It is my intention, when building a new "N" scale layout ( small room sized ) with "Unitrack", to use a "Kato" power-pack as dedicated turnout control (about 27 total), and the "NCE Power Cab" DCC system for train control. Any flaws in this theory?? Any suggestions?? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
That will work fine, I assume what you mean is that you'll use the Kato blue momentary contact switch boxes to throw the turnouts. If that's the case, there is no interaction between the Kato Unitrack switch machines and the DCC power on the rails. My layout and many DCC Kato layouts run this way successfully.
I might add that unless you have the Kato DC powerpack for other reasons, (i.e. on a separate test track, run your DC non-decoder locos on the super smooth DC that it puts out).... You could get by with a super-cheap almost any old trainset powerpack to power the Kato turnouts. You are likely always going to throw one turnout at a time anyway.... so you could use almost anything, and save the money for the Kato powerpack if you had no other uses for it. Just a thought.
I was basically going to get the "Kato" due to my idea of perceived "easy hookup" of the turnout controls. On that subject...........is there available ( in English-as opposed to Japanese ), an easy "how to" to find you way through the maze of hookup cords, extension cords, 3 to 1 cords, etc. available for the turnouts??
