has any one tried dcc in the large scale , if so can you give me the pros & cons? thanks for your time[:)][:)][:)]
Are we talking conventional DCC or Airwire DCC which is baterry powered? More information please.
And[#welcome]!
convetional dcc, i think i want to try to make 2 to 3 trains run at the same time with the use of bitswitchs
Daniel, I can’ t recall anybody here using it, but I’ve been wrong before. There was a post in this forum inregards to airwire DCC which seemed easier to do based on alot less wiring and programming of the decoder. Rcs is radio controlled battery powered that also allows the operation of more than one train running on the same track. I myself will end up using one of these two systems. I like this way of being battery powerd over track power due to not having to worry about lighting, shorts or cleaning the rails. This also takes a step out of the track laying by not having to wire jumpers, or in my opion the complications of powering a turnout for conventional DCC.
Here’s the link on the Airwire thread http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18504
Here’s a link for the RCS system, Tony is ever so helpful to answer e-mails regarding his system.http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21173
thanks for the info matt, i should have said that i would like the three trains to run without my help, im the guy that likes to just put em down and let em go allday, and i dont think the systems you mention would do that? i have the aristo te on board & track side controllers, i like the idea of battery though.
Daniel, Most guys are getting 2 to 4 hours run time depending on car consist and battery size. You could always change batteries out for longer running time.
Some guys use trailing cars for their batteries, you could always pull into a siding and switch out cars for more operating fun.
You’d probably be better off using the AirWire 900 battery-powered, wireless DCC system from CVP Products (http://www.cvpusa.com) because you never have to worry about cleaning track with battery power, and it has excellent range. I have an AirWire 900 receiver in a Bachmann Spectrum Consolidation that I just finished running during a two-day open house at the Cochise & Western Model Railroad Club on a temporary 20x30 foot outdoor layout. The locomotive with a SoundTraxx Sierra sound system, pulling 5 pieces of rolling stock and a caboose, ran almost continually from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. both days without having to recharge the battery, a 5Ah GelCell. It appears that the battery may even be capable of running this train all week. The controller successfully controlled the train from a distance of nearly 100 feet.
cacole, Your original post kind of sold me on this system. I was disapointed that it didn’t make the current GR artical on radio control.
Daniel
I run Locolinc and batteries for all the positive reasons mentioned above except for one main difference.
Locolinc uses back EMF which means I set the speed at say 40% and it runs at a constant speed up and down grades. (set and forget)
Great for armchair operators, also multiple trains can be set certain distances apart and they will maintain that distance.
Regards
Gary.