I’m starting my first (N scale) layout, and have a limited budget. So, question: should I save up for DCC, or stick with DC (I’m planning on running two small locos).Thanks in advance.
Stick witth the DC for now.
As funds become available and you gain experience then going DCC may be the way to go.
With a small layout there may not be much advantage in going DCC.
BOB H - Clarion, PA
As a DCC user, I would say go with DCC right away. That way, you can run your “two small locos” independently, regardless of where they are on the layout. To to this in DC, you need to break your layout into multiple blocks, which adds a lot of wiring and control complexity. For a large layout, this can be done in a sensible way, but it becomes difficult on a small layout because the block sizes shrink proportionally. Having a small (5x12 feet, HO) layout myself, I think that DCC is even more advantageous on a small layout than a large one, simply because it’s so much harder to divide into blocks.
If you are planning on going to DCC eventually, you might as well start there. I’m not sure about N-scale, but in HO, the mass appeal of DCC has reached the point where it is cheaper to buy a locomotive with DCC and sound than it is to buy a DC engine and add the sound later. That may be true for non-sound decoders as well, but I haven’t been following that as closely. In any case, it can be a challenge to install a decoder in an HO-gauge engine, and I’d image some N-scale locos would be much more difficult.
While most of us would recommend going with a “starter” system like the Digitrax Zephyr as the best low-cost alternative, you might look around for a used (or maybe even new) Bachmann EZ Command. These units have been criticized because they lack many of the features of more expensive units, and they are not expandable. However, if you can pick up a used one for very little money, you can get the locomotives you want and wire your layout for DCC, and then upgrade to a better DCC system later. I’m suggesting the Bachmann here because people do “outgrow” these units, so used ones appear from time to time, while people just “assimilate” their Zephyrs into larger systems.
Yes, resistance is futile.
As Someone who went from dc to dcc i would go with dcc right away. A lot less wiring and less work. I just set mine up on the weekend and it works great. I went with the zephyr .I have nothing but good things to say about it
I have enjoyed my Bachmann E-Z command for 2 years now in HO scale. With what you stated you it will be the best $50.00 apx used to $100.00 new you can spend. In my case it ran 3 sound HO engines (can control 9 DCC engines) with no problems. No wrong button to push that changes a CV so the engine stops working. Will work with all decoders sound and none sound decoders.
On the Cuda Ken scale I give it a 8 out of 10, but then again I like simple!
Cuda Ken, still a E-Z Fan
If you are just starting out I would stay simple DC until you gain some experience and build a small RR.
How one person can run 2 or more engines/trains on a small layout, I’ll never know. Build you first layout with the “KISS” principal. “Keep It Simple Stupid!” You will be much happier without all the frustrations people have with DCC. I’ve been a model RRer for over 50 years and the last thing I want is DCC. I don’t need it and I don’t want it.
I have a small 18" x 6’ switching layout and I have 3 engines on it right now. Can I run all 3 at one time? NO, and I don’t want to. They are all isolated on their own tracks so I can run any one of them when I want to. And I’m having a blast. There is no way I would pull all my N-Scale engines apart to put a DCC receiver in them. They all run great right now so I’m not about to touch them! Also remember, the smaller the layout, the smaller your engines and cars should be. And buy QUALITY!!! It’s far better to have a few really good engines than a lot of JUNK ones. You’ll be much happier in the long run. The same goes with cars, trucks, couplers, and track. You get what you pay for. I’d rather pay a little more and get better quality than cheap junk.
Good luck,
pc
I’m going to try a different approach.
When you say you are on a tight budget, what does that mean? $70 tight? $170 tight? $270?
What do you have a present that we don’t need to place in a higher priority than DC or DCC systems with wiring, switches, and such? Maybe your DC/DCC system will sit unused until your tight budget can cough up a locomotive? What type of locomotive is it likely to cough up? Would it be at all likely to cough up a DCC ready locomotive or a DCC equipped locomotive? There is a difference.
