I’m looking for help in wiring a new layout. This is my first. I was talked into using DCC because I am modeling a city on a 3’x6’ board. My layout is a fig. 8 with a connecting line between the fig 8 loops. I was told I should use auto reversing but I’m confused on how to control the operation for 3 trolleys running at the same time.
Thanks
Talk to you DCC supplier. If you do not have one, I would suggest Tony’s http://www.dcctrains.com/index.html Others like Loy’s Toys.
I suspect that you can can get away with a basic system, plus a reversing module. There has to be gaps in the rails where the straight connects to the figure 8 - at both ends of the straight…
be prepared to spend some serious money for dcc. if you are new to the hobby,i would suggest you stick to conventional power until you get some experience. if you must go foward , get some advice from the experts as nigel advises.
I will give the reverse advice and say if you are new to the hobby, forget that dc even existed and go dcc. By getting into dcc early in the game, you are saving yourself so much grief. I have met a number of excellent modellers who would love to go dcc but because of owning so many engines feel it would be too expensive to go that route.
If you go dc, eventually you will go dcc, and you will be out of pocket the money you spent on the dc power pack, the Atlas gizmo’s to direct your blocks, etc.
DCC simplifies your wiring, even auto reversing areas such as you are asking about.
I guess if you are asking here you feel - for whatever reason - your LHS isn’t that helpful. Why not draw up a rough plan (nothing fancy) of your track and get a friend to scan it for you and store it at www.trainboard.com in the “Imaging” section. Then provide a link to the pic and we can help you to identify and solve your reversing loop problems here in this forum.
With the auto reversing decoders you can get for your layout, running your trolleys will be a lot simpler than with block dc.
You don’t say if you actually bought a dcc unit; if you did, what did you get? That info will be helpful to have.
By all means start with DCC.
A starter set is not that much when looking at all the dc products (not to mention time )
I started with DCC when I got SERIOUS with the hobby and I wish I had started sooner.
If you do have a dc power pack you can use it for a power supply for DCC.
I suggest Digitrax for upgrade potential and Loy’s Toys for supply.
I’m not a DCC guy and circumstances preclude me from doing so, but I still stand a good chance of climbing that grade via DC into HO heaven as long as I’m the only loco on the track.
If I had to do it all over again, I would go DCC. As Nigel suggested" Tonys" is a top professional
outfit.
a few years ago i was at a local train show, and a couple of guys were talking about dcc-i said i didnt think i could ever do that, seemed too hi-tech, well one of the guys said-do it , you wont be sorry, its easy and a lot more fun-a few months later i took the plunge, and have never looked back-go with dcc, you wont regret it.
I’m looking for help in wiring a new layout. This is my first. I was talked into using DCC because I am modeling a city on a 3’x6’ board. My layout is a fig. 8 with a connecting line between the fig 8 loops. I was told I should use auto reversing but I’m confused on how to control the operation for 3 trolleys running at the same time.
Thanks
Talk to you DCC supplier. If you do not have one, I would suggest Tony’s http://www.dcctrains.com/index.html Others like Loy’s Toys.
I suspect that you can can get away with a basic system, plus a reversing module. There has to be gaps in the rails where the straight connects to the figure 8 - at both ends of the straight…
be prepared to spend some serious money for dcc. if you are new to the hobby,i would suggest you stick to conventional power until you get some experience. if you must go foward , get some advice from the experts as nigel advises.
I will give the reverse advice and say if you are new to the hobby, forget that dc even existed and go dcc. By getting into dcc early in the game, you are saving yourself so much grief. I have met a number of excellent modellers who would love to go dcc but because of owning so many engines feel it would be too expensive to go that route.
If you go dc, eventually you will go dcc, and you will be out of pocket the money you spent on the dc power pack, the Atlas gizmo’s to direct your blocks, etc.
DCC simplifies your wiring, even auto reversing areas such as you are asking about.
I guess if you are asking here you feel - for whatever reason - your LHS isn’t that helpful. Why not draw up a rough plan (nothing fancy) of your track and get a friend to scan it for you and store it at www.trainboard.com in the “Imaging” section. Then provide a link to the pic and we can help you to identify and solve your reversing loop problems here in this forum.
With the auto reversing decoders you can get for your layout, running your trolleys will be a lot simpler than with block dc.
You don’t say if you actually bought a dcc unit; if you did, what did you get? That info will be helpful to have.
By all means start with DCC.
A starter set is not that much when looking at all the dc products (not to mention time )
I started with DCC when I got SERIOUS with the hobby and I wish I had started sooner.
If you do have a dc power pack you can use it for a power supply for DCC.
I suggest Digitrax for upgrade potential and Loy’s Toys for supply.
I’m not a DCC guy and circumstances preclude me from doing so, but I still stand a good chance of climbing that grade via DC into HO heaven as long as I’m the only loco on the track.
If I had to do it all over again, I would go DCC. As Nigel suggested" Tonys" is a top professional
outfit.
a few years ago i was at a local train show, and a couple of guys were talking about dcc-i said i didnt think i could ever do that, seemed too hi-tech, well one of the guys said-do it , you wont be sorry, its easy and a lot more fun-a few months later i took the plunge, and have never looked back-go with dcc, you wont regret it.