Good morning,
I am new here to using forums. I have a question concerning DCC on DC. I bought a new Bachmann GP40 that is DCC equiped. I dont have a DCC system yet, The engine works okay on DC, but when I get a DCC controller system will the engine respond accordingly, how does the decoder know whether you are using DC or DCC?
Thanks for the help.
CTExpress - Welcome to trains.com!
Darren (BLHS & CRRM Lifetime Member)
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (DHVM), Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures)
My Blog
The decoder knows what is being used for power. It has a specific circuit in it for that.
To tell you how it does that would take several pages of detailed electronics theory that you probably don't need to know.
Once you get your DCC system, you can program the decoder so that it doesn't run on DC any more if you like, by changing the value of a particular CV. (Configuration Variable)
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
CTExpress--welcome.
It will work better on DCC and you can customize that performance. For one, it will have constant voltage to the wheels. When the time comes and you're looking for a DCC system just be sure and check the available CVs, consisting, ease of use, local knowledge base, mfg support, etc before buying. However, sometimes Bachmann doesn't put the best decoders in a loco. I had to replace a couple on my new Bachmann's last year.
Richard
Yes, DC power uses...well, DC power. DCC systems put AC power on the track, so it's pretty easy for the decoder to tell whether it's getting DC or AC power and to adjust accordingly. When you get a DCC system (or if you wanted to run the engine on a friend's layout with DCC) the decoder will be set with a default address of "03". It's pretty easy to change the ID number, generally you'd want to change it to the locomotive number (like on the side of the cab).
CTExpress Good morning, I am new here to using forums. I have a question concerning DCC on DC. I bought a new Bachmann GP40 that is DCC equiped. I dont have a DCC system yet, The engine works okay on DC, but when I get a DCC controller system will the engine respond accordingly, how does the decoder know whether you are using DC or DCC? Thanks for the help.
Make sure you download the EZ Command document from the Bachmann site. The on board non sound have been using a low end Lenz and are not the best.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php
If you want to install a much better decoder, use the NCE Bach DSL, designed specifically for the Bachmann diesels. The manual is in the link for this decoder.
http://www.ncedcc.com/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.product_details&flypage=garden_flypage.tpl&product_id=51&category_id=13
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
DCC uses a square wave signal on the track. The decoder looks at the input power and can determine if it is D or a sqaure wave DCC signal, and reacts accordingly. Ifit's DC< it just turns on the motor drivers and allows track voltage through to control motor speed and direction. Minus the drop that all semiconductor junctions have, which is why the same loco with the decoder removed woudl run slightly faster at a given throttle setting.
That's the "how" it figures this out. Most any decoder currently sold can do this. There is also an option to program it to do nothign when o DC track which, once you are runnign DCC, is a good way to help prevent runaways in the event of a short. When the track power comes back on after a short, the power cna come up before the signal is being generated, so the decoder sees that as DC, full throttle. If you only ever operate on DCC track, the ability to run on DC can be disabled to prevent this.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
The decoders have a microprocessor that senses DCC pulses and responds accordingly to no voltage at all and an increasing or decreasing DC voltage.
Some power packs that use pulse power can cause issues with decoder equipped locos but I figure you do not have that type of power pack.