Aside from the Less Filling/Tastes Great debate (Digitrax vs. NCE), my concern would be the common rail wiring. The serious discussion that needs to happen is whether you are going to move to double gaps or not and away from the common rail wiring before going to DCC. I would highly suggest double gaps. This will likely be some work. Digitrax strongly recommends against common rail wiring. I suspect NCE and others do too.
From the Super Chief manual:
4.1 Direct Home Wiring vs. Common Rail Wiring
Digitrax strongly recommends direct home wiring where each power district and its booster are electrically isolated. This type of wiring is safer and more convenient to work with for debugging and for adding reversing sections and detection later.
Remember, no matter how you control your trains, you should always use safe wiring practices.
One option, often used, is to utilize common rail wiring within a power district and double gap between districts. This may minimize the amount of wiring changes needed.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
k4danas to others wanting to switch to dcc i dint think it to big of a issue if we can, (and i do think is possible ),to have the option of switching between dc and dcc. because the club is going on 60 years old their is a lot of dc equipment the members acquired.and at least in the beginning going straight dcc would be a hard sell. with that said i think with all the new products coming out that are dcc ready. adding the decoder to the newer products wont be bad. its converting all the old. i realize that it wont be jumping right into it because of all the switch machines (app 125) magnetic uncouples (around 100) it will be a slow process. and the first few YEARS will be a dc/dcc hybrid. but you got to start somewhere.
i realize that it wont be jumping right into it because of all the switch machines (app 125) magnetic uncouples (around 100) it will be a slow process. and the first few YEARS will be a dc/dcc hybrid.
but you got to start somewhere.
Dan,
Given the underlined above, Digitrax would be the better option/fit for your club because none of the NCE systems - Power Cab or Powerhouse Pro - support DC. Any of the Digitrax systems - Zephyr or SEB - allow you the option of running one (1) locomotive.
Your other option would be to keep your present DC system and add a DPDT toggle switch to your layout wiring so that you can run your club layout on either DC or DCC. That might make for a smoother transition from DC over to DCC for those more reluctant to either the new technology or installing decoders in their older locomotives.
However, if you choose that route, you're then back to figuring on the pros and cons of either system. You might also need to run your switch machines and higher voltage devices on a separate bus or buses.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tom,
i did read the other post. thats what gave me the ideal to post the question. I did research the dcc systems prier to buying mine. and settled on the chief for my home layout. at the time i didn't belong to a club, and at the suggestion of members on here, at the time i found one to join.(which turned out to be very the best advice Ive ever received,three years ago ( as a modeler and even the social aspect of the club) one of the reasons i respect the ideal of the members here.
their are 2 other members using dcc. for most the club is their only layout.
as to others wanting to switch to dcc i dint think it to big of a issue if we can, (and i do think is possible ),to have the option of switching between dc and dcc. because the club is going on 60 years old their is a lot of dc equipment the members acquired.and at least in the beginning going straight dcc would be a hard sell. with that said i think with all the new products coming out that are dcc ready. adding the decoder to the newer products wont be bad. its converting all the old.
Actually, you can't go wrong with either company. Both make a very good product and both have their pros and cons. Once everyone has a chance to chime in here, accumulate a list of the pros and cons then present it to your club for discussion. One system is bound to be a better fit for your club for one reason or another.
Dan, is everyone in your club favorable about switching to DCC? How many other members have a DCC system and which kind to they have?
This recent thread might make a good read for you on the topic from the other side of the coin:
What don't you like about your DCC system?
sorry Dave
typo
our club layout.
and what books do you suggest
hello ,
i would like to see our club use digitrax super chief system for our club layout. other prefer nce.their reasons are you can program right from the cab (in English)and dint have to remember CV numbers to program and digitrax only have 12 functions. to upgrade nce functions you only have to replace a chip in the main controller at a cost of $15.00 and digitrax you have to upgrade every cab (not sure of the cost)
i have a super chief at home and like it. I'm new to dcc and don't know all the ins and outs so I'm no way qualified to make a good argument for them. so any one that can give me any good reasons to support digitrax.
and if any one has reasons why i may be wrong please feel free to tell me why your system may be better.
we do have common wiring where the is a common wire on the one rail is common to every thing from all the power packs to the 10 volt lighting to the, 32 volt switch machines . (did i mention our club was formed in 1949.and was powered from 2 volt cabin car batteries wired in series and still supply power for lighting and switch machines) but my super chief does work under these conditions, using bananna plugs connecting to the track and turning off the power pack for that panel. but i only run a limited number engines and don't cross into the areas running dc from other panels.