...but it still works.
I did not expect to convert my new layout to DCC for at least another year, but I got such a good deal on an NCE wireless that I could not pass it up.
My layout is 24 X 25 HO. Because I was still using Dc I used power routing turnouts in my double ended yards to store a few pre-made trains that i could run around the layout while I've been working on other things. Very few of my rail joints are soldered. I really I cannot remeber the last time that I cleaned my track, actually maybe never. The staging yard has been down about 3 1/2 years and the other track about 2 1/2. My feeders are definitely not on every piece of track in fact one section has five flex pieces between connections. Though except for the power routing that I use for my yards all turnouts are fed from both sides. I really do not run trains that often. In fact prior to getting the DCC system its probably been 3 months. I use my MRC Contolmaster 20 as the power source and I did make sure that all my rail joints were tight.
I plugged in my DCC and have had no trouble running the few engines I have, including a couple with sound.
I'm not suggesting I'll remain status quo just that after all the excitement about my new DCC system I took a step back and realized my surprise.
Take it for what its worth.
Mark
If it works as is go with it. Me myself, I would be soldering some rail joints and putting in more feeders to assure steady power all over the layout.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
I have a very small HO scale layout.... 3.5 feet x 5.1 feet. I have a smaller 15R" oval interconnected to a larger 18R" outer oval with 4 switches. Inside the inner oval is a 4 spur yard and a 2 spur "engine servicing/storage facility".
Technically all I need is just two wires from my Bachmann EZ Command DCC controller to the whole layout as I have no reverser loops or other such problems.
It works for me.
But, I added a few feeders on the far side of the layout from the controller connections just to be sure I had good power distribution.
I don't have any solder joints on my track and used the premade Atlas rail-joiners with wire attached as my additional feeder connectors instead of soldering them to the rail sides.
So DCC is not really complicated, though with your larger layout, soldering periodically and feeders here and there would be a requirement, or if you have things such as reverser loops or such to consider in wiring.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
If it ain't broken, don't fix it.
Alton Junction
I´m not surprised that it worked, but you didn´t mention what locomotives you have either.....
If it were short and light engines, like 0-4-0´s and others of that sort, THEN I would be really impressed!
If it is BIG and heavy locomotives with multi axle pickups? Not so impressive.....
There is a link between the amount of adhesion a loco have and the ability of picking up power. And I have seen many layouts work like a charm with almost no service at all, BUT they have the big locomotives....
I even tried one of my (sound equipped) engines, a 0-6-0 switcher, on a layout as described above, and it was a no-go....
So IF you want to have real reliability, and the ability to run small engines, I would join in on the recommendation of cleaning the tracks periodically and adding some feeders....
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richhotrain If it ain't broken, don't fix it.
When it comes to feeders and depending on unsoldered rail joiners to get power from one track section to another:
"If it ain't broken, just wait a while."
Your trackwork will experience up-and-down stresses from trains passing over, and sideways stresses from throwing turnouts. There will be some expansion and contraction between winter and summer, or with wood components of your benchwork or subroadbed from changes in humidity. Ballast glue and track-cleaning fluid will seep into rail joiners. It may take a number of years, but those connections will slowly deteriorate.
Feeders should be part of your tracklaying process. If you don't do it then, get your electrical distribution solid before you put in so much scenery that it's hard to get to.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Mark,
Congratulations! Welcome to the world of instant DCC. I basically did the same with my 13 block dual cab DC layout. I hooked up the Prodigy where the Tech III 9500 was and like you, it worked. I did the quarter test all the way around and am now converting DC locos to DCC. I did wire in a DPDT center off toggle between the DCC and DC controls so I can continue to run the DC locos.
I have found a few places where soldering the rail joints were needed, but with some practice on the work bench, and some judiciously placed flux, I haven't melted a tie yet. This includes some jumper wires on turnouts.
So my plan is continue as is until I need to fix/upgrade something, as all is well.
Have fun!
Emman
As noted earlier you should solder some joiners and add feeders now while it's on your mind.
What winds up happening is some time down the line you'll start having problems such as a studdering loco or a couple of dead spots. By then you'll wasted time troubleshooting and posting the problem here because you'll have forgotten. Save the aggravation and do it now.
Springfield PA
Before you solder all your joints, consider this. If your layout is in an area prone temperature fluctuations and or humidy etc, track can be subject to major expansion and contraction. I soldered all the rail joints in my garage layout where the temperature got hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The result? Lots of kinked rails and broken solder joints. Moral of the story for me, don't solder all the joints under those circumstances.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
As a long time modelrailroader (57 years), but only the last 2 with DCC, I have to say you are fortunate that the DCC works - given the conditions of the layout as you described them.
Without clean trackage and ample feeders (every 3-5 feet), it is possible that while your trains are running, they are not performing optimately and frankly its a matter of time (IMHO) before they give you problems.
DCC is terrific, but it is more sensitive to dirt and insufficient feeders, and the slightest "short" can be caused (that will stop a loco) more easily than with DC.
Oh, one other thing........ While wiring a layout for BOTH DC and DCC operation is possible, it could be an expensive accident waiting to happen. This subject has come up many times before on this forum, and again, while you can successfully run both on the same layout, it is not highly recommended.
Hey, For what its worth............
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Thanks to all for the feedback. One thing that I did not mention was that I do have feeders in place that are not connected so that i was able to use the power routing features of the turnouts.
As to engines used, two of my lighter weighted ones are a Bachmann 4-6-0 and 2-10-0. Thomas is waiting for a decoder. He didn't run so well on DC lets see what happens with the DCC.
If Thomas didn't run well on DC then you need to tear it down and find out why. It could be a loose wire or a bad pickup. Whatever the reason it has to be corrected as it will only run worse on DCC.