new DC control

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

just wondering if there are new autoreverse track or some new cab control I get board fast and haveseen mention of dulesystem powerpacks

thanks for new info I have not decided to jump to DCC but hope things get to a better price point

B - [^]

2

No.

DCC autoreverse works because DCC locomotives are not affected by track polarity changes. It works by very quickly flipping the polarity of the isolated reversing section when it detects the short caused by the locomotive crossing into or out of reversing section.

With DC locomotive, the locomotive would just sit on the gap and hum.

For some $$$ it would be possible to build a completely automatic reversing section for DC. You could get a whole DCC system and a dozen decoders for less.

3

I see

4

didnt I hear something like a dcc unit that dose not need gaps in the rail and its plug & play or is 3 4 hundred for like digitrax the best way cuz I need something

5

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6

Check out the new entry-level DCC systems like MRC, or Digitrax’s Zephyr, or Lenz and Roco both have one… They aren’t exactly plug and play. The cab is as easy to install as a DC one, but you still gotta install and program decoders in yr locos. But check out the new Lenz decoder - it’s something like fourteen bucks from Tony’s! I’ve put decoders into old Athearns - it wasn’t so bad. One of these days I’ll brave putting one in my little 0-4-0 saddleback!!

I have a Zephyr, love it. I reckon maybe I should have got MRC: its simple cheap and can manage my little railroad. Either way you can get up and running for a few hundred bucks

DCC needs gaps in the rail LESS than DC does. You can get away with just gaps to prevent reversing loop shorts.

It’s a bit less forgiving of turnouts shorting and in theory you should put in heavy power feeders, but only because you can now run multiple locos in the one block close to each other…

It’s a gas. Give it a go. Just don’t try out sound - once u hear it there is no going back, and sound IS expensive (for now - give it a few years…)

7

I was checking out tony on line and see some good info but its like for the money you dont get as much as you will think so meny add ons

B -

8

here is a few Automatic Grade Crossing Signals Circuit
Automatic Reversing Circuit - Mk IV
Basic Electronics For Model Railroaders

5mm Phototransistors With Leads

http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/CircuitIndex.html#36

9

[tup]
great link Budliner !
lots of interesting electronics ! gonna bookmark that one!

thanks
Lupo

10

I was hopeing to see more things that I can do but its a little over my head I have just snaged a command 2000 for $30 and hope to get better at this

I need simple things to pump up the RR

B -

11

lupo
there must be a link to the do it yourself RR on that here is the motherload http://www.wiringfordcc.com/site_map.htm

B -
P S I live near MIT and HARVARD the system 3 is computer controled
I will get some info
I have a ton of old computers

12

DCC needs gaps in the rails for for reversing sections or you will still have the same problem as you do with basic DC control. When the rails swing back around and join the opposing rail, you create a short.

In DCC you wire in an automatic reversing unit and it takes care of this automaticly upon detecting the short caused by the train spanning the gap.

What DCC elimitates is the gaps and miles of wire needed to wire a layout for blocks for multiple cab control. For any given layout, using common rail return on cab control, to any given section of track, You need your negative common wire. Then one wire for each cab on your layout. If you have four power packs, that means you have 5 wires to the same section of Track. With DCC it cuts that down to two. DCC also eliminates all the toggle switch thowing for switching blocks over to the cab your using.

I am converting my layout over to the Digitrax system and am astounded with the amount of wire I am removing.

James.

13

thanks gray
I cant wait to setup the layout with some kind of dcc

B -

14

May I suggest Digitrax’s Zephyr System with two extra throttles. Its a relatively inexpensive entry into DCC and provides eneough flexability to run a fairly decent size layout. I was helping a person build her layout and that is the set up we used on it. It is also expandable with the plug & play “Loconoet” System designed by digitrax so if you ever get the room to build a larger layout, all you have to do is buy the extra componets you need rather than replace it with a new system cabable of handling the load.

James.

15

oh ya thats a nice system but I did see some bottleneck with that I love the NCE

but for now I just snagged one of the worst dcc units going the command 2000 hey for $29 I say give it a shot, I seem to have a hard time finding the decodes for my bachmann’s my kato cant take a decoder and the protos I have dont seem to be compatible (sd9)

you get what you pay for

B -

16

I have a decoder instillation service.

39.95 per locomotive. It has been my experience that all locomotive can be wired with a decoder. Its just how much hate and discontent you want to put up with wiring it in. If your locomotive is eqquiped with the NMRA 8 pin DCC socket, It should accept any decoder with an NMRA 8 pin plug.

James.

17
  • “snapper switch machine” taken from page 36 of Railroad Model Craftsman, January 1973
    –I1----
    | |
    | R1 |
    ----//-------------------------------------
    | / |
    D4 _ / |
    ^ /gate |
    | anode / cathode |
    o---------->|-------------------------------->|------------o
    SCR1 | | D1
    | |
  • | |

IN C1 _ ^ D2 OUT
-|- |

  • | |
    | |
    o----------------------------------------------------------o

Parts List:

  • I1: 16-20 volt bulb
  • R1: 560 ohm 1 watt resistor
  • C1: 5000 to 10000 uf 35V (or more) capacitor
  • D1: 12A 50V PIV diode
  • D2,4: 1A 50V PIV diode
  • SCR1: 6A 200V silicon controlled rectifier
18

[;)] How to built a working beacon light
http://www.westportterminal.de/beacon.html

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buddly

19

Hello James,

Yikes! I can see why you changed to DCC. I couldn’t imagine trying to operate 4 cabs with toggles. Any more than 2 cabs you need rotary or radio button switches. How many wires to the track? I’ve never needed more than 2 for any multi cab system, where are these wires going? Did a wire salesman teach you how to wire cab control? Glad to see you’ve put all that nonsense behind you. I would be DCC too if the alternative was what you went through.