DCC

[calvinjr]

If i want a Shelf layout, and ran HO/O could I use 1 DCC system, or would i need 2 systems, or just add more boosters, or amps? Any advice all will be appreciated.

[cacole]

A shelf layout is not going to be big enough to need more than one basic DCC system -- no extra boosters should ever be required.

If would help a lot, though, if you could be more specific.  How long and wide a shelf?  How many locomotives do you think will ever be operating at any one time?

When you say "HO/O" surely you don't mean both on the same shelf, but one or the other.  Either way, a basic DCC system will be more than enough power without any extra boosters required.

 

[richg1998]

I see no reason to need a booster for a shelf layout. Some systems come with 5 amp capability anyway.

Couple come with 2 amp limit.

 Take time to Google the loco current requirements and different DCC systems, Digitrax, NCE, etc.

That way you will buy what you need. I find that researching myself is better than hand holding.

 I would not bother with the Bachmann offerings. MRC, maybe.

Rich

[maxman]

calvinjr

If i want a Shelf layout, and ran HO/O could I use 1 DCC system, or would i need 2 systems, or just add more boosters, or amps? Any advice all will be appreciated.

 

Not to necessarily disagree with the others respondees, I think we need to know if you are really going to be running HO with O, either all on one shelf or two separate shelves.  And if you are really going to be running O, do you have any idea what the current requirements of the O scale loco is.  For example, there is an ad in the May issue of RMC from a company called Protocraft advertising beefed up Tsunami sound decoders for O scale that will allow the Tsunami to "operate continuously at 3.5 amps".  Doesn't take more than 1-1/2 of those to overpower the usual 5 amp HO DCC command station/booster combination.

 

So if it were me, I think I'd like to have the HO side powered up to 5 amps (maybe less if I knew that I were only going to use 1 or 2 locos), and a 10 amp booster for the O scale side.  If you buy a 5 amp combination command station/booster, then you just need the additional 10 amp booster.  You would have a HO electrical bus and an O scale bus.

 

Another way to do this is to buy a 10 amp combination command station/booster and use that to power everything.  But you would need to separate the booster output into two separate buses.  You would need a separate electronic circuit breaker on the HO side set at maybe 3-1/2 amps to protect that side from seeing the full 10 amps.

[mfm37]

Your requirements depend on your demands. Will both scales be running at the same time? If so you will need two boosters. One supllying the voltage for O scale, the other supplying HO voltage. Boosters are not the same as command stations and you could easily operate with a single command station. A combo command station/booster plus one add on booster would work. Just be sure the output voltage can be set on each booster for the scale it will be running.

Choice of command station will decide the type of throttle. Throttles and command stations are unique to each system manufacturer. Choose wisely. each system has its plus and minus depending on the user's requirements. You will need a command station that can handle multiple addressses and/or consists to be able to run two layouts at once. Just about any slave booster can be connected to any command station. However, the booster will only allow more current to be supplied to its track district. Boosters won't make the command station any smarter.

Martin Myers

[calvinjr]

The layout will barely run 3 Locomotives to start off with, and YES I would like to run the Locomotives simultaneoulsy. The layout will go from the Floor to the shelf, I'm only barely at 5'0. I'm thinking maybe 3, or 4 shelves, however i'm not sure how wide, or long slighty above 4*8 on the ground, and above no bigger than sight view. DIGITRAX

Thanks for All Suggestions!!!

[peahrens]

Not specific to your question, nor to discourage same, I also suggest that the following book was for me a big help on understanding the DCC basics.  I heard some other books were not so hot but I found this one good, supplemented by forum info and certain other websites.  I you have a LHS, they might have it (save the shipping).

http://www.kalmbachstore.com/12417.html