New to hobby. AC or DC?

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I am new to this hobby and currently running a basic Marklin DELTA setup. Before I commit further $$$$ into this hobby, could anyone advise on what are the pros and cons of running an AC or DC based system?

Best regards,
Mun Hon

[Anonymous]

I'm assuming when you say ac you mean what we call DCC. If not then just disregard this and let someone else answer it.
DCC Pro's-
-Run multiple locos on one track at different speeds.
-You can control more features, sound, lights, start up and braking speed.
-you run trains and aren't more concerned about flipping switches
-more straight forward wiring
-most systems you can still run one train on regular dc
-smoother running
-more prototypical running
CONS DCC
-higher priced
-Depending on the brand, programing it can become hard
-have to have decoders to run at full potentional
DC pros
-depending on size it can be cheaper
-no programing, after you hook a wire up you can run any engine on your track
DC cons-
-one engine on one track
-constantly having to flip switches
-a lot of wiring underneath the layout
- you can only ran as many trains as you have power packs, so if you want to run three tains you need three powerspack which can be more expensive than a midpriced dcc unit.


Something that could help us better inform you on the pro's and cons for you is if you tell us a little about what you plan to do. Tell us a little about what you want to get out of the hobby.
I hope this helped if not atleast i gave it the ole' college try.

Andrew Miller

[Jetrock]

Pros of AC: You already have a Marklin setup.

Cons of AC: Nobody makes AC equipment for HO scale except Marklin, which means you would only be able to make use of Marklin engines, track and power supplies. Also, as nice as Marklin engines can be, they all have that ugly third rail in the middle of the track.

Pros of DC: Many suppliers of track, engines, etcetera, most or all of which are cheaper than Marklin. Wider selection of prototypes. More realistic-looking (and less expensive) track. I don't know how common hobby shops that stock Marklin items are in Hong Kong, but they are probably fewer in number to those that stock DC.

Unless you're really, really interested in Marklin in particular (and if all you have is a basic setup and you're new to the hobby, probably not) I would highly recommend going DC rather than AC.

[Anonymous]

Oh third rail. I knew that just wasn't thinking I'm an idiot, sorry about that...boy did I make a fool out of myself. I think it's time I go to bed.
Andrew Miller

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Many thanks for the replies so far, has really helped clear many issues for me. As far as I know, there are only 3 hobby shops in HK selling trains. So getting good info and a wide seleciton of trains and systems for comparison is not easy. I'll have to buy off the web, but was kinda lost with all these products I came across.

As you know I'm already running a basic AC from Marklin and would like to go towards the DCC direction, so does that make going for a DC system more appropriate? Are most/all makes of DC locos able to run on systems with controllers other then those from the same manufacturer? What is the difference between a European DC and American DC version?

Big thanks for the help!

[Jetrock]

If you are interested in eventually going DCC, then DC is absolutely the way to go.

Pretty much any DC controller works with any DC engine, including European and American versions--they both work with approximately the same voltage range. The same goes for Japanese DC engines. Obviously there will be voltage compatibility differences (European and American power cords are different, for example) but generally DC is DC, no matter where you find it.

[ciortato]

Also RIVAROSSI, Roco and Fleishmann produce AC version locomotives. I prefer DC, becouse these models and relative tracks are more realistic-looking.
However, AC locos have excellent pulling performances.

[IRONROOSTER]

Welcome to the hobby.

The biggest advantage of the Marklin AC system is simplified wiring for reverse loops and wyes. In the 3 rail system they require no special wiring, in 2 rail they do. Marklin is generally regarded as well made - I have no personal experience with it.

Dis advantages, are limited suppliers for locomotives (unless you convert some which may not easy), track and power supplies (don't know if you can use MRC AC power packs or not). Most freight and passenger cars are no problem since the insulated wheels don't matter when used with Marklin track; the exception is lighted cars. Buildings and scenery of course don't matter. Marklin tends to cost more in the US than other manufacturers - don't know about Hong Kong.

If you plan to model U.S. railroads, then I would switch to DC. You have a much larger selection. Thanks to the NMRA standards all DC manufacturer's products work together. If you plan to model German railroads, then it's a harder question; you should survey what's available.

Enjoy
Paul

[robengland]

I gave Marklin to my son. It's great for kids due to the easy wiring and the tough construction of the trains (though his friends managed to destroy his 0-6-0 switcher in 15 minutes of unsupervised play[:(!][:(!][:(!]). Save yours for your (future?) kids. All the above criticsims: unrealistic track, limited manufacturers, expensive. To which i would add poor detailing relative to the other gear available today. Unless you are modelling a German prototype, go two-rail.

But my personal advice is don't go DC, go DCC (which is a different form of AC on two rails not three like Marklin [:D] - confused yet?). See all the other threads for the DCC pros/cons arguements, but when starting out is the time to do it I reckon, instead of trying to convert later. I've had Marklin AC, HO DC, N DC and HO DCC, and I'm sticking with the latter. On Monday we got a diesel loco under the control of a software throttle running on an old Pentium PC and that was the coolest thing I have seen for a long time...

I live in New Zealand (And I lived in HK for two years, in Sai Ying Pun [:)]). Local hobby shops are not much of an issue, though i am blessed with one good one. I buy second-hand gear from him and a little bit of new when I need somethign urgently, but most of my discussion, learning, info and purchasing is via the web. The internet has transformed this hobby. With Google and Paypal anything is possible from anywhere in the world. I buy track from Germany and DCC from a guy in Pennsylvania or from Tonystrains.com or rrcirkits.com, and rolling stock from a guy in Hamilton NZ. And I have filled a whole library with info downloaded via Google searching.

[Anonymous]

Many thanks for all the help!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by robengland

I gave Marklin to my son. It's great for kids due to the easy wiring and the tough construction of the trains (though his friends managed to destroy his 0-6-0 switcher in 15 minutes of unsupervised play[:(!][:(!][:(!]). Save yours for your (future?) kids. All the above criticsims: unrealistic track, limited manufacturers, expensive. To which i would add poor detailing relative to the other gear available today. Unless you are modelling a German prototype, go two-rail.

But my personal advice is don't go DC, go DCC (which is a different form of AC on two rails not three like Marklin [:D] - confused yet?). See all the other threads for the DCC pros/cons arguements, but when starting out is the time to do it I reckon, instead of trying to convert later. I've had Marklin AC, HO DC, N DC and HO DCC, and I'm sticking with the latter. On Monday we got a diesel loco under the control of a software throttle running on an old Pentium PC and that was the coolest thing I have seen for a long time...

I live in New Zealand (And I lived in HK for two years, in Sai Ying Pun [:)]). Local hobby shops are not much of an issue, though i am blessed with one good one. I buy second-hand gear from him and a little bit of new when I need somethign urgently, but most of my discussion, learning, info and purchasing is via the web. The internet has transformed this hobby. With Google and Paypal anything is possible from anywhere in the world. I buy track from Germany and DCC from a guy in Pennsylvania or from Tonystrains.com or rrcirkits.com, and rolling stock from a guy in Hamilton NZ. And I have filled a whole library with info downloaded via Google searching.

Hi, many thanks for the help. Yes, I'll go DCC and will be scratching my head over the next couple of weeks on what to do with my 2 AC locomotives. Unlike you, I only have a 2 year old girl. Doubt she will be going into model trains, though she likes messing around with my trains at the moment :-) So which DC loco manufacturer would you recommend? I know this can be subjective, but it wouldn't hurt collecting more views.