Sorry but, I did search and found some info info but, I still don't understand all this DCC. One question. Can a loco on dcc just loop around in a forward direction and right back on the same track like the figure below? Can it be this simple. Thanks, Signed Still confused with DCC Joe
yes! Basically, all you need is a auto reversing module such as Digitrax AR1 or MRC AD520 or even fancy ones like the PSX-AR. The auto reverse module will detect a short and flip polarity as needed. The decoder inside the loco will keep feeding current to the motor at the correct polarity to maintain the same direction of travel without interruption. I recorded a short demonstration of how a auto reverse works. If you squint really hard you might notice the headlight blink once as the loco’s front wheels touch the reversing section. It is marked by the red push pin. The blink is, in fact, a short. Listen carefully and you’ll ear a faint “click”. This is the auto reverse module doing it’s thing. The loco just keep going as intended without any intervention on my part. It’s awesome! I tell you that much :tb-cool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UREXMEOEjoY
Thanks, That is fantastic. I'm going to love dcc. One more. Can you have 2 locos, each moving in a different direction in a layout? Not at the same time but, if I have on loco say, doing a simple oval and parking it on a side track so another loco going in a different direction can pass on the same oval is that also poss? From what I read it seems like once you program a loco to travel in a different direction than another,,,,, it just happens when that assigned channel is chosen????? Like I say, I am reading up on dcc but, I have a thick skull and its taking some time to sink in. Appreciate the help. Joe
Yes. That's kind of the main purpose of DCC, to accomplish that with less wiring and simpler operating procedures. Of course. Uh...not sure what you're trying to say. At any time you can change the direction of travel of the loco you're controlling. (You control a loco by choosing its programmed address on your throttle. We call them addresses, not channels.) The loco and DCC system will remember the direction it was going if you change to controlling a different loco. No problem.
Yes, on the same track and at the same time even (LOOK OUT!!!) Sure, but it's much more fun to do it at the same time! :tb-tongue: You program an address into the decoder in each loco, set your controller to that address and control the loco. Each loco (speed, direction, lights, horns, etc.) can be controlled independently (even if right next to each other on the same track). They can also be controlled in tandem (Multiple Unit, or "MU") where one controller controls two or more locos together to pull those looooonnnnngggg trains (just like the big boys!). Like most electronic things, what is simple on the surface can be quite complex underneath. As you get into it, you will want to delve into more of the things that DCC can do, and perhaps even how it does it. You will see a lot of posts on this and other forums about problems with this system or that feature, but folks rarely post when they are having no problems, so what you are seeing is learning taking place. A thick skull helps. :tb-wink:
Yes, at times a thick skull is useful. LOL. Thanks to you all, I am going into this DCC head first. Joe
What you are probably talking about here is the loco's "Normal direction of travel". A loco's normal direction of travel can be reversed so that when you tell it to go forward it goes in reverse and vice-versa.
