Hi Martin,
The throttle exchange is assumed. In this case there are extra NCE throttles available. The new CVP EasyDCC works on both Lenz and EasyDCC. Unfortunately, no one has requested a Lenz interchange. The throttle exchange works both ways. I don't have a problem loaning my throttles. The other option is to change the train crew. The owner of the NCE throttle would take charge of the train.
Thanks for your input, too.
Jon
We did a similar interchange yard at the 2004 NTRAK convention in Chantilly,VA. Our interchange was between the DCC section and the analog section. Power needed to be changed in the yard. I proposed breaking the larger layout up into two sections with their own command stations for our 2008 layout in Louisville. That idea was nixed in for of one command station or the whole layout. It worked.
Your Interchange yard would work. Engineers would have to change throttles to be compatible with each system. That could be a problem as those owning an NCE system would not be receptive to furnishing their an throttle to operate on a foreign system. Loaners would need to be available for each system.
Simpler would be to run the whole layout with one command station. Pick one then use the boosters to power each district. CVP, NCE, Lens, & Digitrax make that possible with their boosters. Run one throttle bus and use one brand of throttle. No special interchange required. Martin Myers
If the trains were required to pass through the interchange tracks repeatedly, I would agree with you. The Free-mo system gives much more flexibility. The only time it would be necessary to negociate the interchange module would be when you would want to change systems.
Picture a car ferry connecting the groups. In fact, that would be another method of gaining the same isolation with a shorter interchange.
N6VC trains traveling long distances need to stop occasionally for motive power servicing and crew changes. What I am proposing for our Free-Mo group is a similar system using an interchange yard at the boundries of different operating systems. Changing throttles would be like changing motive power. Thoughts?
trains traveling long distances need to stop occasionally for motive power servicing and crew changes. What I am proposing for our Free-Mo group is a similar system using an interchange yard at the boundries of different operating systems. Changing throttles would be like changing motive power.
Thoughts?
I'm sure you're very happy with your EasyDCC system, but you're not going to get me to give up my NCE system. And although I'm very happy with my NCE system, I'm not going to get the guy who operates with Digitrax to change.
So if I understand you correctly, what you're proposing is that if we all get together with our modules we can all operate with our favorite system and then "interchange" with each other by changing systems every time a train goes by.
I believe that that will fly like the Hindenburg.
I recognize the issues, but in 4 years of operation, this hasn't been compromised The dead track has done the trick so far. Using an interchange section with the tracks 3 times the maximum train length and a toggle switch or relay, the dead tracks at each end should provide the isolation required.
The interchange track could only be connected to CS1 or CS2, not both. When approaching using CS1, the west track and interchange track would be powered by CS1. The east track would be dead and empty.
Interchange track would be toggled to CS2. West track would go dead and east track powered by CS2 would come alive. After a throttle exchange for CS2's system, the train could proceed.
The display would essentially be separate systems.
why make it complicated? since the module would only see 'other DCC systems' occasionally, is the extra hassle worth it? make the main buss wiring interchangeable between systems. when at home or with the regular group hook up the EASY DCC power feed to the main bus. when operating with other systems, have 'their' system's power feed hook up to the main bus. changing systems on the same layout is asking for trouble. someone will find a way to falter your unfoul-able design. when operating with the other group, you can always borrow a throttle if needed.
All good until someone runs past the gaps and joins the two systems via the lead loco.
It gets a bit more complicated with getting toggles with enough poles to do it all, but the safe way would be to have the ends of the isolated changeover track completelet dead under normal operation, longer than the typical consist. That way, if someone coming in off the main set to Digitrax goes past the gaps, they enter a completely dead section, not the EasyDCC section. Likewise, when leaving the EasyDCC section, witht he main part of the interchange set to EasyDCC, goign past the 'end' would put you in a totally dead section, not a Digitrax section.
The whole thing should be interlocked such that when the main part of the interchange is System A, the dead section between it and the part that is always System A is connected to System A and cannot be connected to System B. At the other side, while the main interchange is connected to System A, the dead section between the interchange and system B must be dead, not able to connect to either system.
That's the only way to prevent the inevitable accident when someone tries to roll past a block boundary - and no amount of signals or markings in the secenery (signs, a structure, a pole, a tree..) will EVER stop someone from doing that, as they look away for a second, or forget they have momentum on the loco, or any of a number of reasons.
A loco bridging the gap between two systems that are not connected could easily see double the normal voltage. At the very least this will blow the decoder, if not actually damage either or both boosters. So, make it a physical impossibility, and even someone who completely forgets they lined the switch for the interchange can;t damage anything.
--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'm sure I'm not the first person to do this, but if you'll have patience I'll explain.
First, this is what I have done. I have an NMRA HO module based on 101 track plan's Switchman's nightmare. I wanted to operate it with my EasyDCC system all the time. This normally didn't pose a problem with the operating group it was used with since EasyDCC was used for the operating system. On occasion this module would operate on other systems. To accommodate this, I designed an interchange track into the module with two dead tracks that prevented an accidental connection between the two systems.
Ok, let's expand on this. trains traveling long distances need to stop occasionally for motive power servicing and crew changes. What I am proposing for our Free-Mo group is a similar system using an interchange yard at the boundries of different operating systems. Changing throttles would be like changing motive power.