DC Walk around throttle wiring

[Driline]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Only dead fish go with the flow.

 

 

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

Texas Zepher

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Texas Zepher

It is my opinion that DCC is way simpler, more flexible, reasonably cheap (especially if one considers their own time worth anything), and way more fun for anything other than a simple two train operation on a fairly simple layout.

This statement makes a lot of assumptions, I avoid assumptions. Who considers what activities "simpler"?, how does one like to spend their time?, what are their specific layout goals?, what defines "fun"?

No it doesn't  That is what "AN OPINION" means.  You just want to argue.

No, I don't want to argue, and, I apologize, you did clearly say it was your opinion and I took your statement the wrong way.

My layout goals include signaling including correct interlocking plant signaling, which requires blocks and a complex infrastructure with or without DCC.

My goals also include the abilty for both walk around and CTC and display running. I don't care for CTC on computer screens, so again, with or without DCC, same infrastructure.

My goals do not require, consisting of vastly different locos, onboard sound or individual headlight control.

My layout is large but relatively simple. My loco fleet is large compaired to many (like Driline) who promote DCC as being inexpensive.

By intergrating the signaling, turnout control and cab assignments into one system similar to Ed Ravenscroft's MZL control, very versital operation is simple and includes all my desired features and saves the expense and work of decoders.

With extensive use of X sections (some call them floating blocks) and my pushbutton cab selector which allows cabs to be assigned to a given section from multiple locoations, ture walk around is possible and cab assignment is streamlined to a great degree.

By gapping/switching both rails and having seperate power supplies for each throttle, staggered gaps make it impossable for trains to overrun their asigned section - no "who's got my train" and no collisions. This feature is basicly a free benifit of the system.

The mainline is mostly double track and all interlocking plants are fully signaled and "lockout" turnout operation when a train is in the interlocking territory just like the prototype.

The TE throttles provide great speed control and are simple to use.

I do belong to a local round robin, but am basicly a lone wolf modeler. I want to be able to operate my whole layout with or without a group of operators. This has always influenced my layout design and control system design.

My goals, my needs, my wants, my choices, happy to be crazy.

Texas Zepher

 

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Texas Zepher

I now even use DCC for my simple loop around the Christmas tree layout. 

Mine is wireless DC.

So is mine.. The point of this comment was???  Trying to one up me by making an ASSUMPTION that mine wasn't???  Just wanting to argue some more? ....  ?

If I assumed anything, It was that it IS wireless, only point - so is mine - so what? you brought it up. My tree train is On30, I have a new Aristo Revolution I plan to install in it, then it will be direct radio wireless.

Zepher, I know this does not apply to you, but I still feel it is a shame that DC cannot be discussed on this forum without people being called "crazy", "stupid", "backward", and that some feel they have an almost religious obligation to "save" people from DC.

Sheldon

[blownout cylinder]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

but I still feel it is a shame that DC cannot be discussed on this forum without people being called "crazy", "stupid", "backward", and that some feel they have an almost religious obligation to "save" people from DC.

This is beginning to sound like ---   --- a case of: DC--the Radical "Other" to DCC.

Leave the fundamentalism to the fundamentalists----

[richg1998]

AltoonaRailroader

 Hello everyone,

     I'm still on the fence about DC or DCC wiring for my future layout and I'll need to make a decision soon as my first section will need to be wired soon. I'm really leaning towards DC Walk around, and I've hit a ton of sites that have them for sale, or show you how to build them, but no on talks about how to wire your layout for them. Can anyone provide me some information on how this is done? What kind of plugs to use? Do I run multiple wires for track power from the power supply to the jacks? How does this work? I don't mind block wiring and I don't think the better half is going to afford me a big enough budget to do DCC but I still want walk around capability. Can you help? 

 

Thank you.

 

Hello  AltoonaRailroader

If you have not been driven away, get the book by Andy Sperando, Easy Model Railroading. I did some years ago for my home layout.  A picture is worth a thousand words.

I used #20 for wiring at the time. It was easy at the time to find multiple pole rotary switches. Those switches are not as common as they use to be. I picked up a bunch of DPDT, double pole, double throw, center off switches and SPST, single pole single throw center off switches. I have a small layout, 8 feet by 20 feet.

I have a Mouser Electronics catalog for ordering and identifying electronic components. All Electronics has a good selection. Radio Shack does not much for individual components like they use to and RS stores are disappearing.

To switch to DCC, I unplugged my DC controller and plugged in the DCC controller. I just leave all the block switches  on.

Rich

 

[maxman]

AltoonaRailroader

I'm still on the fence about DC or DCC wiring for my future layout and I'll need to make a decision soon

Okay, at the possible risk of offending someone, I'll go ahead and post the following link.  It's a youtube video about a deceased infamous person's quandry concerning DC vs DCC.  There are a couple salty words, but nothing that I'd personally consider totally offensive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2umTTPFfiiY