This is a gentle way of saying it is almost impossible for us to offer you meaningful guidance because we don’t have a defined amount of cash to work with. We don’t know how much you understand about either system…DC or DCC? If you don’t really know much about either way of operating trains, how will be know what to suggest to you that will best meet your desires and needs?
-Crandell
In plain english Crandell really means " how much you got in your wallet kid?"
I echo Cuda’s sentiments.
I have a small HO layout and a small budget. HO was new to me and I decided I wanted DCC fairly quickly in building it.
There are 2 wires to all the trackage, and I can run 3 locos at once on DCC in any direction anywhere on the two small ovals and small switch yard or engine terminal. No blocking, no excess wiring etc. {like with my old N scale DC stuff}.
I went with the Bachmann EZ Command as well. Mine came in a set with the DCC controller and one DCC HO steam loco for around $75.00. Simple to use, inexpensive, great for my small layout and got me into DCC easily enough. It does what I need it to for now and would work for N scale as well. I would not go back to DC.
Bachmann has some fairly inexpensive {at least for Diesel} locos in DCC in HO, I don’t know about N though.
I’m no stranger to limited budgets. My entire monthly income is $675. After paying the bill, buying the groceries, gas for the car and getting what medicines I need thare’s not much left, usually $50 to $100 if I’m lucky. I used DC while I saved money for DCC. My first DCC system was the Bachmann EZ-Command. While it’s extremely limited it was enough for me to figure out what I wanted in a DCC system and two years later I got a Digitrax Zephyr and haven’t looked back.
Post of the day!
I have around 150 saved up, have most of my track, and have the shelf built, and get/earn $30-70 per month. Thanks for the replies, everyone!
Thanks for the information. You could save up for a Zephyr in three months, or you could buy a DC power pack next month. DC powerpacks, basic ones, will run about $60-70, with more complicated and powerful ones running many times that. The Zephyr, if you shop around for the best price, may cost you as little as $140. I believe that M.B. Klein had the newer Bachmann Dynamis system on sale just a couple of weeks back…it may still be reduced. Check out www.modeltrainstuff.com The Dynamis is the new replacement for the EZ-Command, sort of, but much more capable and powerful.
If you have a Hobby Lobby near you, and can get their famous 40%off coupon off thier web page,(usually have one every month, good for a week, just keep checking every week for one) I would recommend the Bachmann Digital Commander set - EZ-DCC controller, 2 DCC installed locos and a few cars. I wouldn’t recommend using the track that comes in the set, as it is steel rail, not nickel-steel and will rust after a while. Last time I looked I think it was about $219, but with the 40% off coupon would be around $132 plus tax. Many people will comment on the quality of the Bachmann equipment, but as a starter set you can’t beat that kind of price and you will have something you can have fun with until you can afford higher quality engines. My point is to get out there and have some fun with trains as soon as you can, and build up from there. Just have fun!
What you don’t want to do is buy a DC controller now, and over the next year or two buy a bunch of DC engines, then complain that you can’t convert to DCC because it would cost too much to convert all the engines you have. Do it now while you only have two engines to convert, then save up your money to buy a factory-sound equipped engine.
I disagree on this. A small layout is where DCC can get the biggest bang for the buck, without spending a lot of bucks. Operation is made easier, especially on a small layout. And the cost of a basic DCC system is not huge compared to the cost of the extra parts to wire even two DC cabs with decent throttles. I understand existing DC using not being interested in changing, but for starting fresh, DCC has real advantages. And in my opinion, those advantages are really apparent on a smaller layout.
Sorry, that’s not correct. It comes with nickel-silver track on gray roadbed. I found it listed at Tower Hobbies for $199.98. Here’s the technical info with the track info highlighted.
FEATURES: **A large 56" x 38" oval track layout (with switch and siding)**
**of snap-fit E-Z Track® with nickel silver rails on molded**
**gray roadbed.**
The Santa Fe GP40 (#3507) and FT-A diesel locomotives are all-wheel
drive & DCC-equipped with 28/128 speed step decoders that are
factory-programmed to address button 3 on NMRA-compliant
DCC systems.
