Nope - Strictly DCC for me. Started out with it at the get-go and have been very happy with it so far. The only time I use DC is when I'm testing a brass locomotive with the idea of convertiing it to DCC.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Strictly DCC at home and the club I belonged to.
Our club wired in the early 1980's went to DCC some years ago. Fourteen blocks and one reverse loop. Four throttles. Each throttle was capable of three amps.
We tried a few blocks with DC and some with DCC. We had to have someone at the dispatchers panel. As old timers do, we would get to gabbing and one or two locos passed a DC/DCC boundry and wiped out the five amp NCE Booster. Never again.
If you are the only operator, probably not a problem.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I like DCC operation better, more possibilities.
Hello all,
This subject has been covered many times.
The consensus is the possibility of catastrophic damage to the DCC system and decoders is too risky.
Here are some previous threads that dealt with DC/DCC operations:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/254019.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/254241.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/250561.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/252559.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/226338.aspx
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
If you have a positive on/off switch to operate either DC or DCC, but not partly DC and DCC it would work. Problems such as those mentioned occur when part of the layout is DC and other parts are DCC.
Strictly DC for me, as it's simple to use and offers everything I want for my layout.
Wayne
YES.
I would prefer to use plain dc, but most better engines, and even the newest brass, come with dcc.
To be able to access all features, or at least most, I have to use the MRC Tech 6. It works great though my throttle is getting a little worn and sometimes engines dont want to come to a complete stop as a result.
I do not care for dcc, but it is a necessary evil. I like being able to occasionally change cv settings. I like being able to change whistles, etc.
I especially like that the better engines now run every bit as well in plain dc, though sound and light control is not there.
John
And so simple fact remains, for the time being, if you want onboard sound, DCC is your only real choice.
Mel, not being critical, but 10 mainline blocks seems like a lot for a layout of that size?
I run DC with an advanced cab control system design similar to Ed Ravenscroft's MZL control. It generally cuts the number of actual blocks in half by automating some power routing based on turnout position. What would often require a seperate block for an interlocking is fully automated by route selection
My current layout under construction will have a 350' run of double track mainline and staging for about 30 trains but will only require 16 mainline blocks. I run long trains and blocks are typically 20-30 feet long.
For me, sound is a non starter in HO. I tried it, I bought a couple locos. I have lots of friends with DCC and sound on their layouts.
The poor sound quality is something I just cannot adapt to, they all sound like static on a 1968 9 transistor radio to me.
I was the train department manager in a hobby shop when Modeltronics came out with their systems in the 1980's - not impressed then, not impressed now.
I realize that many out there like sound, and that some simply accept it as part of the direction the hobby is going. And that is fine. But I am perfectly happy with my fleet of quiet locos.
I have removed a number of decoders, sound and non sound, from DCC locos purchased at closeout prices. I use Aristo Craft Train Engineer radio throttles, and the pulse width output from them is not compatible with dual mode DCC decoders.
My layout includes CTC and signals, the signals and turnout controls are all intergrated into the cab control and CTC, so using the wireless radio throttles the experiance is very similar to DCC, especially with a dispatcher on duty. Engineers simply walk with their train and obey the CTC signals. If they run a red signal, their train stops, ATC (automatic train control) is also built into the mainline signaling/cab control.
Wireless throttles are for me way more important than any of the other features offered by DCC - and I have that with the Aristo Throttles.
So no real use for DCC here.
Sheldon
PRR8259 YES. I would prefer to use plain dc, but most better engines, and even the newest brass, come with dcc. To be able to access all features, or at least most, I have to use the MRC Tech 6. It works great though my throttle is getting a little worn and sometimes engines dont want to come to a complete stop as a result. I do not care for dcc, but it is a necessary evil. I like being able to occasionally change cv settings. I like being able to change whistles, etc. I especially like that the better engines now run every bit as well in plain dc, though sound and light control is not there. John
Just one more reason I would never spend that much on a loco, or consider it an investment. When I do get a loco with a decoder, I remove them........resale value will never limit or control the way I have fun with my trains........
