Making the switch - DCC to DC (yes, you read that right)

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
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Hi all,

In planning for my new HOn3 D&RGW layout, I’ve realised that I don’t actually need DCC controls for it. I’m planning a freelanced mine, served by a spur coming off the Crested Butte branch. As I’ll only be running one train at a time, with brass locos and cassette staging, DCC may actually be too much for my requirements.

I’m planning on building the DC throttle myself - PWM memory walkaround, with variable intertia.

Just wondering, is there anyone else out there who’s gone from DC to DCC, then back to DC?

Cheers,

tbdanny

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Nothing wrong with going that way for sure. If you have the DCC equipment there’s nothing wrong with keeping it and adding a DC controller as well. Wiring is the same. Just put a double pole double throw switch in to select which one you’ll use. This way you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

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Brakie went from DC to DCC, and then reverted…about five years ago now, maybe more.

It might be an idea to keep both capabilities for some flexibility. But there are many, many hobbyists out there who are very happy operating in DC. Most of us playing this day started there.

-Crandell

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I have decided that I am going to be wiring my DCC layout for “DC” block control. I put that in quotes because I’m not really planning on using DC, although-- in for a penny, in for a pound-- I’ll probably go ahead and wire it up so I can use a DC cab, my real goal though is just to be able to shut off the power to sections of the layout I’m not actively using. Particularly sidings (blocks) used for loco storage and whatnot. But I got to thinking about it and decided that it wouldn’t be a bad idea just to add the blocks in all around. It won’t add that much extra in overhead since I’m planning on wiring every segment of track anyway.

One other aspect that occurred to me is that it might make it easier to automate staging operations.

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Been there, done that.

I am currently "back to DC, but only as long as I need to save up the funds to go DCC again. Unfortunately, I had to sell all my stuff some time ago, I now I am re-starting with the little means I have.

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Well, we each makes our own choices, for our own reasons, and if we have regrets later, we have only ourselves to blame. Personally, having grown up in this hobby, I have been in HO since 1958, and was in 2 rail with outside rail pickup O gauge for most of my life before then. My dad was a big O gauge fan. I have been through enough DC operations to the point that when the first non DC control systems starting appearing in the 80’s I went to Dynatrol, others went to CTC whatever and I think in my case it was the smartest thing I ever did. Even better, when Dynatrol started to fold up in 1999 period, NCE provided a dual decoder that would recognize DCC or Dynatrol, so I had an easy conversion.

Nope, I will never, never, never go back to block control and DC operations. Those who like DC, more power to you.

Bob

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Possibly an exorcism might be in order?

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An exorcism of what from whom?

Well, I still use DC, and have no plans to change - ever. I understand those of you who like and use DCC, in fact I use it on a regular basis on a number of layouts. It has its pros and cons.

My reasons for staying with DC have been explained many times, my views on control systems are well known to most regulars on this forum.

But to repeat, the specific operational goals of a layout, combines with the tastes, wants, needs, budget, skills, etc, of the layout owner, all work together to establish what control system is best in a given situation.

Example - I know a guy with a basement sized, walk around, point to point, industrial switching layout. His control system - one Aristo Craft Train Engineer wireless radio DC throttle. He has no “blocks” on his mainline (or block toggles to throw). He does have some kill switches to park multiple locos on some sidings.

If we assume for a minute the owner of the layout discribed above has no interest in sound, and that he is completely happy operating his one train at a time on his single track beltline railroad, what would he ever need DCC for?

Not for slow speed, as an Aristo Craft Train Engineer user myself I can assure you the slow speed performance of the full voltage pulse width modulated output of the Train Engineer provides performance on a par with DCC.

Not for cost savings - his one throttle cost less than $200.

Not for simple wiring, he needs only two wires and his kill switch wiring is all simple SPST local wiring that simply opens/closes a rail gap.

He needs DCC why? Because its “in”? Because he needs to “belong”?

