KATO track with DCC

[Anonymous]

I am building a layout and want to use the Kato HO track, is there any problems i should know about before I purchase the track? I have the MRC Prodigy DCC system. Thanks

[Anonymous]

No problems with using Kato Unitrack with DCC. There are a couple things to keep in mind, though. First, check the back of your turnouts. Some of them offer a "power routing" and "non-power routing" option. Change the screw positions (if necessary) to select "non-power routing" for use with DCC. This keeps power to both tracks that can be selected by the turnout. Also, if using "districts" or reversing loops, make sure to acquire and use insulated rail joiners between the sections. This is true for any track, not just Kato's. The only other concern that comes to mind is the track radius. With Kato, most of their designations are in metric, so they don't tell you the track radius in inches. 430mm radius is approximatly 17.5 inch radius, so this should help you figure out the radius you require. Approx. 25 mm per inch. Make sure your locomotive can run on the tight radius turns and you should be okay. Hope this helps you out.

[Anonymous]

Why are you complaining that Kato is desinged in metric. That is one of the reasons I use it. Why don't you just measure in millimeters like everyone else in the world and forget about your obsolete American measuring system. Dull minded lazy Americans will some day catch up with the rest of the world.

[Anonymous]

What can I say? I'm used to what I grew up with, but am not really that uncomfortable with metric measurements. I wasn't complaining, mind you, but simply pointing out that Kato does use metric measurements for their track. Most other vendors don't, so I thought ve6053 might want to know that. If most vendors said that their stuff requires 490mm radius, it would make things easier for those that aren't familiar with doing the conversion. However, when all they tell us is that a minimum of 18" radius is required, we just have to make the conversion to metric to determine the suitability of specific track from Kato, for example. As for why we don't use the metric system yet? I can't answer that, but I do know that there was an effort to make that happen twenty or thirty years ago that seemed to be ignored, for all intents and purposes!

[tomytuna]

have gone almost 100 % kato in HO scale.....no problem with DCC...just make sure you route the turnouts described above..Tom

[christopherdorman]

Can I run the Kato Unitrack turnouts with my Prodigy DCC system.  I have a small layout that I just added two turnouts, but I am not sure how to make them work.