I just bit the bullet

[robert sylvester]

You know, I am 73, heart attack a week ago, now in congestive heart failure, but under control, new medications, about  $1,200.00 a month, pacemaker; but I am going to live it up. I just dove in the DCC pool and I am going to add it to the railroad so I can run my decoder engines on DCC instead of DC.

It is a large oval with five #8 Atlas switches, manually controlled. There is a buse wire under the layout with feeders, but no other wiring. Simple track plan with only two wires From the MRC power scource. The layout is 10' by 12', no extra's.

I've got three Tsunami decoder engines, several Bachman's with dual decoders and a Broadway Limited steam dual decoder. With Prodogy DCC I guess I can run them without any wiring changes. If I want to run my DC units, can't I just change the wires to the MRC transformer and go DC. I've got a bunch of engines that are still DC and I want to run those too.

Any feed back?

Robeert Sylvester,

Newberry-Columbia Line, SC

[mbinsewi]

I can run my layout either or, but never both at once.  

Mike.

[stokesda]

robert sylvester

... I guess I can run them without any wiring changes. If I want to run my DC units, can't I just change the wires to the MRC transformer and go DC. ...

Yes, you can switch between DCC and DC for your layout by simply unplugging the wires from the DCC system and plugging them into your DC controller. For the layout you described, no change in track wiring should be necessary (unless they're really old designs, Atlas turnouts are made to be DCC friendly, so you shouldn't run into any trouble with "power routing" frogs).

If you really want to be fancy, you could connect the track leads, DCC system, and DC power pack up to a DPDT switch. That way, you can just easily toggle back and forth between DC and DCC without the hassle of fiddling with the wires every time.

As Mike mentioned above, you can only run one or the other - never both at the same time. That's why if you go the DPDT switch route, it's important to make sure you get the wiring right.

[robert sylvester]

Thanks to both of you and the DPDT switch is a great idea, thanks

Robert Sylvester

[RR_Mel]

Glad you're not pushing up grass, keep on the lookout for the Grim Reaper and have a blast working on your model railroad.

 

This is a portion of an earlier post on my dual mode operation.

 

I run Dual Mode with seperate DC power pack as well as a DCC controller (also Prodigy).  I only run in one mode or the other, I made a interlock so that only one system can be connected to the tracks preventing a problem between DC and DCC so that I don't need to be switching the track power from one controller to the other manually.  I use the Accessory output of my DC power power pack to switch the rails from DC to DCC.

 

Interlocking the DC and DCC from each other is pretty simple.  This is how I built my interlock.  The interlock is automatic and failsafe.  When you turn on the DC power pack the relay changes the track power from the DCC controller to the DC power pack.  When I turn on the DC power pack it enigerizes a relay and automatically switches the power packs. 

 

 

The KRPA-11DG-12 has a 12 volt DC coil so a full wave bridge rectifier is needed to power the relay.  You can also use an AC coil relay because the accessory output of most DC power packs is 15 volts AC.  An AC coil relay will have a bit of 60Hz hum and a DC coil is quiet.

 

 

The DB107 chip rectifier is very small as well as low cost (under 50¢).

 

 

Any 12 volt DPDT relay with 5 amp contacts will work I just happen to like the older style Potter Brumfield octal sock type relays.

 

https://www.alliedelec.com/m/d/55299476accfa742c527156be212df74.pdf

 

Here is a eBay search for DPDT 12 volt DC relays.

 

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=dpdt+relay+12+dc&_sacat=0&_sop=15&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=1

 

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=dpdt+relay+12+dc&_sacat=0&_sop=15

 

 

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[BigDaddy]

robert sylvester

f I want to run my DC units, can't I just change the wires to the MRC transformer and go DC.

Man I thought my drugs were expensive.  You might want to google "medicare donut hole"   The good news we are still looking at the green side of the grass.

I wired a plug into my bus so I could connect my DC controller.  I've only used it a couple times, but since it is awkward to get to, I don't think I would forget to disconnect the DCC. 

A similar plug on both the DCC and DC power supplies would make that a certainty.

[rrinker]

 Quite a clever automatic circuit Mel. Though a manual DPDT center off toggle is just as foolprooof. After all, if the toggle is set to DCC and yoou turn on the DC power pack, the train won't move because the DC is not connected. Not tooo hard to figure out what you missed.

                   --Randy

 

[RR_Mel]

rrinker

 Quite a clever automatic circuit Mel. Though a manual DPDT center off toggle is just as foolprooof. After all, if the toggle is set to DCC and yoou turn on the DC power pack, the train won't move because the DC is not connected. Not tooo hard to figure out what you missed.

                   --Randy

 

 

Randy

 

I try to keep everything simple as possible, a couple of my great grand kids (girls) like to run my trains.

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[Bayfield Transfer Railway]

Radio Shack still sells big brass DPDT knife switches for that "Doctor Frankenstein" feel when you switch back and forth.

"THROW THE POWER SWITCH, IGOR!"
"Yeth, Mathter!"

 

[Mmbushnell]

Hello, Robert, 

I'm sorry to hear that you have coronary issues, but glad that they're under control.  That said, time to live for today!  And time to focus on enjoying your trains!  (Full disclosure: I'm 71, and have had my own brush with heart disease, also under control now.) 

As you describe your layout and setup, the DPDT switch (center off) is definitely the way to go -- simplicity in the extreme.  If you have a siding that you can deaden, on which to park the DCC locos while you're running DC, that would be even better.  

As you become more comfortable and familiar with your DCC system, I'm betting it won't be long before, one by one, your DC locos migrate to DCC.  On many locos of recent manufacture, there's already a multi-pin connector that makes adding a decoder pretty simple.  And there are a variety of after-market decoders just made for that type application.  Tony's is a great source for info in that regard.  And even for older locos, installing a decoder is often just a bit of a soldering job. There are lots of "how-to" videos available on YouTube.  

Good luck and lots of enjoyment!

//  Michael 

[robert sylvester]

I haven't seen one of these yet, thought I was a week or so ago. Thanks for the advice, I am going to set up a nice table next to the layout, a project this weekend.

Plenty of room for the MRC unit, (power pack-DC), and the new Prodogy DCC. There is also space for the toggle switches to switch from DC to DCC. I am looking forward to this project it will be fun to build and it will make things look more complete.

Robert Sylvester

Newberry-Columbia Line, SC

[peahrens]

I don't know if this has been covered above, but the discussion reminds me of my long ago inquiry about leaving a DC loco parked on DCC powered track.  My recollection is that generally one should not do that.  So if wanting to keep some DC locos on the layout when running DCC elsewhere, a DC only section of track might be handy so the DC locos can stay in place until next time running DC.

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/212962.aspx

 

[RR Baron]

Robert Sylvester,

 

Heads-up. 

MRC Prodigy Advance2 DCC system automatically turns off a dual mode decoder’s ability to run using DC when programming the decoder’s address. Thus, the locomotive will run only when using DCC.

If you purchased another MRC Prodigy DCC system it may do the same thing.

 

RR Baron

 

[woodone]

I use DC every once in a while on my DCC layout. There is ONLY ONE A/C outlet where my DCC system plugs in- If I want to run DC I must unplug the DCC SYSTEM. Very simple and always works.