DCC

[Old 700]

 This is my first time in this forum.   I've built several layouts over the years, but they were all DC and it's been twenty years since my last layout.    I've spent the last eight years scratch building components and now I'm about to start building benchwork.   The layout building isn't a probem for me, but the electronics is.   I've watched with a certain amount of trepidation as the DCC era has unfolded, and being at best dangerous with a soldering gun, I'm looking for advice about installing DCC.  What can you suggest?

 

Old 700

[tstage]

First off, to the forum, 700!  Good to have you aboard!

I would first start by reading up on as much about DCC as you can.  Here are a couple of suggestions:

• DCC For Beginners - This is a good primer on DCC and will answer a number of your initial questions.  You can either read it online or download it onto your computer.  The wonderful thing is...its FREE.  Tony's Train Exchange is also very good and reputable dealing with things pertaining to DCC.
  
• DCC Made Easy (Lionel Strang/Kalmbach Publishers) - Lionel has a real knack for taking something potentially complicated and explaining it in very understandable terms.  Cost: $15 MSRP
  

These primers will eventually help you in your goal in determining which DCC system will best fit YOUR needs.  There are a number of fine systems available and all have their pluses and minuses.

Other questions that you'll eventually want to start asking yourself:

• How much can I/do I want to spend on a DCC system?
• How big will my layout be (or become)?
• How many locomotives are in my roster? - i.e. how many will need to be converted to DCC by installing a decoder in them?
  
• How many locomotives will I be running at a given time?
• Will I be the only one operating it my layout (lone wolf)?  Or, would I also like to have additional operator's/throttles?
• Am I interested in sound?
• Am I interested in signaling?
  

Hope that helps.  Again, welcome to the forum!

Tom

[Anonymous]

  to this forum, 700!

There is hardly a thing to add to Tom´s reply.

You will find, that DCC opens a new world of operation to you, not only much improved running performance and sound. With DCC, you control the loco, not the track power - makes a whole lot of difference.

[MisterBeasley]

Welcome aboard!

At the basic level, DCC is pretty much plug-and-play.  Because you don't need blocks, it's actually much simpler to wire than DC.  And, because you run the trains, not the track, it's far more intuitive.

I had been away from the hobby for 40 years.  When I got my DCC system home, I installed a decoder, connected up the system and was running a train within an hour.  And I was an 8-year-old kid again.  Yeah, it's that good.

[rrinker]

 The hardest part about the whole thing is installign the decoders, especially if you aren't good at soldering. However there are plenty of locos made these days where you can install a decoder without any soldering - plus you cna buy locos with the decoders already installed AND there are plenty of peopel out there who make a business out of installing decoders for people.

 The biggest problem is a lack of common terms from the manufacturers. You will find many models from different manufacturers that proudly proclaim "DCC Ready" on them. Don't count on it. "DCC Ready" can mean anythign from "it takes longer to get the shell off then to install the actual decoder" super simple ones to "well, if you cut this trace and solder wires here and here and change the light bulbs, then the decoder will work" not so simple ones. Experience and asking others will help you sort out what is what with that regard.

               --Randy