I am looking into changing over to DCC control. I want to get away from having to constantly swicth tracks on and off. And not being able to run one engine up to another to link up.
I have heard that you need to have different decoders for different engines, is this true? And are there different decoders for the individual manufactures?
Is there anywhere I could find listings for the different makes and specs?
Greg
Hi Greg, DCC is the way to go, try a few links for DCC systems, Loy’s toy’s is just one, ther are many listed in MR, all are willing to help and answer your questions,
From what I understand, many new engines come “DCC ready”. Which basically means they have some kind of socket that lets you plug in a Decoder and you’re set to go. In this case you have to get a decoder that is made to plug into that socket. Each manufacturer does that part a little different so you’ll need to get a decoder that matches your engines “plug and play” system. But if the engine isn’t “DCC ready” then you’ll have to get a decoder that just has wires that you directly interface to your engines motor and lights. At that point, you just need a decoder that physically fits inside your engine and provides enough current.
When I’m in doubt, I just take my engine to the LHS and they tell me what will and will not work 
If an engine is “DCC Ready”, it has a standard socket that any plug-in decoder from any of the vendors will work with. Most of the DCC vendors also make “plug and play” decoders that work with particular models or brands – for example, Digitrax has a decoder that pretty much drops into models based on the Kato engines, such as the Stewart F-units and older Atlas engines. They also have one that goes into old Athern engines pretty easily.
Loy’s Toys is a good source for DCC info; so is Tony’s Train Exchange. And all the DCC manufacturers have manuals and extensive info about their decoders on their websites. And many of the loco vendors have info on converting their older engines on their websites now, too. So the info is out there, just not necessarily all in one place. [:D]
A quick answer to your question about decoders for your different engines is this (at least this is what I did to get started):
go to google.com and search, for example I typed in “DCC decoders for Atlas RS-1”
Not only will you get a bunch of sites that will most likely tell what decoder to use but you’ll also find installation instructions. Which you’ll quickly realize that there are probably more than one decoder you can use with your locomotive. You can research the decoders OR make use of this wonderful forum and ask people. I guarantee you that someone, somewhere, has the same engine and was asking the same question and will be able to answer it for you.
The other option is, take your loco(s) to the LHS and ask them. But before you buy anything check the prices online, you may be able to get them for less elsewhere.
Check Tony’s Train Exchange in Vermont for a chart on decoder installations. As a general rule, unless you have a locomotive such as an Atlas or Kato diesel for which there is a “plug-n-play” decoder that replaces the constant lighting circuit board, any generic decoder such as the Train Control Systems (TCS) T1 should be a good choice for nearly any installation.
Tony’s is at http://www.tonystrains.com
If you want to see some good decoder installation pictures try the TCS site:
www.tcsdcc.com
Also see the Litchfield Station site (click on Photos) which has some great pictures, parts lists, recommendations:
www.litchfieldstation.com
Ain’t DCC fun!
Peter
ANOTTHER SITE TO TRY FOR VARIOUS INFORMATION IS
http://www.wiringfordcc.com/parts.htm
kvison
Thank you everyone for the great info.
Greg