Is there anyone out there that would be willing to explain what DCC is in simple language, how it’s installed, programed and controlled. I have a friend that I’ve tried to relate this too, but can’t seem to get it across to him so I thought I’d give you folks a crack at it…
Thanks in advance.
trainluver1
Ok,
I am no expert but here is my take.
Installing the system is super easy. Wiring is as simple as putting power to the track. No blocks, no grids. no pain.
Programing is a bit complicated becaue it can depend on the system you use. If you with a simple syste, such as the Prodigy, you simply turn on the power pack, switch to program mode, take the dail switch and put it on to the number you want, say loco 5, and hit program. Done, when you want engine 5 turn dail to 5, and hit a function, (i.e. light or direction)
In the premise of the DCC, you can control multiple locos on the same track. Up to 99 different engines at once (with the proper system) Basically, you send the control siginals through the rail and tell the engine what to do. track is constanlty powered, you tell the engine (useing the decoder chip inside) how much power to take, hence how fast it goes. Alot of companies offer engines with decoders all ready in them, or engines that it is very, very easy to install the deocoder into. In fact, with 3 of my Atherns, it took longer to get the silly shell of the frame then it did to install the decoder.
I hope that helps, Ia m fairly new the DCC things and probably did not give the best description. But I was a complete Novice or “rookie” to it all, and have loved it and foudn it easy to use. It great haveing a switcher work the cars onto the main track, then hit the button and take control of the mainline power and go, with out haveing to worry about blocks and switches. Once you go, you will never go back.
You coudl always hit the search engine for this forum (idea just came to me) and look up previous threads that I am sure will have better info than me.
Well that’s going to take a lot of messages. There are entire books on the subject.
Simple, with no technical details? Try this:
With DCC, there is a constant voltage on the track. A device called a decoder is installed in every loco. It connects to the track pickups and to the motor. The decoder does not allow any power to the motor until it is commanded to do so. Each decoder has a unique address that is used to control it.
To run a train, the user selects the desire address on their throttle. When you make changes on the throttle, this tells the command station to send the approriate commands to the selected address. The command station sends this signal to the booster, which amplifies it and sends it out on the track. The decoder that has the desired address ‘sees’ the commands and responds. A loco that has a decoder with a different address will not respond to these commands. This is how you can have multiple locomotives ont he same track but control each one independently.
A) It’s early for me
B) technical details have been purposely omitted
C) I hope this helps
–Randy
Sam,
John and Randy just gave you good general explanations of what DCC is and can do. Even more simply put:
With DC, you run your layout rather than your train; with DCC (and an installed decoder), you run your train rather than your layout.
The beautiful thing about DCC is that you don’t have to be so concerned about blocks and relays and switches. You can actually run two locomotives INDEPENDENTLY on the SAME track going OPPOSITE directions. Wiring is much more simplified but doing it RIGHT is STILL important for good operations.
Now, you can actually get your DCC feet wet without having to mortgage the house. It was a no-brainer for me…
Tom
Here’s a link to a website with a wealth of inofrmation on DCC-
http://www.loystoys.com/dcc-topics.html
Doug
I always wondered what became of Pugsly Adams.
http://www.litchfieldstation.com/
Follow the University Button and there is a great PDF with I think a good explanation with a bit more detail.
Here is a link to Tony’s “DCC for beginners” - lots of great info !!!
With the older DC system, you ran up power, or reduced it, and the motors in the loco(s) all responded. If you had one loco, or 16, they all responded to your cranking up the voltage. So, as Tom has stated, you control the track, and the locos just dance to the volume.
In DCC, the track is always at a given voltage (I believe), so it’s always under power in running mode. But, none of the locos will do anything until you address them by name (or number, really). You have to ‘call’ them individually, and order them to perform a function a certain way. So, you tell loco 12 to reverse and accelerate to a scale speed of 10 mph, and then call up loco 556 to go forward at 30 mph. Each will do as it is directed until you input a change in parameters. You can’t change those paramaters unless you recall (address) the loco. If it don’t hear you call, it don’t come runnin’.
Not sure if this added anything, but…it’s good for me to articulate it if nothing else.
Okay Robert. Are you getting it now ?. I tried to tell you it wasn’t all that complicated…
trainluver1
Uh, oh. I think Sam’s finally snapped. Anyone here named Robert???
Tom
Hey Tom!,
Robert is the guy that I was trying to explain DCC to recently. I wrote what I did in hopes that he would see it. Sorry if it sounded odd.
By the way. I lost it a long time ago…
trainluver1
Sam,
I was just joshin’ with you. I remembered the original post and figured Robert was the friend you had us explaining/simplifying things for. (I knew I should have put a [:P] or [:o)] or [:D] to make things clearer.)
Tom