What Paul said. Cost is a barrier. I switched to DCC in order to use my locos at our club. DCC and wifi might be an overkill for an oval, but if you operate two locos at a time (e.g. main+switcher or 2 on the main), DCC makes operations much more fun. Yet again, some folks don’t operate that much, even with DCC. I sometimes wonder why they bother with it…
Simon
For my normal 1’x10’ industrial switching layout I preferred DCC because I get get all of the sounds like EMD transistion and the choice of horns and rate of bell ring…
My new 1’ x 8’ ISL I will use DC instead of DCC.
Why is that you may wonder?
I will be using a brass United Models Santa Fe 1950 Class 2-8-0 with a Pittman DC 70 motor. Since this engine is at least 57 years old and still runs like a swiss watch I do not wish to install a can motor and sound decoder.
Be that has it may.
I started with DC and switched over to DCC. The latter is far less forgiving with errors. I can’t tell you the frustrations I experienced with a short on a turnout. For two weeks the system registered a short when it was actually insufficient number of feeders.
It depends on the locos whether you can add decoders. What a fear I had putting in a decoder for the first time. The two Athearn DCC-ready locos are simple to add a decoder. You open the loco shell and plug n’ play.
To program a loco, you need to have some extra track and alligator clips. Isolating the track avoids potential issues on the mainline.
For brands, I can only speak about the NCE starter system. They have an outstanding customer service. Additionally, the system is very easy to use. I watched their youtube vids and was operational in 10 minutes.
By all means get yourself a book on DCC wiring and check out the online resources. Expect to get overwhelmed with the options. Plenty here can give more informative answers.
Basically, you have two buss wires and feeders from the track to the buss. The former are larger gauge than the latter. Whatever colors you pick for buss and feeders is your call. Just make sure you write it down and remain constant. Otherwise, you’ll experience a short. I plead the 5th on that! To avoid that and other issues, test as you go! In other words, connect one feeder (not even a set) and check that you get power. Never test without having the power on to ensure you are good.
DCC wiring is easier. On a small layout, if you don’t have a reverse loop, you could do it all as one block and still be able to operate multiple engines independently. You might separate one side-track or spur track to use as a programming track.
DCC doesn’t automatically mean sound. You should be able to add non-sound decoders to your engines fairly easily, and there are plenty of new engines that you can buy with DCC installed. In N-scale, I would look into some sort of ‘under the table’ sound system, if you want to go with sound. MRC has a new sound gizmo that I’m interested in trying, costs under $50. It’s basically a sound decoder and speaker all in one that you can place under, over, or near your layout to provide sound synched up to an engine.
DCC can make your engines run more smoothly, with starting and stopping momentum, Back EMF so engines maintain a steady speed going up or down hills, and “keep alive” circuits to keep things going over a dirty spot or going over an unpowered frog.
Odds are that sooner or later you’re going to go to DCC, so why not do it now?
A few more thoughts:
Some of the best “bang for your buck” with DCC comes on a small layout where you might desire to operate several locos in close proximity to each other.
DCC equipment and wiring for a small layout, without signaling, detection, CTC, multiple reverse sections, multiple power districts, etc, is both simple and relatively inexpensive.
It is in this application that the cost difference between DC and DCC is relatively small. Especially if we assume the small layout only has a small roster of locomotives…
And, if you do like onboard sound, a small layout with only one or two locos operating at the same time, is the best “showcase” for onboard sound.
As layout size AND/OR complexity increases, the cost, and wiring complexity can increase exponentially, with DCC or DC.
Large DCC layouts require power buss wiring, power districts with circuit breakers, additional boosters, possibly multiple auto reverse modules, etc.
And larger layouts generally have larger fleets of locos…
If I were to switch to DCC tomorrow, I would need to begin the installation of 145 decoders. Now some will say don’t convert all your locos, get rid of the older ones, you don’t really need that many locos.
BUT, who are they to define my modeling goals?
My new layout, right now in the planning stage, construction to begin soon, will stage about 35 trains, have a 240’ double track mainline, and have several industrial belt line switching areas separate from the mainline, as well as a 22’ long, 8 track, freight yard.
Average freight train length = 35 cars.
The typical freight train will require 3-4 powered diesel units or two medium sized steam locos to handle the 2% grades.
25 freight trains x 3 locos = 75 locos
10 passenger trains x 2 locos = 20 locos
10 self propelled passenger motor cars (RDC’s, doodle bugs)
Extra locos for operational
I have to agree with Sheldon’s first post: if you want sound, you want DCC.
As for the OP’s layout, it’s going to be N scale, 2’ or 2.5’ wide by 8’, with a continuous loop and a couple of switching areas.
I’m not sure of the sound capabilities in N scale, but the operational possibilities are otherwise well suited to DC - two wires to the track , and perhaps a couple of On/Off switches to facilitate parking one train while doing some switching.
If you do want sound, the DCC wiring would likely be the same, minus the two On/Off switches.
Wayne
[quote user=“BigDaddy”]
For a small layout, I’m not so sure you do need DCC. There are long term respected forum members, who have big layouts, and don’t think they need DCC. But back to your situation;
I you are only running one train at a time, even if it’s consisted, DCC is not an advantage.
These days, some DC locos have sound. Not as much or many choices of horns, engines as DCC, but there is sound. Not everyone likes sound. I like the sound and the variety of options in DCC. But do you need/want it?
To independently control two different locos in DC, the wiring gets more complicated. That’s called cab control and you need blocks, separate segments of track that can be controlled by one controller or the other. That takes more physical wiring than DCC.
Here is where DCC shines. DC controls the tracks, DCC controls engines. You can tell multiple locos to do different things, all at the same time. However it’s a bit like juggling. How many balls can you keep in the air beyond two? Whatever that number is, you don’t need any extra wiring for DCC.
Lighting and turnout control generally need a separate power source for DCC.
DCC engine conversion; It can be done. Lots of Youtube videos Nscale is a little different than HO. If you need to make room for speakers, that is a problem. Both can be fiddly and if you don’t have soldering skill or are poor at it, it can be a problem. The electrical geeks love it.
Except for the DCS system, generally everyone is happy with their brand. Here is where the discussion takes on religious overtones. I’m not going there. The 3 major starter systems in the US all have a different feel but all get the job done.
If you don’t have a retail train store or local club, watch a bunch of youtube videos and see how th
Thanks rrbell, I’ve never been recommended for a Sticky before. Of cousre I immediately spotted a typo.
Normally, I’m a DCC guy, but as I started typing, I started thinking, if you don’t need a team of 12 guys to run your layout, and if you aren’t enamoured by all the sound and sound effects, maybe DCC is a waste of your money.
Price matters and not everyone can afford the top of the line. It’s not just the cost of a DCC starter system, the locos are more expensive, especially if you want more than the “sound value” entry level. Then you need the autoreversers, the frog juicers, the static dcc controllers.
I left MR when CTC was just starting. I came back just 3 years ago and DCC was brand new to me. The people who like sound, convinced me that I ought to try it and I liked it. Not everyone does and I get that too. Some people love smoke, steam or even diesel smoke effects. It doesn’t float my boat, but it’s a choice available for those that like it.
I guess you could say it’s like single malt scotch. For the people that like Johnny Walker, they shouldn’t buy Laphroaig.