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Do you run Lighted passenger cars on DCC?

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  • Member since
    January 2014
  • From: Moneta, VA USA
  • 1,175 posts
Do you run Lighted passenger cars on DCC?
Posted by gdelmoro on Friday, January 6, 2017 11:33 AM

do you run lighted passenger cars? Any problems with reverse loops or insufrog turnouts? 

Gary

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Friday, January 6, 2017 11:48 AM

gdelmoro
do you run lighted passenger cars?

Probably over a hundred of them Yes ! It is one of the major benefits (for me) of DCC so that I can see interior lights on even when the train is stopped. Other effects, such as EOT devices and marker lamps and Mars lights on the rear of a train are an added bonus.

No problems over frogs and the only caution for reverse loops is to keep in mind that the train can not bridge the entrance gaps at the same time as it is passing the exit gaps. Longer passenger cars with pick-ups on the wheels will act as conductors (not brakemen?) so you have to be sure your train is shorter than the reversing section.

Many of my cars have capacitor "anti-flicker" circuits and it is possible that the resetting of a breaker or the start-up current may tax the DCC system and you should have adequate wiring and amperage capacity to handle that OK.

Good Luck, Ed

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, January 6, 2017 11:56 AM

I have two trains worth.  They do not cause problems.

I suppose I should include the subway trains, too.  Make that four trains worth.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Pa.
  • 3,361 posts
Posted by DigitalGriffin on Friday, January 6, 2017 11:58 AM

+1 to what gmpullman said.

Just make sure your passenger train is shorter than your block, and everything should be okay.

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

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