Ok as isaid earlier i am a teen tring to build a layout. I tried the teen forum but i do not think i got the right one. But anyways should i use Dc or DCC on ho scale layout and if dcc what is the cheapest dcc system?
You’re probably going to get some proponents tell you one or the other is the best in any case but the answer to this question is not a simple yes or no, but “it depends” on your circumstances. What do you have now in regard to locomotives and power packs? How much money can you afford to spend? Some basic insight in to what you plan to do would also help guide you.
Check out the Teen Association of Model Railroaders via e-mail contact at tamr@modelrailroadnews.com
or see if your local public library has a copy of Model Railroad News, a monthly magazine. The TAMR writes a montly column in it.
What is your budget for electrical components? Also, how big of an area is your layout going to occupy? DCC is easier to wire because it does not require all of the blocks that DC needs. How many trains do you intend to run at the same time? What is your level of experience in wiring? These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself before you invest in any system. Additionally, you should be looking for a relatively inexpensive system that works reliably. Nothing turns people off of model railroading like the inability to get the trains running. By the way, are there any model railroad clubs in your city? This is a great source of information, experience and friendship.
DCC allows you to operate multiple trains on the same stretch of track at the same time. It’s wonderful when you have a bunch of people over. You can have thru trains, peddler freights, yard switching, express passenger runs, all going at once, on the same track. Each engineer gets a hand held throttle which operates his train.
If you are operating by your self, it doesn’t do all that much for you.
It is expensive. Each locomotive requires a $20 decoder installed inside it, plus the “stationary” electronics, plus a hand held controller for each operator.
It’s perfectly feasible to start off running DC and upgrade to DCC when finances permit and/or the need for multiple train operation becomes urgent.
E Dog, where do I start, or should I where should you start? This hobby can cost out the Caboose, or done on a shoe string. I have done both and have enjoyed it both ways.
First thing I would do is do a lot of reading, figure out a budget you can spend a month, what scale and how much room you have for the layout.
A good starter power supply will run around $40.00 or so. I have a MRC 2500 that worked well. I was DC for a few years and the 2500 will run 3 to 4 engines. But, they are all controlled by same power pack so you cannot stop one and the other keep going with out extra wiring. Not hard, but not as easy as DCC. Before I finally went DCC, I had spent $200.00 in DC power supply’s. I have a good sizes layout and 3 lines.
Then I went DCC, and went cheap. Got a Bachmann E-Z Command from a member here for $30.00. You should be able to get a used one off E-bay for around $50.00 or new for $100.00. Many will sell the E-Z command short, there are things it cannot do that more expressive one can do like read and write CV’s. I was happy with mine for 3 years. Will run 3 sound engines at the same time.
Now, back to budget. DCC decoders will run a extra $17.00 to $30.00 for none sound ones. If there is a problem, you could burn some up, I have. DC engines on the other hand don’t eat decoders.
If I never went DCC and stayed DC I would still enjoy trains. I am glad I did go DCC, but at the time I had the extra cash. So it all boils down to your budget.
Good luck, read, lean, ask questions and [#welcome] All so use Capitol I’s, my pet peeve.
Cuda Ken
You don’t have to have many engines with DCC. You can have fun with one engine.
E.g. this switcher or this. With sound and light there’s more fun, running your engine with your ears…
Wolfgang
Whether to go DC or DCC will finally depend on how you plan to operate your layout in the future. For a “cheap” start, DC will do, especially if you have to observe a strict budget. DCC is a little more expensive right from the beginning, but will save a lot of wiring effort in the long run. I find that controlling a loco with DCC is more fun for me, as I can play with the CV´s to give the loco a more realistic performance, in terms of acceleration and deceleration. I also enjoy sound quite a lot, for which DCC is still a must to have, IMHO.
DCC starter sets are reasonably priced - my preference would be the Digitrax Zephyr, as it can be extended into a larger system quite easily.
Since you said in another post that your layout’s only going to be 4’ x 4’, I would go with DC. You probably won’t be running more than one train at a time in that space, and DCC is most useful for running multiple trains at the same time.
Edig -
Here’s the thing in a nutshell.
DCC will allow you more “operational” options but can be trickier to install and will be more expensive.
DC will require more thought in planning (blocking) and is cheaper and easier (IMHO) to implement.
Me, being cheap, I’ve stayed with DC and blocking. There are a couple of spots on my layout where DCC could make life a lot easier, but being able to figure out how to get a train from point A to point B with other trains in the way or with limited blocking can be half the fun.
Your call, this is a HOBBY and there’s no right or wrong.
Archer
The above replies are right on but I’ll add my 2cts worth.
I started my layout with DCC and sound locos and have never looked back. When one of them started running without sound it made me realize the importance of sound more than ever.
look at this way. DCC is to color TV as DC is to black and white. Would you buy a black and white TV?
Bob
It has been a day, and C Dog is still at post 4. I would guess he has moved on.
Thank you to everyone who has responded. I am not going to make my layout dcc. I will make it dc. However i am saving up money to buy Bachmann dcc ez-comand set it has 2 engines and 4 cars.
I suggest you invest in something of higher quality. You will quickly find that the Bachmann locos in that set aren’t what would be termed as good quality and will quickly break down. Almost any other brand of loco would be better. I’ve had good luck with Athearn, Proto 2000 and Atlas. They cost more but they last longer too.
I do both.
I can run only one train at a time on my home layout, so I chose to stick with DC. The model railroad club I belong to has two DCC equipped layouts, one in HO and the other in N. So I built up a fleet of DCC equipped locos to run on the club’s HO layout and I have a fleet of N scale locos and cars to run on the N layout.
Bachmann makes some great engines. I’m not sure about this set, but I’ve purchased their Spectrum line in the past and liked it.
Bachmann does make some great engines… but most of them are under the Spectrum line, which is a higher price point. I operate 4 of them myself. But I would characterize the non-Spectrum models as “fair to middling”.
Also, someone said above that DCC is a waste if you operate trains by yourself. I heartily disagree with that. I have a fairly small layout (6’ x 9’), and generally don’t have more than one or two engines actually in motion at any one time, but just being able to have them all on the track and use the throttle to pick the one I want to move next is a great option.
I got back into the hobby using DC and dismissed DCC as an expensive luxury. Boy was I wrong. I managed to score a slightly used MRC Prodigy Express for less than $75, and then $20 bucks a loco to upgrade engines (although if you can’t solder, find someone to install them – my LHS will do it for $10). If you’re on a budget, save up and spend the extra money. You won’t regret it.
Bachmann’s Spectrum locos are fine. I have one myself. But I also have quite a few of the DCC OnBoard locos and nearly every one of them has been a disappointment. Even a DCC converted Athearn blue box runs much better.
Hi
I will start whith DC wiring, but I will do it to be upgraded to DCC in the future.
If you use DC try to use a “two wires” block wiring, no common rail, so you have already all what you need for a future DCC approach.
Even it’s a little bit more complicated to do, the two wires approach will help you to find much easier some electrical errors in each block.
Second if you don’t want to be dissapointed buy good brand of track, lay it and check, recheck the laying.
Buy also some good brands of locos; the ones in the sets are not often the top, speaking about running qualities.
Good luck
Marc
If you want to Run two trains at once, then DCC. DC is cheaper, but has much fewer benefits. DCC allows you to run more than one train at once, it allows you to have sound, and you can program any conceivable aspect of the train from type of whistle to a momentum factor (how long does it take the loco to slow to a stop).