Where are your DCC components?

[erosebud]

I'm new to DCC and not too swift about wiring, but I've read and re-read the literature and am ready to put it all together.  I appreciate the diagrams of the various components of a DCC system, but what I seldom see are drawings or, better, photgraphs of where to put the actual stuff.  I won't have more than two power districts, and I'll only start with one.  I can see that it's good to put the command center near the layout's center.  I expect to use terminal strips and spade connectors.  But what ideas do you have about shelves to hold the command center and power supply, and where to attach, say, an auto-reversing device and/or a circuit breaker.  I guess it's more a carpentry question, but I'd like to avoid mistakes in placing the equipment.  Any suggestions?

[Train Modeler]

I place the equipment balancing ease of installation and access with reducing wiring.     They can go on undertable shelves, or edge wherever you want.   I like having the command station for our digitrax system so I can easily flip the switches on the front.    The fascia mountableUR92s, UP5s, etc are obviously good for that area.   EDIT--I also use drop down shelves of different forms--.

The specifics in answering your question also need to take into account which system you get.  So consider that in your selection.    I like a  Digitrax radio system. 

Richard

[selector]

I build a small wooden shelf or enclosure for my Digitrax command station somewhere near the middle of the bus, since I have a bus, and where it will be reached most conveniently if I have to reach it pretty quickly to flip a toggle or something.  Nearby, I place a device or use patches of Velcro to keep my two DT400 throttles off the floor or the layout.

I like placing my command station, the DB150, up and on a small shelf or enclosure because it has cooling fins behind it and I want lots of unimpeded convection back there.  The small enclosure is always at the front edge of the frame of the layout in such a way that the front face of the DB150 is flush with the front edge of the layout.

Crandell

[rrinker]

 I have a shelf that handgs unde rmy layout in a central location, Everything sits on there, and there is a terminal strip on the back where all the bus lines connect to.

   -Randy

 

[gandydancer19]

I also have a shelf for most of my electronics.

[jrbernier]

  I built a small 16" deep by 24" wide shelf system(two shelves) that is 'hung' from the bench work - It holds the DCC system/booster, the throttle battery re-charger, and the PM42/terminal strips that feed the power districts.  The power to the above units is supplied by 'wall wart' power supplies that are plugged into a computer UPS on the shelf just below the DCC stuff.  The UP5/UR92/UR92 units are fascia mounted and are powered from 'wall warts'.  Really quite simple, and only took about a 'Saturday' to fabricate.  Basically it was built out of scrap plywood with some metal plate connectors from the local 'Big Box' home improvement store.   I try to keep things off of the floor.

Jim

[stilson4283]

I move every few years, therefor I put all of mine in a tool box that I mounted everything in.

Chris

[farrellaa]

I have the Digitrax Zypher system and mount it on the facia where it is easy to use/access. All the UP5's and UR92 are mounted in the facia as well. Very neat and easy to work with. I also use terminal strips and spade connectors, all clearly labeled.

   -Bob

[peahrens]

My moderate sized 6' x 11' Ho layout is like the Virginian benchwork, mainly 1x4 framing with 5/8" plywood cookie cutter subroadbed.  It is supported by 4 legs about 1' in from the ends. made from 1x3 & 1x4 pieces combined.  I added an L-shaped shelf between two of the end legs, made from 1x8 and 1x6.  On this, I have a power strip, my NCE DCC supply on the shelf, and 3 circuit boards downstream of the NCE, for the 3 subdistricts (2 have reverser circuit boards).  I added terminal strips downstream of the circuit boards, to which to connect the 3 sets of buss wires.  Plenty of room.

i built this in the garage before installing it...set up the NCE and the circuit boards, etc and connected it to a test track piece with alligator clips to check out the NCE and circuit boards before installing the board between the legs.  Much easier than working under the benchwork. 

I have a Tortoise power supply plugged into the power strip, to a terminal strip for the DC to my Tortoise turnout machines.  That goes to a control panel on the front of the layout, which has DPDTs for the switch machines, plus a DPDT for a program track (to switch it from Operate to Program source).  I have a photo of that:

[HaroldA]

My command station sits on a shelf located on the front of the fascia since I wanted access to the switches.  The AR1 unit that I use is located on a grider right where the bus wires feed into the loop.  My goal was to keep everything accessible and easy to maintain.

[BRVRR]

I have a Digitrax Zephyr system. It is mounted on a slide-out shelf/drawer on the front of the layout. The BRVRR layout is only 4 x 10-feet. The switches on the fascia seen in the photo are for feeders to the various sidings. Not shown are the controls for the powered turnouts. I have a Digitrax AR-1 controlling my reversing loop mounted under the layout. Here is a photo from my website of the command station and the two MRC Railpower 1300s attached to its 'Jump' ports:

 

More info on my website.

[MisterBeasley]

I have shelves for my larger components.  Smaller ones, like auto-reversers, are attached to the underside of the benchwork.  Most of these are circuit boards with mounting holes provided on the corners.  You can buy plastic standoffs, but I mount them, somewhat loosely, with wood screws.  For my Walthers traffic-light controller, a small plastic box module, I put Velcro on the back and the other Velcro on the benchwork, so I can easily remove it to attach more wires.

I will not horrify anyone with a picture of the underside of my layout, though.