Old Schools idea, if not absolutely bulletproof and goof proof, might allow a loco to bridge the DC and DCC systems and fry your DCC system.
Some manufacturers recommend against running DC locos on DCC. I think it's the higher voltage they are exposed to on DCC.
https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/home/dcc-with-dc
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Our club was built in the early 1980's. Common rail, fourteen blocks, one reverse loop, four throttles. All hand laid including turnouts. Looked nice but not quite prototypical. Code 100 and a spike every so often. Three foot sections of track look a lot better when we expaned into another room.
Some years ago when we went to DCC I did a lot of wiring for DCC. Made a little chair that reclines and close to the floor to do wiring. What a pain.
\We had to cut gaps for the reverse loop. Added a couple crossovers and had to cut gaps.
Do it for DCC now.
If I had to do it now I would go wiring free with RailPro or a similar system.
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.
BigDaddy Old Schools idea, if not absolutely bulletproof and goof proof, might allow a loco to bridge the DC and DCC systems and fry your DCC system. Some manufacturers recommend against running DC locos on DCC. I think it's the higher voltage they are exposed to on DCC. https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/home/dcc-with-dc
There will be a length of dead track between the DC and DCC exchange point (between two turnouts) much longer than any locomotive, so it will be impossible for a loco to cross over even with decelerating momentum from top speed. In fact, several coupled cars will be required for the exchange because of the dead track's length. I have already tried this from DC-deadzone-DC and none of my locos can bridge the gap when the Kato brake is applied.
PS. The dead zone track's rails will either be plastic or wood.
BraddW25 Railpro does look very interesting. However I didn't see any N scale decoders. I only saw them for HO. Do you know if they make N scale decoders and perhaps I just wasn't looking in the right place? Thanks, Bradd
Railpro does look very interesting. However I didn't see any N scale decoders. I only saw them for HO. Do you know if they make N scale decoders and perhaps I just wasn't looking in the right place?
Thanks,
Bradd
RailPro is great for HO and S scale but not an option at this time for N scale.
Alan
Freelancing the LK&O Railroad
Old school's idea will work. It means that locos will not be able to be exchanged between the two districts except by hand.
I use DC at home because none of my locomotives have decoders installed yet. I use DCC at the club because DC is not very practical for a modular layout that is different at every setup. Therefore, NCE DCC is the agreed on modular standard for our club.
If you are a one train at a time person on your home layout, either DC or DCC is fine. It's probably easier to go with what your locomotives are equipped for.
If you have mulitple operators running multiple trains simultaneously, it depends on your operating style.
DCC sets you up for walk-around control, with each engineer responsible for their own track clearance (see and avoid is the term used in aviation). No dispatcher needed (or usually wanted).
If you want a rules-based track permission operating scheme (much like Class 1 railroads use), DC lends itself to that.
Single operator/mulitiple trains - I don't go there. So I have no advice.
Fred W
We have no problems with the wireless DCC system at club shows. Over the years there were two issues. First, we had to switch to the Digitrax Duplex system that uses 2.4GHz frequencies because NCE's 900 Mhz system is far too 'chatty' and swamps any other nearby system using the same frequency band. Second, I had to tell them not to put the microwave we use for heating lunches right next to the radio mast. That one took an actual demonstration before anyone believed me - everything was fine until someone went to heat up a cup of coffee and everyone lost control. After that the microwave was moved to a table at the other end of the layout. At venues where we are alone, no other clubs showing, we still use the old radios along with the new ones since they still work fine.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
OldSchoolScratchbuilder Bradd: I am in the early stages of developing ideas for HO layouts. I am new to the hobby but have spent several months reading almost a thousand model railroad magazine issues in my growing hardcopy library (mostly MR and RMC from 1960s to present). I have 40 years experience studying and building electronic circuits so that part of the hobby interests me. What I am leaning towards with my purchases is a hybrid DC/DCC layout where each yard would have some DCC locomotives, mainly for sound effects but also relatively short electrically-isolated lines. The remainder of the layout primarily DC. The overall layout design would allow locomotives to exchange rolling stock between the two track types. The main reason I am thinking this way is cost - I am retired so not as much income as in my working years. I like high-end rolling stock and die-cast vehicles so to afford these, I buy good used affordable DC locomotives and just a few expensive DCC locomotives. DJ
Bradd: I am in the early stages of developing ideas for HO layouts. I am new to the hobby but have spent several months reading almost a thousand model railroad magazine issues in my growing hardcopy library (mostly MR and RMC from 1960s to present). I have 40 years experience studying and building electronic circuits so that part of the hobby interests me.
What I am leaning towards with my purchases is a hybrid DC/DCC layout where each yard would have some DCC locomotives, mainly for sound effects but also relatively short electrically-isolated lines. The remainder of the layout primarily DC. The overall layout design would allow locomotives to exchange rolling stock between the two track types.
The main reason I am thinking this way is cost - I am retired so not as much income as in my working years. I like high-end rolling stock and die-cast vehicles so to afford these, I buy good used affordable DC locomotives and just a few expensive DCC locomotives. DJ
I understand the urge to run both DC and DCC on the same layout for someone who has accumulated a lot of DC locomotives and now wishes to switch to DCC. But for someone starting out, especially with little or no operating experience, to make a conscious decision to wire a layout for both DC and DCC makes no sense.
You would be better off to choose one or the other and stick to that choice.
Alton Junction
BigDaddy Old Schools idea, if not absolutely bulletproof and goof proof, might allow a loco to bridge the DC and DCC systems and fry your DCC system.
The best way to have both DC and DCC on one layout is to wire a center-off DPDT switch, one side DC, one side DCC, layout one or the other BUT NEVER, EVER both at once!
All it takes to smoke a decoder is a moment's inattention.
To add to my earlier comments, if I ever decide to scrap my HOj plans and simply build one (or both) of my 762mm gauge prototypes in On30, I would go DCC in a heartbeat. It really is better if the crew is going to be moving along with the train.
I would still cut all the gaps needed for DC operation. Even if you don't install lineside signals, having ABS collision-avoidance would need all the detection blocks. A drop to each isolated rail section is a small price to pay for not having to put the hamhooks into the scenery later - and then you will need the drops anyway. Lots easier to install as part of initial construction.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)