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The Train Buddy's FAQ on DCC: A State Of Mind 1. What does it take to be “DCC”? 3. If I wanted to make my layout DCC, what does it cost? 4. What do I have to do to my layout to make it DCC? 5. What about my high frequency generator that provides constant lighting for my passenger cars? 6. What else is practical but not absolutely necessary? 7. I am concerned about the level of expertise that I have to have to “go DCC”. 8. I have heard so many bad things about DCC. What can go wrong? 9. Do I have to replace/fix all my turnouts? 10. Do I have to learn about hexadecimal or computers to use DCC? 11. Can I just put a decoder in my old analog engines? 12. Can I put a decoder in my brass engines? 13. I heard that you have to clean your track more often. Is this true? 14. Can I run Analog on Digital and Digital on Analog? 15. What should I watch out for when starting? - Out of reach of mere mortals - Things to do when you just want to depress your train buddies. All or nothing?Q. What does it take to be “DCC”? A. Well, if you have one loco that has a decoder in it then you are already doing DCC. Back to TopA. You can buy a Proto 2000, GP-30 that is DCC ready $55 Street Price (it has a 6 pin plug on the top), a Digitrax DH163L0 for under $30. Just remove the plug and replace it with the decoder. You now are DCC capable. You can run your engine on anyone’s DCC layout and you can run it on your own analog layout. Or just buy an Atlas Master Series GP-38 for $130 MRP if you just want a “run out of the box” DCC engine. Back to TopQ. If I wanted to make my layout DCC, what does it cost? A. My recommendation is Digitrax Super-Radio, Empire Builder for $440, Super Empire Builder (no radio control but infrared control) for $240, or my least favorite but lowest cost Zephyr $160 Back to TopQ. What do I have to do to my layout to make it DCC? Not much. If you already have a working layout just remove the two wires from the transformer to the track and put the computer (Command Station/Booster) between them. You are ready. What happens on most layouts is that you want to do more than this. Q. What about my high frequency generator that provides constant lighting for my passenger cars? A. Disconnect it from the track. It will interfere with the computer. Surprise! The lights will be constant without it. Back to TopQ. What else is practical but not absolutely necessary? A. Most people will want to put in UP-5’s (Universal Panels), throttle connections, for convenience. This is almost a necessity if you are going to use the UT-1’s. A2. If you have a large layout where you are going to run more than 8 engines simultaneously then you will probably need to invest in a booster. Adding a booster for every 8 engines or so that you want to run simultaneously. (Can I come over to run on your layout?) The Antique Barn might get away with one control station and one or two boosters. Back to TopWhat, me worry?Q. I am concerned about the level of expertise that I have to have to “go DCC”. A. DCC can be challenging if you want it to be. It doesn’t have to be. Like a lot of model railroading, DCC is still in it’s infancy although the last year has made significant improvements which allow a lot of equipment to be “ready to run”. Back to TopQ. I have heard so many bad things about DCC. What can go wrong? A. You should not use older (over a year old) decoders with coreless (basket wound) motors (Usually found only in LGB G scale). Back to TopChallenging questions?Q. Do I have to replace/fix all my turnouts? A. No. See below. This is a challenge, not to mention an additional expense with not a lot of benefit or need. Back to TopQ. Do I have to learn about hexadecimal or computers to use DCC? A. No. The “throttles” for DCC have been complicated. Digitrax earlier models, DT100 through DT300 are difficult, at best, to use. Other throttles are gaining popularity because of their more “friendly” interface. Digitrax model DT400 and UT-1. Wangrow, Lenz, and Atlas are still in the market because of Digitrax deficiencies in this area. Back to TopQ. Can I just put a decoder in my old analog engines? A. Yes you can, but you probably don’t want to. If the motor pulls over an amp at stall then it will burn up the decoder. The other issue is that most older analog engines used either a common frame ground (Athearn) or a split frame motor (Bachmann, Kato) and these require a fair amount of work to isolate the motor from the frame. Back to TopQ. Can I put a decoder in my brass engines? Yes, again, there are very few engines that cannot have a decoder in them. But you may not want to because of the motor, load, etc. Again, the stall current could burn out the decoder. Back to TopQ. I heard that you have to clean your track more often. Is this true? A. No. As a mater of fact, I clean mine less often. It is the wheels on my engines that need the most attention. Back to TopQ. Can I run Analog on Digital and Digital on Analog? Basically, yes. The limitations are: one analog engine at a time on Digital for the whole layout. You can run a digitized (DCC) engine on an analog layout. It just doesn’t start until you get to five volts. Back to TopQ. What should I watch out for when starting? Many of the older (a year ago) decoders required you to change your bulbs from 1.5v to 18v. This is not necessarily the case today but you should check before you burn out your bulbs. You may have layout wiring that is insufficient. With an analog layout you would not really know whether it is good or not. You can check this out simply on a digital layout with a quarter. If the command station does not beep, then you need to beef up your wiring in this section of your layout. You could theoretically burn out a motor or decoder if you don’t do this but I wouldn’t get all worried about it. It would be a freak accident that would make it happen. Back to TopWhat’s Next?
Back to TopOut of reach of mere mortals
Back to TopThings to do when you just want to depress your train buddies.
Back to TopKim Parker
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Contact us at 919-562-4378 or e-mail:info@trainbuddy.com (c) Copyright 2002-2008, K.A Parker & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved This page was last updated: 2008-07-26 |