sorry for the ignorant question, but I ran into this older gentleman whose a complete train nut. Anyway, he says I should convert my good athern locos to dcc. much easier on the layout and more fun for the runnings. Is it really that easy to do? I figured the kids would get a kick out of running the trains themselves without the need of all the dc problems. what do you guys think. Youve never steered me wrong yet, so I figured you guys will know what to do.
Well… when I was a kid we had a DC layout with a reversing loop, two power packs and a maze of wiring under the control panel. I was about 8 or 9 then and managed to learn to operate it all. Of course my brothers and I had to take turns because we couldn’t run very many trains with that arrangement, but we lived with it.
FastForward approx. 30 years: Now I don’t even have a real layout at the moment, but I’m working on one. I have a DCC setup and love it (that I’ve used on my temporary track setup), if only for the reason that I can run two or three trains on my own, and if I have someone else who wants to run one or more of their own, they can do that on the same track at the same time (although my friends and I haven’t yet gotten that carried away).
If you are moderately skilled in electronics (understanding simple electrical circuits and being able to solder), you can install a DCC decoder in your locomotives. You still need a DCC system to operate the newly equipped locomotives, but they are much simpler to learn than block wiring and controls with DC. If your layout is already wired for DC, you can simplify the wiring and install DCC fairly easily. Reverse loops, Wye’s, Turntables and remote control turnouts require special wiring, but otherwise it’s just hook up one lead to each of the rails and off you go (you may wi***o include more than one feeder to your track, but the wiring is very simple).
If you’ve already wired your layout for DC block control, then I would say that you have the necessary skills for completing a DCC installation (IMHO it’s easier to build than block control).
-Joe
DC … to…DCC, Can I do it?
Yes you can. And a lot easier than you think!
Yes. It’s really that easy to do.
GO FOR IT!
It really simplifies things, and it really won’t cost much, if any more, than all the control switches and wiring, not to mention your time, to get block wiring up and going on DC.
And it allows far more operation than DC. Run more trains easily than DC. And YOU get to run the turnouts, sidings and such so that the young’ns don’t cra***he trains ala Gomez Addams!
One added plus to DCC is THE SOUND!!!
Rotor
Rotor:
The first “cornfield” meet ever, in my 50 years ond layout four layouts, didn’t happen until I went DCC and the grandaughter ran into the wife. Don’t get me wrong - I have DCC and would never think about going back, but sound is the way to go.