As for me:

My layout goals include signals and CTC operation of the mainlin

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Wow. A simple 7 word sentence elicits a full page response.

Sheldon, it was meant as an attempt at humor. I agree that each of us is free to pick our own poison. But I do think that you need to lighten up a bit.

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Its easy to say “lighten up” when your the one making the joke, not the one made fun of.

How about I post smart remarks in the pages and pages of DCC “problems” I don’t have with my control system. I have never done that, nor would I.

Sheldon

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In fact, I just spent quite a bit of time on here helping “Yankeeflyer” with a DCC problem, and was correct from the begining as to the nature, cause and solution.

But what do I know, I’m just hick with a pickup who still runs trains on DC.

Sheldon

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Wow Sheldon, thin skin, eh?

It looks as though you are putting your oar into whatever waters you fancy.

And, to be frank, there is absolutely no reason to tell us over and over and over and over again why you choose to use DC…we just don’t care. It seems as though you wear it as a badge of honor and you make sure everyone knows of your “accomplishment”.

Sheldon, we get it, you prefer DC. Nuff said.

David B

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This is not how I meant for this thread to end up. My question was this: I’m considering going from DCC back to DC, has anyone else done it and why? I was curious, as I was sure I wasn’t the first to consider such a move. Can we please leave the question of which is better out of this?

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Yes, a few people go DC after DCC, but it’s a tiny percentage. By contrast, probably 95% plus of the people who use DCC now switched from DC. Just like I did, and I cannot imagine ever going back. Just my opinion.

Think of it this way. Occasionally a man bites a dog, but thats not the trend. In this case, the trend is moving to DCC. If you want to go back to DC, great, more power to you.

As I’ve mentioned before, come back and tell us about it after you’ve done something.

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Thats not “wiring for DC block control”. Thats just separating the layout into blocks. Unless you also plan to wire in dozens of toggle switches and some power packs as well.

If you have never actually wired a layout for multi-train control with multiple powerpacks, toggle switches, reverse loop toggles, etc., you probably don’t know what “wiring for DC block control” means.

And yes, Sheldon, we know your magical double secret DC system does everything with no toggle switches, cures cancer, and simultaneously reverses global warming. Spare us.

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although you may not ‘need’ the benefits of DCC on your HOn3 project, as you already have the equipment i don’t see any reason not to use it?? a lenz mini will fit in 99.9% of HOn3 loco’s and should you get bored with only one loco moving you’ll be glad you went DCC in the first place…

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I’m actually going to be sticking with DCC. I was only considering switching back to DC, but upon learning that the repowering kits I’ve got coming in for my brass locos can handle DCC ‘supersonic’ drives better than low-frequency PWM power…I’d rather play it safe.

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It is niether secret or magical, in fact I have explained every aspect of it on here, and on the Bachmann and Aristo forums as well as given copies of the “secret documents” to a number of those who have asked. But you are correct, it does not use any block toggles and only requires pushing a few buttons to align turnouts and assign cabs as one walks around with your train. If you are in CTC mode, engineers don’t even have to do any of that, the dispatcher does.

Cancer cannot be cured, only treated.

Humans are not causing global warming, so humans cannot reverse global warming.

Sheldon

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David, maybe so right now. It seems it is still OK to make fun of those who don’t “go with the flow” on this issue, yet there has been so much talk on here recently about being polite, curtious and respectful and about why activity on the forum might be down.

If I recall your suggestion to Yankeeflyer’s DCC problem was “don’t buy Bachmann locomotives” which of course is an easy response to a product problem if the product is outside your area of prototype interest - but offers no real solution to the problem.

Randy, myself and others figured it out - rather than making light of it.

If by this you are refering to the limited but varied topics on which I have posted recently, you are correct. I have dramaticly reduced the amount of time I spend on here, or any online forum. And about now have used up my quota for today.

Sheldon

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Per request of the OP

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