davidmbedardDCC>DC. 2 wires is all you ever need. David B
David,
You know what Ilike most about DCC?
The money I get selling the decoders I take out of Bachmann and BLI locos on Ebay!
So yes, by all means, everyone else should convert to DCC and bid up my auctions even higher.
Sheldon
2 wires is all I use on my DC ISLs up to 10' and 1 of my 4x8 loop layouts..I don't get block crazy like some.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
The DC vs DCC debate reminds me of the "why should I use one of those computer things when my typewriter works just fine". If someone is really satisfied with older technology they should stick with it but let others explore what is new.
Joe
JoeinPA The DC vs DCC debate reminds me of the "why should I use one of those computer things when my typewriter works just fine". If someone is really satisfied with older technology they should stick with it but let others explore what is new. Joe
Joe, I completely agree.
But some of us have already explored what is new and decided it is not worth the time, trouble and expense for our particular needs.
Joe, I believe you have it the wrong way around. I don't thnk any DC user is trying to say not to go DCC if that's what you want. There are certainly good reasons for many to switch to DCC (or start from scratch with DCC). However, there are more than a few DCC users that have trouble accepting that there are equally valid reasons for staying with DC.
FWIW, we are still controlling our trains by varying the voltage (DCC uses pulse width modulation to vary the voltage, DC uses a variety of methods) to a permanent magnet motor regardless of which control system we use. So your analogy to computers vs typewriters is not a particularly good analogy. Maybe a better analogy might be ink jet vs laser printers. Both print on paper using a series of tiny dots. Just the method of generating the dots varies.
Fred W
I love these threads. People making absolute statements, but missing the point....taking a big swing and whiffing.
To many, technology is simply a means to an end. To many, it is the end...or at least a big part of the hobby.
Personally, I choose to focus on other aspects of the hobby, not the electronics technology part. I just want the electronics to work reliably each time, so I can get on with MRRing. Nothing more...nothing less.
Its technology, its not ideology.
As said many times before by many people, the ease and reliability of each system is mainly dependent upon how complicated you make your layout, not really by the technology itself.
If the OP truly wants advice on how to set up a third cab, perhaps another more specifc based thread would be more useful. There are plenty of folks who can help, and plenty who are using DC.
- Douglas
Doughless, you make a good point.
The title of the thread and the opening sentence or two of the OP's post do not transition well into the rest of his post which is about setting up that third cab.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain Doughless, you make a good point. The title of the thread and the opening sentence or two of the OP's post do not transition well into the rest of his post which is about setting up that third cab. Rich
Yeah, you made that basic point about him needing help a while back. He may be researching the 'net, and finding a bunch of info on DCC, and getting discouraged.
Glad to see there are still some DC people left i did solve my third cab dilema wired the extra selector thanks for the advice. I have a small layout and many deisels to convert for me its cost id rather spend my mony on Kadee Couplers and other things. As for operations going good. I just forget to throw the switches LOL. Thanks every one for all the info i still have dummie deisels too LOL call me old fashioned i convert these to power when i find parts mostly athearn BB. the Atlas engines are all powered.
I am basically DC only and fully intend to stay that way. I do have the capability, with the MRC Sound Controller 2.0 power supply, of running a DCC equipped unit, but I often have to reset it to factory default DCC settings in order for it to run on my layout. I can even run DCC-only equipped units with this controller.
I do indeed resent the pro-DCC bias both within Kalmbach's magazine publications and on internet forums. I'm sick of articles (and multiple online threads) that assume a DC model is, by its very nature, inferior. Newsflash MR - it doesn't make me want to buy the magazine.
The only DCC equipped engines I have on hand are one bicentennial Athearn Cotton Belt SD45T-2 and one Kodachrome SD45T-2. Both previous owners unfortunately installed DCC decoders in these units. They perform pretty much equally well in plain DC mode as with DCC. I have a plain DC Kodachrome SD45T-2 that actually runs better than either of the DCC units does, whether I run them in plain DC or in DCC mode.
I only have a modestly sized HO railroad, and since I usually own multiple units of anything I like, I have no need for DCC at all, because I can have "multiple unit consisting" in plain DC.
My 2c.
John
keithh9824 i did solve my third cab dilema wired the extra selector thanks for the advice.
I too have dummy locos. I went through about 10 years ago and de-powered a bunch of mine. I did some tests that showed 2 Stewart's could easily pull 55 cars. Since I never run trains that long, more like 20-30 max I thought powered sets of ABBA were just silly.
For me, dummy units are just former powered units with which I experienced "problems".
When the problems become enough of a headache, the offending unit is converted into an unpowered dummy unit.
I had some issues a few years back with Athearn units whose wheelsets (these were not the former bluebox units) caused excessive power arcing and extreme amounts of track dirt.
Made the worst one into a dummy unit--and had no more problems with it!
Since then it does appear that Athearn has improved either their wheelsets or the electronics in the engines, or both.
The best thing for those old Blue Box locos was to replace the sintered iron wheels with NWSL nickel-silver ones. Slightly less traction but WAY more reliable electricl pickup. Plus it wasn;t uncommon for some of those Athearn wheels to literally have chunks missing out of them.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.