but my track probably won’t support DCC because it seems to me I’m not going to get away under 200$ buying a generator & command unit v.s. a mere 40$ for a power supply only (please enlighten me if I’m way off:). Plus I currently will only have that loco, so DCC would go to the waste for a while.
Questions:
a) Is there any harm in running the DCC loco on a none DCC layout?
b) How can I confirm that the DCC part of the loco is functional once I receive it? Or for that matter how can I confirm that the loco is indeed DCC? (not that I don’t truest reynaulds.com, nontheless, I feel much better being able to test things properly if I spend that much money instead of having a bad surprise a few years later). And please don’t tell me go visit a friend… I don’t have RR friends (yet). [:D]
c) Once I go DCC, do I have to worry about decoder and command unit compatibility? For example, is it fine if I buy the Fleischmann DCC loco and then in 3 years a Atlas DCC command unit & generator?
As always – you guys are awesome. You are my sunshines!! [:o)]
Any DCC decoder will recognize and operate on DC unless CV29 has been set so that it will not. What value is used depends upon the decoder and the DCC system, but the default value is usually such that it will operate on DC.
A decoder-equipped loco will require a higher voltage to start moving than a DC loco. Atlas “dual mode” decoders (made by Lenz) have a movable plug to select between DCC and DC operation, so that they will start at the same voltage as a non-decoder-equipped locomotive.
Many good train shops will have a test track where you can try out your loco in DCC, and they might be able to help with the CV29 configuration. You might also find a club in your area that could show you the ropes, or just another modeller.
I will warn you. Once you put that baby on a DCC-equipped layout and take the controller in your hand, you will be hooked. Considering all the other costs of model railroading, the entry-level DCC systems don’t come out looking so bad. If you are building a large DC layout with block wiring and multiple controllers, you will save a lot of effort by going with DCC from the start.
I stand corrected I thought only the QSI type loco’s would run on DC. I have looked in the manual for my soundtraxx DSD 100LC, can’t see anything about DC conversion.
Soundtraxx DSD decoders can NOT run on DC, in fact it warns against trying to do so as it will damage the decoder. Most other do though, such as the ESU Loksound, QSI, the new Soundtraxx Tsunami, etc.