information is transferable. If I were to buy one book, this is the book to get.

[der5997]

Try DIGITAL COMMAND CONTROL by Ames, Friberg and Loizeaux. It's 1998, so not up to date (you had to use a separate programming track to program locos back then, and still may want to, but that's a for instance). they advise the bits you may want to skip if you are not a techie.

[Anonymous]

I don't know of a book, but I can recommend a website that has DCC covered from A to Z, that's where I got my info..... http://www.loystoys.com/

spike

[Anonymous]

What is a good book to read that will introduce me to DCC: how it works, how to hook it up, the different types of decoders,etc.?