I am considering converting my small point-to-point layout to DCC and wondered what issues I might face. I have 20 Shinohara (Walthers) turnouts, each with insulated rail-joiners and “one block” D.C. wiring so it should be a simple conversion. Am I overlooking something obvious? My sole reason for converting is the ability to run DCC equipped engines with sound since my switching layout is a one-man, one engine at a time layout.
TRNJ
If it runs well as a DC layout, then you will be ok with DCC. One thing to check, though, is the quality of the signal comming from the DCC system to your layout. This is done by turning on the DCC system and shorting out the rails every few feet or so. If you find a spot where shorting the rails doesnt trip the system, then you need to drop more feeders. With the size of your layout I dont see any issues with signal quality.
Let us know how it goes.
David B
Two related issues you will have to deal with if you convert to DCC,: One, you will kick yourself for not doing it sooner! and two, You will enjoy the sounds so much that you will find youself wanting to operate prototypically and get distracted into learning all about “operation”. Enjoy the learning curves! John Colley, Port Townsend, WA
Part of the “ensuring a good strong DCC signal at the rails” issue so that your decoders actually get the signal is keeping your rail treads in good condition. By that I mean you will probably find you have to do one of two things that isn’t necessarily the case when operating in DC: you must run your trains a bit more frequently to keep the rails from getting slow oxidation on them (darn, eh? [:-,]) or you will actually have to clean your rail rails more often manually.
A caveat: this is what is often reported and agreed on this forum. I have not found it to be much of a problem unless a couple of months go by between operating sessions that include the one section of troublesome track.
I simply disconnected the two wires from my power pack, and connected the two wires from the DCC, closed all the block switches and it ran. I have since added a few more feeder wires, but nothing else. I kept all the block switches so I have a place to store my DC engines. I keep waiting for the dirty track problem, but the only time it happens is when I am doing scenery and get paint or plaster on the rails.
Ditto. I use CRC 2-26 electronics cleaner once or twice a year to clean tracks and wheels.
hehehe being a person who has used command control and sound since the dinosaur ages, I couldn’t agree more. I’m always amazed that people are still discoving the wonders of controlling the trains not the track and the impact of a sound unit has over a mute display. (The "Pine Ridge & North River has been CC since 1979 and sound since 1981).
I agree that this is what I would try & recommend you first. It should be that simple. Many people make it much harder than it needs to be.