Can someone tell what the difference is between DCC friendly. Decoder equippted, DCC installed?
1. DCC friendly usually refers to track or components that work with DCC systems. In the case of track to try and avoid frequent shorts.
2. Decoder equipped refers to anything with a decoder on board with is the same as DCC installed. Note DCC is not DCS. DCC ready means that it will be relatively easy to add a decoder with OEM equipped plugs, normally 8 or 9 pin
Richard
Yup. Decoder installed and DCC installed should mean the same thing. However, not so long ago, DCC-ready was a favoured term in the hobby, and it meant anything from the tabs on the shell are nice and flexible so that you can get the shell off the frame without breaking them to the unit having a recess meant for a speaker and room for a decoder, including a eight or nine pin plug for quick connection. So, DCC installed may mean it actually has at least a cheap motive decoder installed.
DCC friendly means the frog on the turnout is isolated electrically from all the rest of the appliance, often by gaps and plastic spacers inserted there. It is meant to keep wider metal HO tires from bridging nicely spaced rails at what would otherwise be a live frog and causing a nasty decoder-frying short. If you look closely at a decoder that is giving up the ghost this way, you can see the wispy soul departing it and dissipating, often accompanied by an acrid smell that is strikingly familiar to anyone who has gotten a whiff of a burnt motor. Following which come choice expletives and rapid mental calculations of the month's hobby budget's ability to absorb this unforeseen expense.
Crandell
ihntnfsh Can someone tell what the difference is between DCC friendly. Decoder equippted, DCC installed?
You should add to your list "DCC Ready" and "DCC Equipped".
Rich
Alton Junction
Just as a note...........
"DCC Friendly" does not mean the same thing for every loco mfg. To some it means the user can insert a plug in decoder to activate DCC. To others, it means you can get the shell off and see a bunch of wires that you can cut and solder to a decoder (yes, I'm being sarcastic here - but I think I got the point across).
Oh, one more thing...... Some locos that come DCC equipped are top drawer, others are not. Said another way, mfg installed decoders may be terrific, or just barely operable (slight exageration).
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
mobilman44 Oh, one more thing...... Some locos that come DCC equipped are top drawer, others are not. Said another way, mfg installed decoders may be terrific, or just barely operable (slight exageration).
Totally agree, I purchased a Bachmnann steamer w/ DCC Onboard and I replaced the decoder after the first 30 seconds of operation. It was like it had 8 speed steps(exaggerating a little here) very jerky and high slow speed.
If this had been my first experience with DCC, I wouldn't ever want another DCC equipped loco, nor would I see anything more than a toy train that I had purchased. If this had been your first/only experience with DCC, you would think the DCC people are nuts. BTW, after replacing the decoder, the loco is one of my best runners.
Thanks you gave exactly what I needed.