About to get into DCC. Can I use my REPAIR TRACK (1x4 board with coupler guage.rerailer and six feet of track) as my programming track by connecting it to my power source whenever I need to program or do I have to use an isolated turnout? Thanks
Your 'repair' track has turnouts? They should be no problem as long as you feed the power from where you are feeding it today on DC. As a side note, do NOT use a metal Kadee coupler gauge - A direct short will result. Get a plastic Kadee coupler gauge!
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Jim took the words right out of my mouth referring to the Kadee coupler guage. I will say that while your set up will probably work I prefer having complete isolation for the programming track so I would install an electrical switch that isolates the layout when you are using the programming track.
Marty C
Hi oldnewby
Welcome to the forums!
You can absolutely use your test track for programming. That is exactly the setup I am using except I don't have the track mounted on a board. I just set it up on my workbench when I need it. I can switch from DCC to DC if I need to test a DC locomotive before installing a decoder. I have my coupler height gauge mounted on a separate one foot piece of board so I can pick it up to see how well the couplers are aligned without having to bend over.
I would suggest setting your testing/programming track up so there is no possibility of having the DCC system and a DC power pack connected at the same time. I use an NCE Powercab and I have a Power Panel (the piece that connects the throttle to the track) screwed to my workbench. When I build the layout, I will install a second Power Panel on the layout so all I will have to do to go from the layout to the workbench is unplug the throttle cable.
If you are using a different system all you have to do is install a DPDT switch in the feed from the booster to the track buss and then run wires from the switch to your test track. Then you can select either the layout or the test track.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Welcome aboard!
Yes, you're fine with that. The reason many of us prefer to use an isolated siding on our layouts is to avoid handling the engine. It's a physical issue, not an electrical or DCC one.
You will find that when you get to the point of adjusting CVs for acceleration and braking, you will typically have several iterations of set-and-test before you get the engine running the way you want it. I just find it easier to run the engine on to a siding, flip a toggle and reprogram it.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley Welcome aboard! Yes, you're fine with that. The reason many of us prefer to use an isolated siding on our layouts is to avoid handling the engine. It's a physical issue, not an electrical or DCC one. You will find that when you get to the point of adjusting CVs for acceleration and braking, you will typically have several iterations of set-and-test before you get the engine running the way you want it. I just find it easier to run the engine on to a siding, flip a toggle and reprogram it.
After the inital testing and address programming, I find it easier to just use Ops mode programming, which can be done anywhere on the layout.
Thanks for all the imput. I will replace the metal coupler guage with plastic.I use a spare DC power pack with alligator clips to supply the board. I will rig up power from the DCC the same so I can attach the DCC to the board for testing and programming
Thanks for all the imput I will definitely change the coupler guage
My programming track is just such a test track. I cut gaps in the rails in front of the Kadee gauges to keep them from shorting the track. Mine are the old all metal ones - I understand they now make a plastic one which obviously wouldn't short the track, but I used only real kadee couplers on all my rolling stock for the reason that they are metal and not plastic - I'm sticking with my metal track and coupler gauges.
I also have the distance marked off from one coupler in NMRA weights, so I can quickly see how much a given car should weigh. My track got a bit more complicated when I also added an ESU Loksound programmer, so now there is a toggle switch to select between the Lokprogrammer or the Digitrax PR3 - my board is totally standalone and only hooks to my computer, not to the DCC system, which also means I can take it along to club shows and configure other members' equipment while again not needing to plug in to the DCC system in any way.
About the only other thing I've though of doing with it is build a simple go/no go light system to check the resistence of the wheels - most of my rolling stock is now equipped with resistors across the axles to trigger the signal system on the club layout and my new layout will also be fully signaled.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I pretty much have what Randy is describing, including the metal Kadee gages. I have since added a DPDT toggle to switch between Programming and DCC so I can test the changes made. The toggle in the photo is to connect a 1000 ohm resistor across the rails, only needed on certain decoders (I havent used this since programming the 2nd one). I will eventually replace this track with a track on my staging area (3 tracks over my work bench) for programming. I still need the track to check couplers and length.
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!