I don't really have a good idea what to search for, so if anyone could link me to a really good descriptive article on how to wire turnouts so that you can select a track to route into and have all the turnouts throw to create that route, I'd be much obliged - especially if it's DCC controlled. Thanks in advance!
Matthew, Routing is a fairly common item within DCC operations. Many of the command stations come with a small number of routes programmable within them, as do turnout controllers such as the Digitrax DS64. What you do is independently control each turnout with its own address, and then assign a new and unused address to a route. Within the route program, you call out each of the physical turnouts you want to set, along with their positions. The route is specific to a virtual turnout and position, so you can have 101-open and 101-closed as two independent routes. You can also "stack" routes, so that one route calls another.
Matthew, If your Command Station does not support routes and you have access to a Computer near your layout, give a thought to using JMRI for that purpose. It has all that ( and much more) built in. Have Fun Michael
If you haven't already download a program called loconet Checker its a trouble shooter/programer for multable DS64 and the block and siginal boards In this case it will bring up ALL the DS64's on the layout and then change the address trouble shoot and route them on the single screen on the laptop. AlanC.
There is another way to handle routes if you are using the Tam Valley Depot system for controlling turnouts. The stationary decoders in the Tam Valley system can be programmed to throw a group of turnouts to the desired positions upon receipt of a DCC accessory command. Each Tam Valley decoder can remember upto 40 route commands. So you can have "route" capability even if your DCC system doesn't provide that feature. Full disclosure: I have not yet tried this feature, but it is in the Tam Valley manual. - Jeff
Sorry to take so long to reply, but here are more details: I'm currently using the NCE Powercab, but as construction continues on the layout I'll upgrade to a more complicated system. I'm controlling the turnouts with an NCE switch-8. I also have no idea what I'm doing, I've never had anything but DC!
Just incase you didn't know its a good idea to keep all you turnouts and the power for them on a sepreat curcuit Don't run them off your track power. your turnouts need to have there own dedicated power supply -------IF you tracks short out how are you going to get your trains in the clear if your turnouts are tied into the track and you can't throw them. Alan C.
One option is to setup up "macros" on your Power Cab that will set the routes. Another is to get a Mini Panel, which will let you use pushbuttons to activate routes. One disadvantage to using a Mini Panel is it uses a cab address.
Not a worry - I've already got a dedicated bus set up under the pristine tabletop. Yeah, like that ever stopped me before =D I'll have to look into macros. The main reason I want to use DCC is because the turnouts are in an inconvenient spot (one of the less well designed spots on the railway) and need to be controlled from multiple locations.
