I’m getting confused about the books that Model Railroader offers for wiring. I ordered the one by Rick Selby, but now I’m wondering if I’ll need the one by Andy Sperandeo as well. Do they cover the same ground, or does Sperandeo’s book cover more advanced projects, or ???
While I am not by any means an advanced model railroading electronics expert - what all of us here at the Model Railroading Forum can do for you is add a little bit of the larger picture for you with some website navigation, and a little bit of perspective.
It is kind of like the Shake 'N Bake commercial with the southern accent: “And I helped!”
[1] Bookmark, The Model Trains Magazine Index, for quick anytime-access at http://index.mrmag.com/tm.exe?L=1&tmpl=tm_book and note all of your options on the left side of the webpage. I start my index bookmark at the major category page called: BOOKS.
[2] There are (3) categories of Electrical Books…
Electronics => http://index.mrmag.com/tm.exe?opt=s&cmdtext=book+electronics&sort=2
DC Wiring => http://index.mrmag.com/tm.exe?opt=s&cmdtext=book+wiring&sort=2
DCC Wiring => http://index.mrmag.com/tm.exe?opt=s&cmdtext=book+dcc&sort=2
QUESTION: Have you decided whether you are going to use a DC (Direct Current) or DCC (Digital Command Control) system to power your layout?
Each type of system has its’ pros & cons, but the DCC is the most recent tech with printed circuits, decoders, and is the more expensive of the two systems. My guess is that you are currently using a DC powerpack system, and that will work just fine for you as you learn model railroading.
[3] Andy Sperandeo’s book, “Easy Model Railroad Wiring.” is listed under the
That’s a whole lot of really great information! Thanks so much. I’m working my way through the links you gave me now.
My old layout was a simple DC switching layout before my move to a new house. I’m now planning a small double-deck layout with two railroads (in N-scale) and was planning on doing a really nice DC block system. My mind was made up until yesterday–when I began actually thinking that I might want to try DCC instead. I don’t know if I can wire a layout in DC with block control and then switch ot DCC later, but that is what I’m thinking I’d like to do.
Anyway, I’m kind of an electronics klutz, so I’m starting at the beginning–with trying to figure out what books to buy so I can learn what I need to know!
Other than the N Scale Pennsy Middle Division link, all of the other links were taken from the first one at Books at The Model Train Magazine Index.
Here is a January 2007 Forum thread that starts as “DC to DCC Turnout” but branches off to some other DC or DCC considerations and websites at http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/1011386/ShowPost.aspx
The forum’s DC Club and DCC Club threads have calmed down from a tad bit of “Hooray for my side” and, if you can get past that early-on-flaming => these threads can also be a good source of the atmosphere and tips & tricks of DC or DCC. The real key is a good bookmarking system for future reference.
I just try to remember that it always costs extra money in model railroading if you rush through things.
By the way, I also have the two electrical books from Carstens (among others) that are quite good at http://www.rrmodelcraftsman.com/
Most of my reference material is from Kalmbach, but the Carstens books do add just a little different way of looking at things and can help provide that larger picture.
I really do think I’d prefer to wire my railroad for DC and just enjoy that. I want to make sure it’s DCC-ready in case some day I get all excited and say, “Gosh, look at what I’ve been missing all these years!” I don’t expect it to happen, though…
Those books look great!
I have the Selby book… and personally, between it and the help I have received on here… If I am not able to figure out how to wire Peco switches so that they work in either position… I am gonna give all 27 of them away and buy ones that are non-insulated.
What is the point of an insulated turnout anyway?
Brian
You might find it useful to track down a Peco catalog because it has a pretty good discussion of the virtues and drawbacks of both kinds of turnouts. Since they sell both they can afford to be unbiased lol. The Peco insulfrog works differently than the old Atlas snap switch.
Just remember the fundamental rules – the ideal is to have a feeder to each piece of track and “please don’t feed the frogs.” If you can’t have the ideal with a feeder to each rail, then you at least should ask yourself, “if I did have that, where would I be feeding the frog by accident?”
Meanwhile the search for an insulted rail joiner that 1) has more structural strength than the clear plastic Atlas insulated joiners and 2) can be found at the LHS goes on …
Dave Nelson
For straight DC, there’s a lot of good stuff in Linn Westcott’s long-out-of-print “how to wire your model railroad.”
I know I’m opening a whole can of worms here, but it seems to me you are going to a whole lot of trouble to wire something more complicated to do things not quite as well as if you just did it in DCC first.
To me that would be like wanting to experience Morse code with the plan of switching to the telephone in the near future.
Just for the record, my book includes a whole chapter, Chapter 8, on the subject of command control, and it was updated for DCC in the second edition. Beyond that, Chapter 1, “Basic Model Railroad Electricity”; Chapter 3, “Two-rail Wiring”; Chapter 4, “Turning Trains and Engines Around”; Chapter 9, “Turnout Control”; and Chapter 10, “Layout Wiring” are all relevant to DCC layouts as well as DC. That’s six chapters out of twelve, and there’s more helpful information for DCC users under “Finding Tools and Materials” and “Suppliers and Manufacturers.” Make your own decision, but make it a well-informed one.
Thanks,
Andy
I guess you missed the fact that I decided to go with DC, and my very well thought-out reasons for that decision. Why make a comment like this when I am asking about DC?
I did end up buying your book, Andy. It looks great, and I’m sure it will help a lot with my new DC layout.