I received a Digitrax Super Chief set from the jolly old man this week. My layout is still in the pre-contruction stage but would like to get to know how to use the basics of the DSC set. What I am planning to do is slap down some temporary track, maybe just an oval, and hook up the set to the track with the "infamous" terminal track joiners. Will this be okay or will I fry something? Yes, I know all about the soldering, etc. when it comes to wiring the layout but I just want to be able to practice programming locos and the general basics of running DCC.
Is this a plan or should I do something else?
Mainetrains
'there's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear' Modeling the Hard Knox Valley Railroad in HO scale http://photos.hardknoxvalley.com/
It will work fine, just make sure that the rail joiners and nice and tight. No risk of damage.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
I love my super chief. The super chief allows for a programing track. I ran those two leads through a DPDT swith along with the regular leads so I could switch back and forth between programing and running. I found that programing on the main line can end up programing more than I wanted. Maybe with a test track it won't make any difference.
I don't claim to be an expert on DCC. My point is that anyone, even me, can figure out the SC. I had to read the book about six times, but it really is sweet.
I have now upgraded to radio and that is even sweeter.
Have fun. This is how trains were always supposed to be.
Hi!
After much reading and asking tons of questions of the good folks on this forum, I decided to also go with the Super Chief. I am converting coincident with my layout rebuild, and will have 4 districts plus a dedicated programming track. In fact, the scale drawings were pretty well finished today.
Anyway, from what I know you have a good plan and I am very anxious to hear about your "educational experiences". Please don't be a stranger to this forum!
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
It'll work fine feeding an oval of sectional track with terminal joiners. This is all I had at first, enough to test run trains around after I installed decoders. If you're making a good-size oval, you'll probbaly want more than one set of terminal joiners, depending on your track. My first test oval was 18" radius Bachmann EZ Track with one straight piece on each side (just enough so it wasn't a circle). That worked fine with just the Bachmann terminal section supplying power (actually the whole works came from a Hogwarts train set). I then found a large supply of EZ Track at a train show so I set up a 4x8 22" radius oval. That didn't work so well - even when I added feeders equally spaced aorund (total of 4 power points). I still had slowdowns from poor conductivity. Imagine my surprise when I finally got working on my 8x12 layout and had oennloop down and for testing I connected to ONE set of feeders (with alligator clips no less!) and had absolutely no issues running trains all the way around. Difference between flex track and not so many rail joints (I only soldered the ones on curves, the rest were NOT soldered) and cheap sectional track. I did run a nice heavy bus and connect ALL the feeders even though it did work with the "2 wires to the track" method.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Just remember if you are programming the decoder on the main make sure you only have one locomotive on the track at a time. Don't ask me how I know!!
Tom
First off enjoy your Chief. I will tell you a secret. Ive been running several dozen feet worth of Kato Unitrack and 14 o so switches off the Chief on rail joiners and a prayer. Not exactly. The layout is divided into 4 blocks. One for each side recieves a 15 amp PDB (Power distribution board) and feeds that zone. The 4 PDB's feed off a 5th PDB that runs off the Chief's rail supply.
Eventually all of my rail joiners will be soldered but not until everything is up 100% for 6 months before burying it all in scenery.
If you run a long 6 wire cable (Loconet) to your computer from the Chief you can then have the possibility of JMRI programming from your computer to the Chief's program track. I usually just stick the chief into ops mode and DT400 onto PO mode and enter values until I get what I want out of the one engine. I dont dare to it with more than just the one engine being programmed on the layout.
Im not sure which power you are using. Right now Ive run the Chief off the PS515 5 amp even though it's rated for 8 amps. I dont do radio yet. I have a throttle for switching, one for engines and a extra somewhere. The big power supply the 2012 is in the box at the moment.
Ban plastic wheels from your railroad and run metal wheels only. Run that layout several times a week wiping track at least once a week. A simple wipe off is much easier than scraping gunk with a brick.
If you get stumped (And you will...) post here. Some one will come along and break it out of the ground.
Oh one other thing. Write down CV Reset values provided by the brands that made your decoder equippted locos. Put that Index card 3x5" or so near your Chief. For example my QSI has three CV's to enter to reset a engine to default. That index card is sitting near the chief.
Start a index card box. Mark your tabs by engine cab number and maintain your programming in that index box. That way when you program your engine for something such as pusher horn off... you know what numbers you put in to make it happen.
As far as Im concerned the Chief is a rock solid working man's DCC system able to run anything you can throw money at it. Big clubs no problem 100 engines no problem (Feeding them will be a problem) and so on. Ive had nothing but fun with mine for the few short years Ive had mine.
One final tip. Dont spin the DT400 throttle too fast while driving your DCC engines. Particularly those in what is called Regulated throttle mode. They may reach down deep make a big CHUG and take off at 200 scale miles an hour. Dont ask me how I know this. Nice and easy does it.
You say you are using sectional track. After about 6 to 10 feet your engine will start to starve a little. It will still obey your DCC chief commands but it's good to add feeder wires to the track at that location along your layout. I have mine where no engine is more than 4 feet from any feeder in the system.
Some great advice and tips...thanks to all. My first DCC equipped loco should be arriving today or tomorrow so I will begin my education. I'll be sure to let you know how things go and I'm sure I'll have lots of questions.