Ok. At this stage, Im going DCC.. but until I have more than 20 locos DCCized, I would like to be able to run everything... No point otherwise! So with wiring DCC onto a current DC layout (currently its a nothing layout, but will do the old block system first so I can test and play), any tips, hints, or things to be careful of when adding the DCC wiring?? I've read several websites, but would like to ask the brains trust here for some first hand info. There are some very knowledgable people round here.... Thanks Bruce
Bruce: Tony's Trains "DCC Primer For Beginner's has great info that's easy to read and understand. There's alot to read in this piece. Basically all you need for DCC is two wires to the track. You can make changes as you feel more comfortable with DCC. Take it slow and easy and you'll get all your loco's decoderized. Tony's Trains - DCC for Beginner's Have fun.... Stay cool and run steam.......
You could go completely DCC by purchasing a system that supports 1 analog (DC) locomotive. Then you could slowly put decoders in all of your locomotives. I know that all Digitrax systems support running 1 analog locomotive. David
David: All of the Lenz systems support one analog loco. Most DCC systems support the use of one analog loco on a DCC system. Stay cool and run steam.....
Thanks for the advice fellas, but I have been told its a nono to run DC locos on DCC - it can stuff up the physical motors... Obviously if the DCC systems are setup to allow this, it cant really be true. My problem (as EVERYONE going thru this), is that I have 1 loco out of ~60+ with a decoder, and IMHO, i dont want to be stuck with only being able to run 1-2 different locos (neither will my 5yr old who this is for as well)... Thanks Bruce.
If as you say you wire for DC blocks you can then change to DCC by feeding that into one controller input and switching all blocks to that controller, that worked very successfully on our old show layout when we changed from one to the other. That said, it means lots more wiring which sort of defeats some of the advantages of the digital system. On the other hand fault-finding any short is a breeze with block wiring, as you just turn off sections till the fault clears If I recall running a DC loco on DCC isn't a problem (as loco 0) - what doesn't do the motor any good is having that loco stopped under DCC for long periods of time but still receiving the DCC power running through it.
Once a DC loco is finshed running on a DCC system it must be removed from the track or you run the high risk of cooking the motor. I for one don't run DC loco's on a DCC system for any length of time. I'll only test run an analog loco on the DCC system as I don't have a DC power supply. Stay cool and run steam.....
One tip is to use the largest gauge wire possible, something like 12 or 14 AWG wire.... DCC layouts can need a lot of current. Yes, you can run most systems with DC locos in addition to DCC, however, the long term results are not always satisfactory. Harold
Bob, I have the Lenz 100 system nad am really happy with it so far. But I didn't realize you could run one analoge train. How do you control the one analoge engine with the DCC trains on the layout?
The analog locomotive is controlled in the same way as any other locomotive. You select address 00 and run it as you would a decoder equiped loco. David
While you are wired for both you must make sure that you NEVER have the possibility of the DCC and DC touching each other. Better would be to make it impossible to have DC and DCC on at the same time, even in different blocks. It might take an extra switch, but you don't want to fry anything. Jeff
Bernard: You can run your analog loco with the address 00. I usually don't run an analog loco with the DCC loco's. I'll only test run analog loco's on the DCC system. Make sure you remove the analog loco from the tracks after you finish running it, or you might burn out the motor. If your layout has reverse loops, the analog loco will reverse direction continuously through the reverse loop. My layout has four reverse loops and thats why I only test run older analog loco's before I convert them to DCC. Stay cool and run steam....
