There have been a ton of questions recently about switching to DCC. The majority of us that have switched seem to be really happy about the switch. I certainly am. Likewise, there are a number of folks, who for really good reasons have decided to stay with DC. I am curious if there is anyone on the list, that has gone to DCC, but for what ever reason, wishes that they had not, and maybe even switched back.
I haven’t switched to DCC yet, but I can think of one reason not to. Cost. I don’t have enough money OR time to put decoders in my locos, rewire the layout, buy the equiptment. I can’t see how anyone would get rid of all that.
Trainboy
I agree with trainboy - the cost of decoders is my only regret. Good decoders are £20 each (Lenz 4 function with BEMF and silent) so fitting out the fleet will take a while. Right now I’m concentrating on my better locos and may actually buy some new ones rather than converting older ones - I can get a Genesis SD70 via ebay for around £40 with a decoder pre-fitted, for example.
DITTO but that BLI sound is awesome.
No regrets at all love the whole concept. New layout, much easier to wire.
Ken.
No regrets at all.
I started with the CTC-80 command control system back in 1990 and switched to DCC in 1994. I haven’t looked back since.
I used cab control on layouts since the 1960s and DCC is a hands down better way to run trains if you are at all into realistic operation.
Trainboy,
Can’t argue with you about the decoders, although some are as cheap as $15. However, if you are already wired up for DC, you should be able to run a DCC system using your current DC wired layout…
Tom
The cost is the only down side. Saying that it has been a very positive experience to date and has made my layout all that much more easier to operate and more interesting. It gets better everyday.
The down side is that it may hurt the hobby overall as some may get overwhelmed by cost and complexity and try something else.
Fergie
This question has come up before, or at least been answered before a few times here on the 'Net, and I think I’ve only read a very small number of folks gone back to DC. The reason given has been that they’ve been overwhelmed with the complexity of programming the decoders or the difficulty of installing the decoders, and are returning to the familiar realm of DC.
Basically, there’s very few people who’s “givens and druthers” would rule out DCC if somebody were to give it to them free. Cost of conversion or entry (entry cost is actually lower than conversion for most folks) is the biggest reason not to go DCC. The perceived value for some folks just isn’t enough to warrant the cost.
When I came back into the hobby after being away for years, I was excited as DCC was just coming out and I bought a MRC 2000 and loved DCC. Now there are even better ones on the market. And now Sound is the big thing! Getting better all the time!
Our club made the switch ( partially) to DCC in December 04. We have had several problems getting the DCC incorporated into the club layout. We also had to return the Command station as it went belly up after about 5 days of hit or miss operations. Debugging has been very frustrating for those club members working through all the issues. We have experienced shorting switches ( resolved with light bulbs wired in…how this works still puzzles me), dead sections of track, mixed blocks with the DC setup and decoders that would not accept programming.
We are learning.
Another problem we had was that half of our DCC order was for UT4R controllers, that are STILL on back order, so only two members of the club have controllers…so few members can run trains. Yes, the expense of installing decoders in our loco fleet will be pricey, but worth it in the long run.
We also are trying to maintain DC along with DCC on the layout. This may not work out for the long run, but that is what the majority of the members wanted. We will see how it goes.
…and the biggest problem…in the mean time, most all other work on the layout has come to a grinding halt. Ops sessions are things of the past, as we try to get DCC working on the entire layout. Hopefully, it will all come together sooner, rather than later.
No need to re-wire, eh? As long as you don’t have any reversing loops, just make one of your cabs DCC, then turn all your block switches to that cab. It’s that easy! But any new work, additions, etc. the wiring just got a lot easier! In fact, with separate blocks and power sources, you can even run both analog and DCC as long as you are careful to NEVER EVER run an engine across the dividing insulating joiners (assuming you insulate both rails and don’t have common rail at present).
Even if you have reverse loops - under DC you would have had to wire in an extra reversing switch. The benefit of DCC is you can flip the reversing switch at any time after the train has passed the gaps, without stopping the train. ANd you only have to flip ONE toggle switch, not two. Still best to get an auto-reverser and elmininate the switch flipping altogether, but you CAN get away without it.
–Randy
JohnT14808 the light bulb works because it limits the current that can flow. A light bulb starting can flow immense amounts of current thus it doesn’t light when their is no short. But once there is a short the element heats up and the resistence increases immensly. The danger of using that approach is that you can actually catch a locomotive on fire if it sits their shorting for too long. I was at a club using rail lynx that found that out the hard way when a switcher melted into a pool.
Our club though has had no major problems. A couple of items had problems from the start but digitrax was very good about making things right. The only person that ever had an issue with the system was silenced when we sat him down and made him run a few trains. He quickly realized that it is extremely easy.
Jesse
A friend tried to DCC on his “completed” home layout then switched back to DC.
His reason, the way he operated the layout (which was fully operational with DC) was not enhanced by the DCC.
He has since moved and his new layout is DCC.
There are too many pluses with DCC when compared to DC. This assumes a layout with more than one loco running.
As others have said, cost is the big hold-back for many modelers, especially the younger folks, and those families with limited income.
Understanding programming is another hold-back for “some” people. Afterall, some people have not learned how to program their VCR or DVD yet, never mind a DCC setup.
Thanks all for responding.
I can clearly see why the creator of a well established DC layout with a large locomotive collection would be resistant to DCC.
Cost (potentially huge)
Complexity
Inability to easily convert cherished locomotives
DCC incompatibility of track/wiring already in place
These issues apply to any sized layout really, and we all have to face them.
What I was really curious about were modellers who had faced these questions, made the jump to DCC and now wished they had not. So far, at least, it would appear that there are not many.
Well,If I didn’t use Sound Traxxx sound system I would revert back to DC.The number one reason on my industrial switching layout I have no real need for DCC since I operate one locomotive…However,even if I did have a larger layout I am still not sure if I would use DCC.I would however consider Atlas’s Quantum Engineer Controller since I am more interest in sound then DCC and this controller gives me everything I need for sound,lights and ect for DC operation for locomotives of any brand using the QSI Quantum System sound…Of course these are my druthers.[:D]
The upside far outweighs the downside.
The downside is:
-cost
-fitting the decoders and sound into locos
-greater sensitivity to track shorts
-more possibility of collisions (i.e. more realism)
-losing the opportunity to tinker with home-made throttles, control systems etc (a personal interest of mine but I live without it beccause of all the benefits)
Definitely cheaper starting out than converting. However, the pluses are hugh. One, you can set up your track and be operational in no time. I set up my Kato track on the dining room table one afternoon and had dcc running in 30 minutes.
Two, much more realistic operation, particularly, IMHO, on small layouts where dc blocking is a pain.
I am building an N scale layout on a 32 x 80 door, and expect to have at least 3 engines running on it as soon as I get the track laid…that is if my vendor can ever get the decoder in my Atlas Shay and find all the parts that fell out…but that’s another story.
For now, I’ll be sticking to stock engines that have drop-in decoders, i.e. light-bar replacements. Then, no hassell.
JB