But, I have only "sold off" three locos in 50 years......and even though it was plastic, one was sold at a considerable profit. Not bought as an investment, but sold when I decided it was not a brand I prefered and it was not needed for the roster.
On my test track layout, it's wired in "the old style", with DPDT toggles for each block. One cab is DCC. The other is DC. It's double track, and one track has been DCC and the other DC for a good many years.
I just recently accidentally plopped an RS-3 that was still DC onto the DCC track. It made funny noises and I shut it down. Still worked fine on DC. I then put the decoder in. And, again, it worked fine on DCC.
I have yet to put a DCC equipped loco on DC trackage, so I can't report on that event.
Ed
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Mel, not being critical, but 10 mainline blocks seems like a lot for a layout of that size? My current layout under construction will have a 350' run of double track mainline and staging for about 30 trains but will only require 16 mainline blocks. I run long trains and blocks are typically 20-30 feet long. For me, sound is a non starter in HO. I tried it, I bought a couple locos. I have lots of friends with DCC and sound on their layouts. Sheldon
RR_MelI was just wondering if there are others out there running dual mode, DC and DCC.
I have been running this way for a number of years for the same reason. I want to be all DCC, but have a number of locos that I have yet to install decoders.
I keep the DCC simple. Only one power district, and no DCC devices like reversing modules or circuit breakers. The power feed is with a DPDT switch which selects either my DCC commend station or DC power pack.
When I was planning this, I read an article warning that DCC devices do not like DC power, and can get fried if exposed to DC.
A few months ago, when turning on DCC track power, a short circuit warning came from the system. I checked for tools on the track and derailed rolling stock and found no problem. I switched to DC, and tripped the power pack circuit breaker as soon as I advanced the throttle. Next I started cutting buss wires around the layout, but could not isolate the short. Finaly, I unplugged the Loconet from the commend station, and the short went away. The problem was with one of the throttle plugs on the fascia. Digirtax has a light on the plug mofule that turns on with track power, and one of them had developed a dead short. I removed the wire that connects to the track power to all the throttle plugs, and will not use it any more. No problems since then
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
It will be mostly DC for me with a bit of DCC as explained in another thread so I won't repeat here. I buy high-end rolling stock and die-cast vehicles with my limited retirement budget so the two expensive DCC locomotives I have are enough. DJ
My mainline is only one block, and I have run multiple trains in plain dc. That is when it gets exciting and I have to be attentive with opening and closing passing sidings. I call that fun.
Also I am using the same track for both modes of operation. It is a simple flick of a switch on the Tech 6.
All turnouts are power routing.
Right now I only am running one Athearn challenger, as other high end stuff sold...
RR_Mel Thanks for your input guys! I guess I’m the only one using dual mode on a layout. Mel
But I thought that was exactly what I was describing in the immediately preceding post.
How is it different?
7j43k But I thought that was exactly what I was describing in the immediately preceding post. How is it different? Ed
RR_Mel I guess there are a few of us running in dual mode, I was beginning to think I was an only again. Mel
I guess there are a few of us running in dual mode, I was beginning to think I was an only again.
I built the (still unfinished) test track layout about 2002. I'd been out of model railroading for about 20 years. But I still had my old stuff packed up. I wasn't at all comfortable with that newfangled DCC stuff that had been developed while I was "gone". So I put in block toggles (23) in the old style.
Over the years I succumbed to Progress, and now pretty much every new loco has sound and DCC (except for my new/old NCNG 2-8-0).
But I still have more straight DC stuff. So allowances must be made. In my defense, I will point out that I HAVE installed a few straight decoders in the old stuff and even put DCC/sound in my brass gas-electric.
So, yup, I'll be "dual mode" for a long ways into the future.
I have never installed a decoder in any locomotive or any other item, and I never will.
In fact, I'm far more likely to remove them in the future.