Wooo me... sell me... is DCC the way to go?

Okay... I am now building my second layout. My current layout is a simple 23ft X 5 dogbone w/ two reversing loops. It is my freelance version of any nondescript place in the Virginia or West Virginia mountains.... modeling the C&O Railway.

One reversing loop is exposed and acts as a coal branch. The other reversing loop is hidden trackage below the coal branch loop and acts as a .............. acts as a........... okay... acts as a reversing loop.

The other notable plan feature is the layout also allows for continuous running around the dogbone.

NOW... as an electrical engineer, I have no problem whatsoever with wiring blocks etc. Peice of cake.... a snoozer.

I am vastly intrigued by DCC and am tinkering inside my "haid" with converting the layout to DCC. My HESITATION is very often I read about problems w/ DCC. That is... decoders that dont work properly.... runaway trains after shorts, etc on the layout, problems w/ programming engines after installing decoders, going to the trouble of putting in speakers for sound, yadda, yadda, yadda.

So come on DCC guys... is it worth it? Should I plop down $500 kahunas for a Digitrax unit of some description? Other than the obvious thing of running trains instead of track... ARE THE HEADACHES WORTH THE JOY?

I have the book from Digitrax... All About DCC.. or whatever its titled. I have read bits and peices. The worries that I mention have floated around my brrrrrrrrain whenever I glance in the book.

Should I do it? Just wanna be certain.

-Kitbash

 

YES! Go for it and you will not regret it. Since you are electronically inclined it should be a breeze for you. DCC can add greater functionality to any layout. I would have to say the biggest benefit is yard switching especially when there two or more locomotives in a block and you only don't want all of them. Here goes.

Shorts—careful testing of track prior to usage should help eliminate that.
Compatibility—if you will be using a decoder from another manufacture just check around to see if anyone else know of any issues. I don't think that there are as many compatibility problems as it seems. They are an every part of life that will not go away. We just have to live with them.
Reverse Loops—there are several auto reverse loop devices out there to make that easy. Dysfunctional Decoders—decoder testers are available also to test them prior to installation. If installed correctly it might just be user error or the command station.

The idea behind DCC is to have more fun. You don't have to convert all at once. Maybe borrow a friends set for a week and setup a mainline to see how you like it.

 

Dcc is the computer of trains. 'Would you give up your computer, word process and internet access... probably not in your life. Well, DCC is the same, you won't look back, and you will wonder why others don't embrace it.

The guys I feel for and understand their pain are the guys with hundreds of loco's. Decoding many many loco's is a major expense.

 

Since you are an electrical engineer, DCC may be too easy for you. DCC eliminates all the headaches associated wiring and operating your trains. The few "DCC headaches" you've mentioned rarely occur, and the satisifaction that comes from operating with DCC and it's superiority to conventional DC is impossibile to describe. I can't believe anyone in their right mind would even consider conventional DC and block control. It's seems insane to me that anyone would actually WANT to take that many steps backward, into the stone age, and put themselves through the anguish, complexity, and expense of conventional DC operation. But, I suppose there are those people out there who enjoy hardship and pain, even if it is self-inflicted. To those people I say...Go for it! Do conventional DC and blocks. Stay away from DCC, it's too easy, and too good, not to mention too much fun.

 

Hi Kitbash. I'm an electrical and controls engineer too, so complex wiring, communication protocols and binary/hex don't really scare me. But I'm going DCC to make my hobby simpler and more enjoyable. I want to drive the trains with plenty of switching.

On the other hand, if your operational interest is more in the dispatching or tower operator type of function then setting up blocks for routing may be more your thing.

For myself I decided to go for a full-featured command station, rather than a 'budget' job, because noone seems sure about using Soundtraxx decoders with the limited ones (I want sound, obviously). At the f-f level the main protagonists are very similar in price at around $350, so I've decided to use NCE. This choice is almost entirely because everyone says it is the easiest to use due to its 'English' rather than 'coded' display. And it has dedicated sound buttons. As an engineer I appreciate these things .

In the same vein you might enjoy this little item:
http://www.iht.com/articles/56175.html
(If the link doesn't work, the source is an article "Nostalgia for knobs in high-tech age" in the International Herald Tribune on 29th April.)

