This is dumb BUT how do you PARK a DCC locomotive on a siding? In the old days you parked, turned off that siding (block power) and went on about running the other engine. Now with the tracks always hot, same deal, toggel switch on the sidings?
We a have a rail bus route that will park a rail bus on a siding for a long time then be moved again.
Worried about frying something that is all.
Said it was dumb.
Would you just handel this like a garden track?
Yes, we still have toggle switches to cut the power to tracks where trains or locomotives will be sitting for a long time without use. Originally it was to keep the units from overheating, but with the new technology that is less of an issue. I does however keep less of a load on the power supplies. I do not know if it is harder on a decoder to keep power to it constantly or to “restart” it all the time. [?] On some other electronic devices that inital surge of power can be devistating… Of course now-a-days it also has the advantage of cutting all that overpowering NOISE from all the idling locomotives.
Thank you Texas, with 40 plus units I was thinking overload. Did not have any idea about the noise. Doiing all our track testing with DC. All the EXPERTS say that if it works as DC it will work as DCC. I know, no common rail. We are going to use the Atlas Selector for garden tracks and yard.
If you turn off the lights and mute the sound, the current draw is very slight. For long term parking, I’d put in a toggle switch especially if there’s any chance of the parked loco running off the layout if someone elsewhere accidently selects the wrong address and does the usual crank-the-knob action when the loco they THINK the picked doesn’t move.
Side note on power draw, if you have the March MR and read the reviews. the P2K SW8 with QSI STALLED only draws .42amp! The N scale Model power 4-4-0 in the same issue, with no DCC, draws .9 amp stalled.
–Randy
Randy,
It is amazing how far current draw has decreased in the last couple of decades.
I was blown away by the pics of the MP 4-4-0. The write up seemed to indicate that MP is moving up the bar on quality of their products. Very interesting times indeed to be in the hobby!
Thanks folks, I am moving along with the learning curve on DCC and Models in the 21st Century. The LAST model train I ran was in 1975 and that was a fiber tie operation since I used the trck that I had from New Jersey in the early 1960’s. What a BIG change as far as what it can do. Also what it can COST!!
I am putting off the bench work for phase 2 untill I get ALL of phase 1 done (less scenery) the club wants to start on the 2nd phase but that is another 1150 ft of track and 185 turnouts plus 2 more turntabels (Jersey City and Philly). this phase at 650 ft is realy getting to be a part time job to build. I am keeping an hour log like I do when I work on the cars and it is an eye opener.
To REBUILD the engine in the XJS (V12) pull it out, build, put it in was 126 hours. To get the 1st main line and run a train 112 hours (bench work, wiring, soldering track etc) NOT counting the design time.
Yeah and now Atlas dares release Reading GP-7’s in N scale in as-delivered paint schemes. I will NOT switch to N scale, I will NOT switch to N scale…
–Randy
I cut the power to my siding tracks using an Atlas selector. I set the tracks up like common rail. Plastic joiner on one rail and power to the same rail connected to the selector. I run DCC, but I feel more comfortable being able to turn off the power to the loco’s instead if shutting them down or just turning off the lights and sound. I also have some lit passenger cars and cabooses with lights that need to be turned off during storage. Therefore the track power sent by the selector works great.
Bill
Randy, you know they won’t come out with a Reading decorated HO unit until after you switch to N scale [:D][:D][:D]
They already did Reading in HO. A poor second place showing to the Proto2000 ones. Horn’s wrong and the details seem crude.
–Randy
If the units are not running they don’t take much power, even the sound ones. I must have twenty Locos sitting in yards and sidings, no cut-off switches and haven’t had a problem. I even added Gordon (the Big Express Engine) last night, with sound, and no problems. Just guessing, a dozen locos idling with sound brobally don’t take half an amp.
I have about 30 engines parked on my layout right now, including 10 with sound. So far I’ve never managed to have my booster shut down from too much current draw, even while running 10 engines at the same time (haven’t tried running all the sound ones at the same time, but most of them are idling with the sound on). I have a Digitrax 5 amp Chief.
Dacort, Ten with sound? Sounds like me when I want to clear the house and get some work done. What type of sound decoders are you using?
Bill that is what i was thinking but was not sure
Thank you