Model Forum / General / Railroads / November 2005

Hi John.

The fundamental difference is that on a DCC track there is a constant
voltage, the DCC-commands are "superimposed" on that voltage, ant the
train uses power from the line as the received commands tell it to do.
On a "normal" track, the voltage varies with turning of the vontrol, and
tran speed accordingly, and there is no control signals on the voltage.

DCC-trains can, in certain cases (the DCC chip should be "told" with a
jumper about the situation) run on "normal tracks", but "normal" trains
cannot run on DCC-tracks, because the constatn boltage - i.e. they would
run at full speed all the time.

my 2 cents
Thomas

Only if they are equipped with decoders that automatically sense the
power type, and switch modes.

No.

Yes. Most current production includes a PC board with plugs so all you
have to do is plug in the decoder. But some "DCC Ready" locos would
require soldering, and some are DCC ready only in the sense that a
decoder could be installed, if you know what you're doing, which your
questions suggest is not the case with you, yet. Kalmbach's recent
release DCC Made Simple will get you started.

It's also possible to buy engines with DC-detecting, mode-switching
decoders built in. BLI makes such, among others. Go to a real, physical
hobby shop for advice and information - but do them the courtesy of
buying your gift there, instead of looking for a bargain on the web
after getting information from them for free. It also helps to find
fellow modellers, and ask them for help. They might even invite you to
try their DCC locos on their layouts... :-)

If you haven't checked the prices of "good quality" steam lcocos lately,
be prepared for wallet shock. :-)

You're welcome.

I have a silly little DCC question, this seems as good a place as any
to ask:

You put in the address to the locomotive, then turn the throttle to get
it moving.  Now you want to switch to another locomotive, so you put in
that address.  Does the first locomotive continue to move at the last
throttle setting?  Or do you have to use the digital "speed steps" to
let the other loco run while you work with another?
I think I read that you have to lower the throttle to zero before you
switch to another locomotive, is that correct (which would mean you
have to rely on the speed steps to run more than one loco)?

I have a fair amount of documentation on DCC, but oddly this has never
been clear.  I have a Digitrax Zephyr that I bought to switch over to
DCC with, but then my layout met its end and I never got to use it.
I'm planning to use it with my next layout, which I'm about to start
the benchwork on (bought the lumber over the weekend).

Whether a DCC-equipped loco will work with DC depends upon the setting of
CV (configuration variable) #29.  The default setting is that it will work
with DC.  Most DCC systems can control one analog engine.  Whether an
engine is compatible with DCC depends upon the design of the engine; some
are, some aren't.  There's a good on-line DCC primer at:
http://www.dcctrains.com/tonystips/dccprimer/index.htm.
-- Bill McC.

 iarwain_8@hotmail.com,
 In a message on 28 Nov 2005 08:39:26 -0800, wrote :

i> I have a silly little DCC question, this seems as good a place as any
i> to ask:
i>
i> You put in the address to the locomotive, then turn the throttle to get
i> it moving.  Now you want to switch to another locomotive, so you put in
i> that address.  Does the first locomotive continue to move at the last
i> throttle setting?  Or do you have to use the digital "speed steps" to
i> let the other loco run while you work with another?
i> I think I read that you have to lower the throttle to zero before you
i> switch to another locomotive, is that correct (which would mean you
i> have to rely on the speed steps to run more than one loco)?
i>
i> I have a fair amount of documentation on DCC, but oddly this has never
i> been clear.  I have a Digitrax Zephyr that I bought to switch over to
i> DCC with, but then my layout met its end and I never got to use it.
i> I'm planning to use it with my next layout, which I'm about to start
i> the benchwork on (bought the lumber over the weekend).

I believe what happens is that the command station (the stationary
unit, not the handheld unit) 'remembers' these settings (throttle
settings).  The command station sends messages to the decoder(s) down
the power bus to the booster unit(s) periodically, which in turn place
these message packets on the power bus (tracks).  The handheld unit
sends changes to the command station, as you make them.  Since the
throttle settings are always in digital form as far as the decoder is
concerned, I'm guessing that the 'analog' DCC handheld units (the ones
with rotary throttle knobs), are converting the rotation to digital speed
steps somehow -- much like a joystick, trackball, or (computer) mouse.

i>
i>                                                                                                

                                    \/
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http://www.deepsoft.com/             ||FidoNet:    1:321/153            
http://www.deepsoft.com/~heller      /\

                               

Must be something about htis thread I don't understand....
I have a DCC controlled layout. (Digitrax). I also have several non-DCC
equipped locos, that run quite well on this system, only have to use address
"00" and can only operate one non-DCC loco at a time. I can run several
decoder equipped locos and a non-DCC loco at the same time.

I have several small IHC locos (steamers) that I have installed decoders in
with no problems. They run great, as long as the wheels and track are kept
clean...

(my 2¢ worth)