heyy guys ive been thinking of changing from DC too DCC. Is it really that hard? id like too own DCC but 2 things. Its expensive! 2. Converting. let me know and whats the best too go with for a beginner btw i have 12 engines that are all DC and i have remote switches will my switches still work with DCC? Thankyou! and is anoyone heading too the great train expo this weekend if so ill see ya there!
No, it’s not hard, and it need not be expensive.
Use your old power pack AC posts to continue to run your switches.
Consult loy’s toys or tony’s train exchange for decoders and techniques of installation.
Not hard. Mine conversion was just two wires off the DC and put them on the Zephyr. Running in 30 minutes and that included installing a SoundTrax decoder in a 2-8-0.
[#ditto]
It does seem expensive at first, but when you consider how much less wiring, swtiches, etc it takes, its really not that much more. What you can get out of it is light years beyond pure DC. I will convert to, some of my locos already have decoders for use on a club layout, I can still use them on a DC layout because they are dual mode.
And like selector said, get in touch with a good DCC dealer, they are very helpful!
Rick
With all the really cool technology today (mini plugs, low current motors, etc.) no. It isn’t hard at all.
Relatively speaking it is acutally quite cheap. Especially if you consider all the toggle switches, wires, and control panels that are no longer needed.
Back when I started decoders were $50 each, they were the size of a large disposable cigarette lighter, they did motor control only, they were programmed via hardware, and the command unit was $1200 and could only deal with 64 locomotives (and that was when a Kato locomotive was only $40). The wonderfulness of just running the trains rather than flipping toggle switches all the time was soooo worth it. Now you can get a GOOD controller for $150 bucks and get decoders for $15 each. All the wires are standardized colors so they are really easy to “interpret”. I’ve spent more than that for a single control panel for a yard. This is dirt cheap for the operational flexibility one gets.
Nothing says you have to convert them all at once. I would guess that only 5% of my fleet is converted.
You wouldn’t have to change that at all. Just leave the switches connected to the AC output of their current power supply.
Even if it was difficult (and its not really), as far as Im concerned its well worth it. cost-wise also. Youll be running the train not the track.
[#ditto][#ditto]
check out www.wiringfordcc.com too