DCC ready?

[Anonymous]

I've been looking at locos online (steam, mostly[;)]) and it says that it's DCC ready. What does that mean (I'm thinking that means it's ready for decoder installation)? Will the loco still run on a regular non DCC power pack? And also some locomotives say digital, ex: "Arnold DCC decoder installed". Will they still run with a reg. power pack? HELP![:0]

[Anonymous]

Means it has the plug for the DCC decoder, so all you have to do is slap one in. Some decoders(the newer ones) allow both DCC and DC operations on the loco by semsing the power or via a switch.

Jay

[Anonymous]

DCC Ready means that the locomotive is set up for the plug and play type installation of a DCC decoder. As for the decoder being installed, if it is of a dual mode type, (Automatic, or manual) you can run it on normal DC.

[greendiamond]

"DCC READY" meaning varies. It CAN mean it has a socket for a plug in decoder. It CAN mean you have to take a light board out and replace it with a decoder. It CAN mean that you have to cut traces on a light board and solder in a decoder on the light board. It CAN mean that you have to hard wire a decoder in the locomotive and the motor is isolated from the frame so the decoder won't short out.

IT CAN mean GOOD LUCK!!!!

Unfortunately, the meaning varies from manfacturer and model produced and can vary from once release to another.

Believe me on the above statements. I've been selling DCC for 8 years now.

The best way to get an answer about DCC ready is to ask the question for a specific locomotive. The Athearn Genesis steam locomotives have a nine pin harness that goes from the loco to the tender. All you have to do is pull the header off that harness and slide on a decoder with the matching socket. Digitrax, Lenz, NCE and TCS all make decoders that can work. Bachmann Spectrum ready to runs also have a socket in the tender. That socket accepts any of the plug and play decoders from the various manufacters that have the 8 pin NMRA medium plug. However, Bachmann locomotives have noise interference circuits in them which sometime interfere with the DCC signal. A simple clip of a capacitor on that circuit sometimes takes care of the problem.

SO you can see there is no simple answer.


Mike Tyl

[Anonymous]

How can I tell if the locomotive has an automatic/manual switch?

[greendiamond]

Most of today's decoders will automatically run on DC and DCC. Sometimes you need to lock out the DC capabilities on some decoders while running on DCC as they may flake out and not be able to tell the difference. Uncontrolled run aways sometimes happen. Many people lock out that capabilities of the decoders once they switch to DCC to avoid the possible problems.

Best bet is to ask the shop you are considering purchasing the item from. If they don't know or can't find out for you...don't purchase the item from them. Try another source.
If the shop has a test track....try it out before you buy it.