The Bachmann® E-Z Command® Digital Command Control System
incorporates the latest digital technology that's easy to use,
with one-button, on-track programming.
* Plug-and-play compatibility with all DC and DCC systems
* 2/128 speed step control
* 100% backwards-compatible with standard DC (non-digital)
With the DCC On Board technology, you can digitally control
the direction, speed, and lighting of multiple locomotives in N,
HO, and On30 Scale.
3 accurately molded freight cars with blackened metal wheels and
prototypical paint schemes:
- 40' Open Quad Hopper
- 50' Plug-Door Box Car
- 36' Extended Vision Caboose
Locomotive and all cars come equipped with Bachmann's exclusive
E-Z Mate® Mark II Magnetic knuckle couplers with metal coil springs
1 amp AC wall pack power supply and plug
That depends not on your situation now, but what you plan for the future. I started with a small fleet of 2 or 3 HO scale DC locomotives 12-15 years ago and now operate a fleet of about 25 on a small layout. I use DC block wiring and also have a limited budget. I recently explored DCC, was almost positive I was going to purchase and NCE Powercab, and then found a good deal on an MRC Control Master 20. Guess I’m sticking with DC for now. One of the reasons I decided against DCC is that now that I have a large fleet of locomotives the cost of converting them to DCC would be very high (I calculated $350 to convert only 13 of my locomotives). I might end up a perminate DC user and there’s really nothing wrong with that. The reason that I will probably stay with DC is that you can Block Wire a DC layout for independent control just like on a DCC system for a lot less. I use block wiring on my layout and it works great. I also sometimes have problems with computers that I would rather not bring to the layout (when I was looking in the online manual for the NCE Powercab all I saw was a million things that could be programmed wrong). However DC block wiring can be complicated too. The main idea is that if you are planning a large layout and fleet in the future and don’t want to have to do complicated DC wiring then go with DCC now, before you get a fleet that will give you sticker shock when you price decoders. If not DC wiring will offer plenty of challenges (Which can be very entertaining and enjoyable) and will allow you to purchase the supplies for your layout and allow you to expand your fleet quicker. For Me DC is great but I’m not you, so you will have too look at your situation and see what works best for you, the suggestions of all the others here are great to think about and help you decide. Good luck!!
I would go DCC. I’ve being a diehard DC’er for 20+ years with HO and I made the switch to DCC. I should of made the switch years ago but thats another story. Ken I give it a 9 I like simple too. Only draw back is like you said no adjusting cv’s but I got a friend with a Zepher and fix my speed issue’s.
[quote user=“RailfanS”]
That depends not on your situation now, but what you plan for the future. I started with a small fleet of 2 or 3 HO scale DC locomotives 12-15 years ago and now operate a fleet of about 25 on a small layout. I use DC block wiring and also have a limited budget. I recently explored DCC, was almost positive I was going to purchase and NCE Powercab, and then found a good deal on an MRC Control Master 20. Guess I’m sticking with DC for now. One of the reasons I decided against DCC is that now that I have a large fleet of locomotives the cost of converting them to DCC would be very high (I calculated $350 to convert only 13 of my locomotives). I might end up a perminate DC user and there’s really nothing wrong with that. The reason that I will probably stay with DC is that you can Block Wire a DC layout for independent control just like on a DCC system for a lot less. I use block wiring on my layout and it works great. I also sometimes have problems with computers that I would rather not bring to the layout (when I was looking in the online manual for the NCE Powercab all I saw was a million things that could be programmed wrong). However DC block wiring can be complicated too. The main idea is that if you are planning a large layout and fleet in the future and don’t want to have to do complicated DC wiring then go with DCC now, before you get a fleet that will give you sticker shock when you price decoders. If not DC wiring will offer plenty of challenges (Which can be very entertaining and enjoyable) and will allow you to purchase the supplies for your layout and allow you to expand your fleet quicker. For Me DC is great but I’m not you, so you will have too look at your situation and see what works best for you, the suggestions of all the others here are great to think about and help you decide. Good luck!!ALSO you will get many diff