loathar wrote: corksean12 wrote:are all dcc decoders able to run on dc too? i hadnt thought of that.I don't think all are DC compatible. You can use N and even a few Z decoders if your locos are newer and don't draw too much amperage. There's not a whole lot you can't fit a decoder in these days.
corksean12 wrote:are all dcc decoders able to run on dc too? i hadnt thought of that.
I don't think all are DC compatible. You can use N and even a few Z decoders if your locos are newer and don't draw too much amperage. There's not a whole lot you can't fit a decoder in these days.
A decoder might not respond to DC, but unless you way overvoltage it, it isn't going to hurt anything. A DC signal is just a DC signal that goes forward and reverse really fast.
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
ARTHILL wrote:My layout was DC. When I went to DCC I put a DPDT switch in so I could go back and forth. I left the old DC blocks in place and I can park my DC locos on sidings and turn those blocks off. When I want to run a DC loco, I turn that one block on, set 00 and a way it goes.
My layout was DC. When I went to DCC I put a DPDT switch in so I could go back and forth.
I left the old DC blocks in place and I can park my DC locos on sidings and turn those blocks off. When I want to run a DC loco, I turn that one block on, set 00 and a way it goes.
I plan to do something similar once I can afford DCC. The DPDT switch is the way to go. A lot easier than jacks and plugs. It can even be a center-off type. Just make sure that it can handle AT LEAST 5 amps. 10 would be better as some of the cheaper ones are overrated.
Karl
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
My layout was DC. When I went to DCC I put a DPDT switch in so I could go back and forth. I never ghave gone back to DC once.
All my DC engines run on the DCC address of 00 (I have Digitrax). I left the old DC blocks in place and I can park my DC locos on sidings and turn those blocks off. When I want to run a DC loco, I turn that one block on, set 00 and a way it goes.
In general, yes. Som ehave a CV that can be set to enable and disable this mode. A decoder that doesn't run on DC will do nothing.
Since you seem to be planning to change the entire layout from DC to DCC (or the reverse) at the same time, I'd say go for it. Just make sure all of your analog DC (not decoder equipped) powered rolling stock is safely off any powered section of rail before plugging in your DCC system - the constant power to the track will smoke an unprotected motor.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - analog DC, MZL system)
By the way, the sockets are available at radioshack here
My layout only has room for small engines, and at the moment I only have 1 loco, which has a DCC decoder.I use Bachmann ez command. Ive started looking to expand my loco fleet, but some of the locos I want will probably not have room for a decoder. I wasn't sure if I should only use dcc ready locos or go back to dc and only have 1 loco running at a time. Then it hit me,why choose? my plan is to have the track bus connecting to banana speaker jack sockets, and have my Bachmann dcc controller and a dc controller each connected to banana plugs so when i want DC opperation, I can detach the DCC controller and vice versa.my trackplan is basic, no balloon loops or anything complicated.
would that work? or in other words, can you really have cake and eat it too?