Good morning to you all. As I am getting closer to installing DCC on my HO layout (Will either use Digitrax or NCE). I was wondering With DCC can you have a loco sitting on the track and not moving with the headlight on? Also, if I have heard correctly, DCC will control a reversing loop, ie changing the polarity of the track as needed. If this is correct how is it done? Do I need anything special to make this work? I am tired of the train comming to a screeching halt because I forgot to manually change the track polarity. Sorry for the stupid question, but I want to get all I need befor I start to do the changover, I do already have the track wired with 12 ga bus wires. Mike
Mike,
Yes, you can have a loco sitting there with its light turned on, doing nothing else. As for the reversing loop, you need to get an auto-reverser unit such as the PS/Rev from Tony’s Train Exchange. Simple to wire in and it takes care of the polarity problem. All you need to do to prepare for it is to provide an insulated joint at each end of your return loop. Go to Tony’s website http://www.tonystrainexchange.com/technews/new_pscombo_details.htm and you can read the installation directions.
Don Z.
Mike,
Yes you can have a loco sitting on the track, not moving, with the light on.
Tony’s Train Exchange sells an electronic device “PSRev PowerShield Intelligent Reverse/Breaker” that’s automatic. There are also others that sell automatic reversers for DCC such as MRC AD520, Lenz LK100, and Digitrax PM42.
Tony’s is preferred. It uses solid state technology.
Bill
Yes, you can. Each loco (and it’s functions) are controlled individually.
You will need a reversing module, such as the Digitrax AR1 or Tony’s PSRev. Any or all of the Digitrax PM42’s four outputs can also be configured as a reversing section. Basically you insulate the reversing section of track, connect the module’s inputs to the “regular” track and it’s outputs to the “reversed” track.
HTH,
Steve
P.S. There are no dumb questions.
Mike, independent control of the locos lighting effects and sound, if so equipped, are some of the neat features of DCC. I have an E unit with a head light, Mars light and lighting for the cab. All are controlled individually so I can turn them on and off as I want regardless of if the loco is moving or not. You also can control the brightness so you can replicate rules for headlight dimming if you want.
We have some sound-equipped engines with QSI decoders in them that will sit with their idling sounds active as long as the track is powered. Whether or not their headlights come on depends on whether they were turned on at the time the locomotive was parked on the siding. A SoundTraxx Tsunami steam decoder will also become active when there’s power on the track.
With Digitrax, you cannot have a DC loco sitting on a live track so the headlight burns for very long. For your DC locos they need to be parked on a dead track, but they can be run. I just left some of the DC block controls in place so I could turn some parts of the yards off. I do not know about NCE
True enough, but there’s more: Many decoders can be programmed to perform differently, such as having the sound and/or lights come on automatically when the layout is powered-up, or only when you tell the loco to do anything. I prefer the latter, as I don’t want my 18 or so sound locos all idling at once, but you may prefer the opposite.
All the Soundtraxx decoders I have (LCs, DSD-150s, DSXs, and Tsunamis) can be set either way. I think all the BLI/QSIs can also be set either way (all mine can, anyhow). LokSound is a little different, though: they can either be on all the time, or use a specific function key to turn the sound on. That’s fine, sometimes, as the same key can be set to turn on, say, the numberboard lights.
And the trend seems to be for more and more control over such things, so whatever you can’t do with today’s decoders, you may be able to do with the next generation!
With a sound decoder, you not only have the diesel engine idling, but also occasional air release from the air compressor. The headlight can be on, but dim. It will turn bright when the engine starts to move. With steam, you should have air release, air compressor, safety valve and generator sounds if they are appropriate - can’t say for sure, as I am just about to install my first steam decoder in my 2-8-0. I should know for sure next week.