I have recently gotten into HO model railroading in addition to running O gauge. Over on the O gauge side we have squat for control it's either Lionel or MTH both complicated and over priced. I asked this on the O gauge form but failed to get one reply so hopefully someone here can answer this question. I know that HO runs on DC and so do most O gauge locomotives with canned motors. In O gauge if you don't have an E-unit then you have to wire up a rectifier to convert the AC power to DC. I was thinking that this may be possible to install DCC boards into an O gauge locomotive if the ground and track power were first ran to a bridge rectifier and then to the motors light etc. Will this work or am I spinning my wheels with false hope.
Thanks,
Kev
Can't stop working on the railroad!
A couple of decoder makers have decoders specifically for O-scale which may already have the required rectifiers built in. Check the web sites of Digitrax, NCE, TCS, Lenz, and other decoder makers for O-scale decoders to see what they offer.
Kev,
It sounds like you need to better understand how DCC works.
DCC has it's own unique power supply which is used to provide the power and the control signal data.
DCC does not use a DC power supply.
DCC will work with O gauge, and it will be easy to convert locos that have DC motors.
You will need decoders rated for higher current levels than those used for HO, and there is no practical way to run locos not converted.
As to the best way to convert AC locos, I'm not sure.
DCC decoders have outputs for lights, and sound if you choose sound decoders.
But putting a rectifier in the loco is not part of the process.
And I'm not sure you will find DCC to be any less expensive than the systems from MTH or Lionel - especially since their locos come with the system installed in many cases.
Sheldon
Are you currently running two rail or three rail O scale ?
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Like Sheldon said, it's an all or nothing conversion to DCC. You will replace transformers and other controllers with the DCC command station and booster (often combined in one unit). Every locomotive will have to have a DCC decoder installed.
You will remove any existing electronics and wire the motor, lights, and speakers directly to the DCC decoder, and the decoder input directly to the track pickups (center rail and chassis ground). The motor, lights, and speaker must be insulated from the loco frame if the frame is connected to the outer rail (I suspect it will be).
Both can motors and the universal motors (AC motors in older 3 rail locomotives) run just fine on the DC output from the DCC decoder.
I'm not sure that DCC is particularly cost effective for this purpose. You need higher rated decoders than HO (extra $$), and you will be yanking out the existing MTH or Lionel decoders (and not using them). You cannot use post-war AC accessories on your DCC system or the post-war style horns and whistles. Nor can you operate an unconverted post-war locomotive without installing a DCC decoder. I believe both TMCC and DCS allow for conventional AC locomotive operation in conjunction with command control.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
TMCC and DCS require 18 volts AC on the rails. The outside rails are common and the wheel sets are not insulated as in two rail DC. The control signal for TMCC is a radio wave and TMCC is a carrier voltage. The "decoder" takes the 18 volts AC and converts to a 0- 12 volts DC for the motor. The DC level is controlled by the coded signal from the control station.
I am running three railed O gauge. I have checked out the various companies that make DCC decoders and none of them make ones compatible with O gauge but the do offer sound decoders only. You can buy DCS Proto 2 boards but they are more than some of the locomotives and so far I haven't seen too many HO decoders that cost as much as my locomotives. I can install Digitrax decoders in my HO DC locomotives without a problem even without the 8 or 9 pin plugs but in O gauge it is very complex and very user unfriendly and need to be installed by a professional. I have only one PW AC locomotive which I would never try to modify as it is 60+ years old and was left to my by my Grandfather and it runs just like it did when I was 5. The cost is actually not that big of a deal as long as I can do it myself like I have with my HO DC locomotives. You can buy a decent HO locomotive with DCC only for less than 200.00 but you will not get a O gauge locomotive for that much. All my HO locomotives except a couple either have DCC installed or are DCC ready it would just be nice to have everything on one system. I knew that DCC was probably more complex but wasn't sure since I am so new. DCS will not run locomotives that are DC only but the Proto 1,2, or 3 will run on DC or AC power from a standard transformer. This year MTH made their HO compatible with both. Thanks everyone for helping a new guy understand DCC.
Somebody else apparently had the same idea ....
http://www.zealot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=167403
Sounds to be feasable, if not somewhat limited, but definitely not going to be cheap.
Split field AC motor drive with Digitrax decoders.
6.14.2 Split Field/AC Motor DriveWhen you program CV61 to 004/x04, Digitrax decoders with split field motor drive capabilities will convert their motor leads to drive a "split field " AC motor instead of the default DC motor. This lets you run Marklin 3-pole AC motors and similar motors in a number of locos built in Europe with Digitrax 1.5 amp decoders.
For Hi-rail AC motors, you can use Digitrax decoders rated at 3 amps or more.To use an AC motor, you must connect the common motor/brush to the blue (common) lead on the decoder. Connect the forward field coil to the gray lead on the decoder. Connect the reverse field coil to the orange lead. Be sure that any other mechanical or electrical reversing relay and/or track feeds are removed from the AC motor. The wires from the decoder should be the only wires connected to the converted AC motor. Be absolutely sure all motor connections are isolated from the motor chassis.Programming a decoder that has been set up for AC operation: Now that you have set up your decoder to run an AC motor by programming CV61, you must have the motor or a lamp load connected from the blue lamp common wire to one of the motor leads to do any additional programming. You can also connect a 1k ohm resistor to the blue and gray wires to simulate the AC load to allow additional programming.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
I have checked out the various companies that make DCC decoders and none of them make ones compatible with O gauge but the do offer sound decoders only.
A decoder like this one should handle O scale locos just fine:
http://www.digitrax.com/products/mobile-decoders/dh465/
ATLANTIC CENTRALI have checked out the various companies that make DCC decoders and none of them make ones compatible with O gauge
I seem to have been fishing in a different pond.
Digitrax DH465
Doesn't mention it having the split field option - older, now discontinued ones, did.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
jeffrey-wimberly ATLANTIC CENTRALI have checked out the various companies that make DCC decoders and none of them make ones compatible with O gauge I seem to have been fishing in a different pond. Digitrax DH465
I think you need to re-read my post - the bold type was qouting the OP - the part you deleated was my link to a decoder rated for 4 amps and O qauge?????????
I don't remember seeing that in your post earlier. And I didn't delete anything. How could I? I don't have that capability.
I am going to purchase the DH465 as it can be installed in an O gauge locomotive but can only take up to 18V which is enough for me. I will repost after I get it and have installed it.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL I have checked out the various companies that make DCC decoders and none of them make ones compatible with O gauge but the do offer sound decoders only. A decoder like this one should handle O scale locos just fine: http://www.digitrax.com/products/mobile-decoders/dh465/ Sheldon
Well as per the 10-9-13, 7:58AM date/time stamp, the above is exactly how I posted it this morning.
RRaddict I am going to purchase the DH465 as it can be installed in an O gauge locomotive but can only take up to 18V which is enough for me. I will repost after I get it and have installed it. Kev
Do you understand that it will only work on a DCC system? Do you have a DCC system?
Yes I understand that it will only work on a DCC system and I have an MRC system that works great. There will not be a problem running this on my O gauge layout and it's as simple as changing out transformers to use the Protosound 1&2 locos. I have several O gauge canned motor locos that is not cost effective to install DCS which are way too complicated and bulky to fit in most O gauge locomotives. MRC makes a sound only decoder that is small but the volume is weak. I will post when I have completed this task.