It struck me there is no primer here of do’s and don’ts for building a railroad for DCC operation. Things like where to end blocks, etc. I think we need to start a file of tips for those about to attempt a new railroad. Reinventing the wheel isn’t my idea of progress. Any tips anyone would like to tell us?
I agree totally. Maybe a whole heading under Model Railroader Forums strictly for DCC discussion. It would be a one-stop resource for anyone looking to compare products, installation techniques, and troubleshooting. Plus, it would eliminate the repetition of “What DCC do you recommend?” headings. MR Staff, forum members; what do you think?
Norm & Mike,
I like your ideas, fellas. Norm, just a suggestion though. There’s a post with a similar heading as yours. I could retitle this one something like, “Idea for new forum heading - desire feedback”. Or, “DCC and the forum”. I only clicked on your post to see if yours was any different than jwar’s.
Tom
That would be interesting. A separate forum for DCC would be very useful. How about it MRR?
If any of us have a voice in opting for a separate forum for DCC - count me in. I like the idea. I’m not there yet, but am reading up on it … so you KNOW what’s about to happen!
In the meantime, ndbprr’s idea for creation of a “file of tips” sounds like the way to go. One stop shopping, so to speak …
See ya![tup]
Add my vote for a DCC forum.
Prompter
Me Too
A list of do’s and don’t’s would have been wonderful when I started into DCC. Most of the information is out there but scattered over many areas and time frames. Sure might have saved me much stumbling not to mention the $ which I write off to experience.
Bill Butler
I agree, a seperate DCC section would be a good idea. There’s enough DCC posts made here and onthe general discussion forum that putting them together in a DCC section makes a lot of sense.
–Randy
Count me in.
Another popular forum has a dedicated DCC thread, and the first post is called a ‘sticky’ post that stays at the top of each new page. it is designed to get newbies to look there first to get inroductory material.
One thing I found there was that the discussions quickly become arcane and laden with abstruse taxonomies that drive the newbies away…sort of like I illustrated with this sentence. The whole subject is not highly intuitive, and it gets very taxing to try to follow the reasoning why, for example, a auto-reversing module is needed for “Y’s” and turntables. This particular subject showed up recently on “The Guage”, and the proponents of each side of the argument were firm because their methods, with or without AR modules, worked! Later explanations clarified that some turntables don’t need the ARs; still, a newby might shudder and leave the DCC stuff before getting to the resolution.
Mu two-cents worth.
You guys are on target, a DCC forum topic would not only be interesting, I think it would generate massive hits. I also think it would be great for the hobbie and a benifit to the Model Railroder mag as well, as a highlight to the DCC Corner Dept articles.
Just my 2 cents…and non DCC yet… at that…John
I think it would be wise to have several DCC related threads. Otherwise your are right back where you started. Such as one on recommended brands, One on Do’s and Don’ts, One on proven hints and Tips. But keep them edited to the true topics and not the inevitable pages and pages of follow up posts that make it hard to find aything.
For instance RR Line forums have tips on Workbench tips. The forum masters keep it limited to just the ideas. One right after another with out the constant posts well you could do this or do this ot try this.
Otherwise it just becomes anothe topic and people get tired of reading through them to find the facts.
Cletus
Well my original post asked for tips when building a railroad for DCC. So far there are none!!!
OK, here’s what I did. The first phase of my layout is a double main loop with a small yard and some sidings. I know that eventually I will want multiple power districts, with electronic circuit breakers like Tony’s and additional boosters. With that in mind, I put gaps at the crossovers between the inner and outer main, and between the main and the yard lead. Thus I have three sections, outside main, inside main, and yard.
I know I will want detectiona nd signalling, but at this point I don’t even have a complete plan for the overall railroad, so I have no idea where the block gaps will need to be for detection. So I cut no other gaps anywhere at this point. When the time comes, I will go back and cut those gaps and wire in the detectors.
So the only ‘planning’ I did for DCC was to keep in mind where the power districts would be. I’m clear on where that’s going up to the next phase which runs down the short wall to the start of the main yard.
–Randy
Tips,
12 or 14 gauge buss wires run around the layout
read a couple of basic layout wiring books, if you are rusty or new to the subject
Buy Dcc friendly turnouts if you can
locate the power booster near the middle of the run if you can
put kill switches on storage sidings
break the layout up into isolated districts so you can track down shorts (very large districts)
get to know some guys in town who use your system. go operate on their layouts
buy a variety of brands of decoders and see which ones work best with your system (they will all work, but in my experience some will work better than others)
don’t put decoders in locos that don’t run well in analog mode (regular DC)
use a continuity meter when laying track to check for shorts (around switches)
know how to correctly wire swtiches and what the various modifictions for DCC would be. Most of them are in my opinion basically good switch wiring.
keep an old DC power pack around to test locos before they are converted
make your first decoder installation in a decoder ready (DCC ready) loco.
start with one booster, unless your layout is huge.
These are a few of the things that I could think of off of the top. Some will not agree with things on this list and there are many ways to do stuff. As you get into the subject and actually get experience with DCC, you will form your own opinions about all of this
Hey guys, I can’t believe this, we in the UK are ahead of you guys in the US. We have a new forum started in the UK (www.rmweb.co.uk) and it contains a dedicated DCC forum. The forum only started last month (using similar software to this forum) but is already generating interest. Go have a look - no passports needed!!!
Keith
I have a DCC forum on my web site as well, but I couldn;t handle everyone here goign there, not having a real boradband connection really, well, this is a family forum so I will just say it stinks. Along with Verizon and my friendly local cable provider who both decline to service this neighborhood.
Randy, I am about to install a Digitrax SEB. I have used electric EZ-Track turnouts. Do I have so isolate them in any way, or just run them as is? I have no power districts, full (I hope) continuity around the loop and on all spurs (no gaps). Wiring is bus with feeders every few feet.
Thanks for your reply.
-Crandell
As long as you have no reverse loops or wye track arrangments, you should be fine. EZ Track has insulated frogs so there is no worry about extra gaps.
–Randy