Walther's Turnouts: What Does "DCC Compatible" mean"?

[Anonymous]

Everyone has already described how it works quite nicely. To put it simply, A DCC-friendly turnout is less likely to cause a short which could have 2 effects.

1. the circuit breaker on the layout trips and all the trains stop. you have to go rerail whatever came off. This is what should happen.

2. Decoder goes POOF! This is not good. I have even seen when a breaker didnt trip a locomotive was actually spot welded to the rails! Glad that wasnt my engine...

[Anonymous]

Oh I agree. I didn't say NOT to run blocks, just that with DCC it CAN be done, that's all.

QUOTE: Originally posted by jfugate

QUOTE: Originally posted by On30Shay

"only the block (train) with the short goes down, the other cabs (trains) keep running."

As long as only one train is in a given block. If there are more than in a given block on DC, they will all go down from just one short. That's the beauty of DCC. You can have as many trains as your controller can stand, and no blocks at all.

All quite true.

But it doesn't take long to realize that running DCC without blocks, a short shuts down the entire railroad.

To have a serious operating railroad means short management is *vital*, and it includes cutting the layout up into blocks to isolate the shorts.

[jfugate]

QUOTE: Originally posted by On30Shay

"only the block (train) with the short goes down, the other cabs (trains) keep running."

As long as only one train is in a given block. If there are more than in a given block on DC, they will all go down from just one short. That's the beauty of DCC. You can have as many trains as your controller can stand, and no blocks at all.

All quite true.

But it doesn't take long to realize that running DCC without blocks, a short shuts down the entire railroad.

To have a serious operating railroad means short management is *vital*, and it includes cutting the layout up into blocks to isolate the shorts.

[Don Gibson]

1. The 'point's are inividually fed by the outer rails.
2. The frog is not connected to anything. It's dead.
3. It doesn't route power like it's predecessor.

I would power the frog via SPDT contact's on (a) switch machine (b) ground throw if you encounter stalling on any small wheelbase engine, or loco's with rubber tire's .

[claycts]

About an extra $2.00 per turnout.

[Anonymous]

"only the block (train) with the short goes down, the other cabs (trains) keep running."

As long as only one train is in a given block. If there are more than in a given block on DC, they will all go down from just one short. That's the beauty of DCC. You can have as many trains as your controller can stand, and no blocks at all.

QUOTE: Originally posted by jfugate

In short, DCC friendly means nothing more than:

"Less chance of a short at the turnout if something doesn't track right".

It's called DCC friendly because shorts cause more problems on a DCC layout, than with DC. Using a DCC friendly turnout on a DC layout isn't a problem at all.

On a DCC layout, a short can shutdown the entire layout -- but with DC cab control, only the block (train) with the short goes down, the other cabs (trains) keep running. So a short at a turnout isn't as big a deal with DC cab control.

You *can* get the same behavior with DCC, but it takes a few tricks, as demonstrated in this video: http://mymemoirs.net/preview.php . DCC friendly turnouts are part of good DCC layout short management.

[Anonymous]

Who cares? They seem to be out of stock on more items than they have in inventory. If you can't get them, then DCC Compatible turnouts are just vaporware anyway.

[jfugate]

In short, DCC friendly means nothing more than:

"Less chance of a short at the turnout if something doesn't track right".

It's called DCC friendly because shorts cause more problems on a DCC layout, than with DC. Using a DCC friendly turnout on a DC layout isn't a problem at all.

On a DCC layout, a short can shutdown the entire layout -- but with DC cab control, only the block (train) with the short goes down, the other cabs (trains) keep running. So a short at a turnout isn't as big a deal with DC cab control.

You *can* get the same behavior with DCC, but it takes a few tricks, as demonstrated in this video: http://mymemoirs.net/preview.php . DCC friendly turnouts are part of good DCC layout short management.

[fwright]

For better operation with DCC, 2 areas of turnouts need to be addressed electrically.

1) the 2 point rails should NOT be linked electrically, rather they should be electrically connected to their adjoining stock rails. This is to prevent the back of a wheel riding on the stock rail accidently contacting the point rail of opposite polarity and causing a momentary electrical short. This is true in both DC and DCC. Momentary shorts are more of a problem in DCC than DC. Atlas has had points linked to adjacent stock rails from the 1960s onward; Walters/Shinohara did not. Perhaps Walters/Shinohara have switched which would make their turnouts much more DCC friendly.

2) Frogs should be isolated from rest of turnout and either left "dead" or polarity controlled by position of turnout. Again, this is good practice for both DC and DCC and is usually automatically implemented if #1 is. Atlas has always had "dead" or insulated, non-powered frogs. Peco offers a choice of "dead" or "live" frogs. Walters/Shinohara, if they electrically isolated their points on their DCC-compatible trunouts, would have automatically provided polarity-controlled live frogs.

The "dead" frogs are not powered so slow-moving, short wheelbase locomotives may stall, particularly on larger number (longer frog) turnouts. Polarity switching of a "live" frog requires an extra feeder to the frog, and a contact at the turnout throwing mechanism or control switch. Extra wiring, installation hassle, and maintenance but eliminates stalling problem.

[cacole]

DCC compatible means little other than being a sales gimmick -- and yes, it will work just fine on a DC block control layout.

I've had no problems at all with older Atlas, Peco, or Shinohara turnouts not being "DCC compatible" insofar as using them on a large club layout that can use either DC or DCC.

[mondotrains]

Hi guys,
I was just on an internet site ordering a Walther's turnout for a new siding and it says "DCC Compatible". I'm not using DCC on my layout....it is still wired for standard DC block control. Can I assume that the turnout will work with DC?

What does "DCC Compatible" mean?

Thanks in advance for your help.
Mondo