[ 30 April 2002, 10:12: Message edited by: Mike Sheridan ]

 

Keep in mind that the posts you see asking questions about DCC problems constitute a very small percentage of the users out there. People who have no problems also have no reason to post. One previous response called DCC the computer of trains, true enough but the question would I give up my computer I would answer yes, without too much regret. But not my DCC. And another post cited easier wiring, a comment I often see. It can be easier, but most likely really won't be. Wiring block control is not difficult, just tedius. You will still want to block your railroad for troubleshooting purposes, or to use power shield products which prevent the entire railroad from shutting down during a short. These blocks will not require toggle switches however. They do require circuit boards for the power shield option. For a lot less money you could just wire blocks to a spst switch located convienietly near each block. Whole railroad will shut down but you can locate a short more easily. I bought the Digitrax chief two years ago. I only use it to run trains and sound. I too would never go back to DC operation, despite my dread of computers. Thankfully for me, I have no interest in throwing turnouts from my throttle, I figure real engineers couldn't do that, why should I? That would entail wiring that would easily compete with DC wiring, and programming to boot. There are a lot of really neat options available for those who are more computer literate than me (just about everyone). This is when DCC gets difficult. I really don't understand why people say DCC is difficult, its basic function of running trains is very simple. heck, I've installed decoders and programmed the chuff rate, acceleration and deceleration and such with no problem. I'm pretty sure if I can, anyone can. Go for it!

Gary

 

I knew before I ever tried DCC that it was just a matter of time for me, but once I actually operated a DCC layout, I was sold in all of five minutes - if you are looking for a sales pitch - the best one is to find a DCC layout near you and give it a go.

OK - try this with DC: Last weekend I was operating a friends layout and my train was pushing the max tonnage for the steepest grade on the layout. Fortunately, it was also the helper district. The owner was the dispatcher for the night and he sent me up the hill. I was doing fine until I had the train fully into a large S curve on the grade – too much for my 2-8-8-2 and called for a helper.

The dispatcher sent out a helper to push from the rear of my train. The helper engineer was on his own throttle and I was still on mine. Once he coupled into my caboose (with the KD's in the 'delayed' position) he picked up some slack off the rear and I started pulling the front - we could watch the slack move up and down the train as we tried to match each others speed up the grade. Very cool. As we reached the top of the hill, the helper cut power and dropped off my caboose - then backed down the hill.

All in all it was a very cool demonstration of how powerful DCC is (and how hard it must have been to operate helpers on steam trains - we could SEE the slack - not as easy when you are in side the two cabs.)

 

ok where do i sign up u sold me

 

Kitbash (and Rich M),
Let me tell you this, running trains on DCC is an experience that you must TRY to gain the whole effect of. I enjoyed DC UNTIL I found DCC.... there was no comparison! DCC offers so much more! You should try DCC, especially on a "large" or "club" layout.... it really makes a difference when you want to run multiple trains at the same time.

Harold

 

I'll add my $.02 to the mint here and also say go Digitrax. It's the only system I'd ever use, at least until somthing really reveloutionary comes out. Another nice, in unintended feature of the Digitrax system is that wherever the layout shorts out it will chirp. It actually makes a noise at the location of the short. Not everyone can hear it, but it is there.

 

NCE's do this as well.

And wireless - man, ya gotta love the wireless throttles. I have operated on layout with them and is is fantastic! You don't have to take your eye off the train to find the next plug!

 

i like the remote (honey have you seen the remote ) cant wait to get my layout started soon i hope been working on the track plan

 

kitbash

I went DCC from the beginning of my layout. I want to run trains and not crawling under the layout for months to do some annoying wiring. Currently I have 100 DCC N scale locos, some DCC controled switches. All equippment is Digitrax except one single Lenz decoder. Running DCC since a couple of years I never had any problems. Of course I toasted some decoders but never when running them. All of the damaged decoders died because of lousy installation or accidentaly shorting them out.

I'd rather give away my wife than my DCC. (well some of you will say this also for DC....)

 

I fully agree with pray59. If You can afford it go for the top of the line. You won't regret it! You'll have features that are not availiable on cheaper systems.
You won't find a system that is more advanced or complete then Zimo. Make sure You check it out before You make a decision. Keep in mind that the prices in US Dollars are almost have of what You see on the web site. You can also check out the manufacturers web site at: Zimo.at