Micheal, my layout start as DC and I used to MRC 9500's. When I went DCC I just solder the two bus wire together and hooked them to my Booster.
My power supply is a PS 515 that has been replaced by the PS 514.
Far as running breakers, If you have friends over and do not want to interrupt the session if there is a short then that is the way to go. Most of the time I run my layout by my self. I just assume to have the whole layout shut down if there is a problem.
I run the Super Empire Builder, it cannot read CV's but I can change them. To read CV's I use Digitrax's PR 3.
http://www.digitrax.com/menu_computercontrol.php
Makes changing CV a snap! Cost of the PR 3 and SEB comes to about the same as the Super Chief. PR 3 is much easier to use and will store your CV settings.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Appreciated your reply re two level operation in DCC. How did you connect your upper and lower bus to each other since I assume you would have when using only one DCC dystem. I am thinking of purchasing the Digitrax Super Chief Xtra set. Also what do you use for a power supply ?
Thanks
Michael
All i can say to these great replies is WOW. Thanks for all the great suggestions and technical know how you have imparted in your replies to my post. I feel much more enlightened now. If you have any more advice ...send it along ...it is much appreciated..Thanks again
Since you've already got the two levels electrically isolated for DC, you can just keep them that way. If you're only running one or two engines on each level, you don't need the extra expense of additional boosters. Your power requirements are based on load, which typically means number of locomotives with some consideration for lighted passenger cars.
I would look into circuit breakers for each level, but that's not a requirement, either. Again, since you've already got the levels wired separately, it would be easy to insert a breaker into each bus, either now or later.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I have a 16x18 one level, around the room, layout with a totally independent underground subway system. It is all powered by one Digitrax Super Chief. So the answer to your question is: Yes, one DCC system is all you need. Whatever you do over and above that is a personal choice. The suggestions for circuit breakers and separate buses are good ones but they are not minimum requirements. A separate bus for the upper deck is just common sense unless you want to drop feeders all the way to the lower deck bus. Boosters are only needed if you run a LOT of trains. I have 16 engines, 5 of them with sound, and 8 lighted cars, all powered all the time with no boosters.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
As the others have said, Circuit Breakers are a good way to send your power from the DCC system to the upper and lower levels. I have a PSX circuit breaker, still uninstalled as I bought it to do something somewhat like what you have. I already had DPDT switches for block control(old DC system) and so I just wired the new system through those. You could use SPST(prefer DPDT and wire runs to blocks) switches to isolate one from the other for power usage. However a short on one will short out the entire system. It allows you to run trains on one level while fixing the short on the other level and save money on a circuit breaker.
I prefer Digitrax and use Decoder Pro with it through the LocoNet. BTW, depending on the size of your layout and how much rail is soldered, IMHO running bus wires all around all of the track is overblown(I'll probably get hammered for saying such a thing). But, it helps having the DPDT wires running to blocks and so avoid long runs with only the rail conducting. You could do this with Circuit Breakers as well.
Richard
As the first two replies have already indicated, you can run a two tier layout with the two tiers independent of one another with a single DCC power supply and even a single set of bus wires.
The issue, however, is whether to use a separate booster on each tier or simply use a single booster with a separate circuit breaker for each tier. That will depend on the size of the layout and your amperage requirements.
Because the two tiers will operate independently of one another, it will probably make good sense to at least use two circuit breakers, one for each tier, in order to avoid having shorts shut down both tiers.
On the other hand, if you are trying to keep it simple and within a tight budget, then you can get away with a single set of bus wires without a second booster or circuit breaker.
Rich
Alton Junction
Yes you only need one DCC system. It might be a good idea to have one booster for each level though.
My only Digitrax system is a Zephyr. The Zephyr can have two jumper throttles where you would use your old two separate DC power packs as DC throttles. if you like the hand held throttles of the DCC system you could add them to the Zephyr.
On the other hand if I was committed to Digitrax I would probably jump both feet into a full blown wireless Super Chief, with one throttle for each loco that is going to be run simultaniously.
But to know if that is good for your situation requires more knowledge of your layout. How many locomotives are run simultaniously, does the layout need walk around throttles or can it be operated from a stationary location, how many simultanious operators, how many locomotives just sitting around all the time, how many sound units, etc.
Yes, one DCC system will work. You would probably want to run separate bus wires for each level, and you might want to have a separate electronic breaker for each level so that a short on one level won't affect the other. Digitrax, NCE, or any of the other systems would do.
You would need to left us know what you envision your power requirements (amps) to be, as you can either start with a good 2 to 3 amp system, or a 5 amp system. If you think that more amperage would be necessary, you can add a booster to increase amperage as required.
I am in the process of converting my Two level layout to DCC. Each track level is independent from the other in that they are not connected by a helix or anything else. I had been using two seperate power packs in DC mode. I am thinking of using a Digitrax DCC system. Will one DCC system work in this case and which Digitrax system would be best? I model in ON30 using Bachmann locomotives. Thanks for any info