Folks I'm thinking about DCC++ for O gauge. I currently run DCS. Cost, motor design and loco design keep me from adding DCS control to a number of conventional locos. The DCS system has outputs that you can set to variable AC and lock in at a specific AC voltage. Could I put nVAC, on the track and hook up some iteration of DCC++ to control locos? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
1. Any locomotives equipped with AC motors would have to get those replaced with DC motors, in order to be controlled by DCC boards. 2. I'm not sure what you mean by nVAC. But all AC is not the same. Incandescent light bulbs don't care if the polarity flips at 15 cycles/sec, or 60 cycles/sec, or at whatever rate. Neither do electric locomotives with rectifiers and all DC circuits and motors, because the AC is converted to DC the moment it comes on board, and the cycle rate becomes irrelevant. But everything else does. The wrong cycle rate can fry most AC appliances just as fast as the wrong voltage can. DCS was designed by a company deeply invested in AC-powered trains. And DCC? Was DCC designed to cycle its current in a manner compatible with classic Lionel AC operation, and yet this was all kept secret? So, we're replacing the AC motors of the DCC equipped locomotives with DC motors, and we're devising custom circuitry to make the DCC cycle rate right for standard AC components, and we're installing something--old school potentiometers?--to vary the strength of the DCC output to the track without using pulses which could scramble the signal, and we have spare boards on hand in case DCC components don't like operating on less than full power, and... Are we still saving money this way?
Hi. I get that you can discuss the theory. But DCC in O gauge, is already a thing. It doesn't involve swapping out motors, on MTH or newer Lionel Locos, or any loco, with a DC motor, which all my newer stuff does. I'm asking, hoping to find someone that actually uses O gauge DCC, so I can learn what mistakes, to not make. Thank you. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yes, there are O gauge locomotives built with DC motors. If that's what you have, why are you trying to deliver AC to the rails DCS-style? I wasn't actually being theoretical. If the only practical response so far seems theoretical to you, maybe people need a more specific question?
I wanted to use DCS, because I have the channel available, and I own the power supplies, for it. If I can avoid buying another, anything, it would be great. If I need to buy the correct power supply, to handle the current requirements, for o gauge, using DCC++, then so be it. Your response definitely sounded theoretical, as All MTH, RMT, modern Lionel locos all have DC motors. New MTH locos are built, with DCC decoders installed. You just choose the system you are running on. No you can't mix DCC and DCS, on the same track. What I have since learned today, is that the DCS command controller, merely acts as a passive conduit, if you want to switch back and forth, between DCS and DCC. Your response was, from my perception, dismissive and condescending. That's how I took it. If it wasn't intended that way, my apologies. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I should probably apologize. I've been accused of 'mainsplaining' before, when I didn't intend to sound that way. Yes, Lionel started using DC motors long ago, with e-units that actually are electronic and contain rectifiers, for quieter operation. But the old AC motor engines run forever, and there are millions around. So when you specifically asked about feeding AC to your rails, I assumed you had one or more of them to run. Yes, that channel will pass old-school AC (as advertised), or power from a DCC box (which they tend not to mention), or the signal from your cable TV (though why you'd patch that in is beyond me), or about anything but grape jelly if you wire it up right. Wire in a separate, upstream selector and enough power sources, and you could run a guest's locomotive no matter what it was set up to run on. But it might have to run all by itself. Just as long as the DCS locomotives aren't expected to run with the DCC locomotives, and the horse-and-buggy antiques that only go when you put the spurs to them aren't expected to play nice with anything else at all, you shouldn't have any trouble setting that up.
I'm a bit confused, so maybe it will help to start over. Are you merely asking if you can use the DCS system as a power supply, or are you asking to have the DCS system co-exist on the same rails as DCC? Greg
Greg. What I specifically want to do is take the DCC++ system and get enough power, to run 1 or 2 O gauge locos, on a dedicated loop. I'm also looking to NOT buy another power pack, if I don't have to. So, the available DCS output (set to a fixed voltage, with no DCS signal) seemed like a nice choice, as I can turn off the track voltage, from the DCS controller. Ultimately, I'll go with whatever let's me put control and sound, into a few locos, where DCS is not an option. Acptulsa. No worries. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Actually, to be really exact, and to avoid confusion, there is a power supply, which then goes to a "control system" that changes the raw power to the properly modulated signal. I'm saying this to underscore it's NOT in the power pack, but between the "power" and the tracks. In DCS, this unit is an AIU, in DCC, it's called a command station. (yes in an off the shelf "pulse power" "pack" the pulses are made inside the box) So, you don't need another power pack, in fact you don't need your DCS AIU, you only need the power supply that you already have that is feeding your AIU... BUT!!! Now you cannot generate DCS commands... but that is ok because you cannot have DCS and DCC at the same time. Go DCC, and upgrade your existing locos to DCC decoders, or you can pur Protosound III in your existing DCS locos and then they will run DCC. Greg
Step 1 Get DCC++ running with N scale. in the next few weeks. Step 2 Determine what I need to power O Gauge decoders and add it to the system. Step 3 build O gauge decoders, w daughter. (She's a computer engineering major, entering hobby, for the programming and control part! Step 4 Be ready by Thanksgiving, for setup. Thanks
