Someone at the LHS told me I can have my track wired for DCC and also DC.If I want to run DC I just need to connect a douple pole single throw toggle switch. Which ever one I want to use will have the power on and the other will be off.Is this true? because I want to be able to use my DC locomotives and take them off and use my DCC.
You can do it that way. I would use a DPDT though. My layout was originally built for DC operation and was broken intop sixteen blocks with each block on it own DPDT. I can run a DCC train on one set of blocks while I operate a DC train on another set of blocks. Don’t let a DCC train cross onto DC or vise versa. The decoders and/or control station don’t like it.
If anyone’s done that can they show me or tell me how to wire it?It would be wored to the Prdigy so the power would be cut off. Why can’t a person turn the power off to the one he is not running?
DPDT center-off switch right at the power packs. Having both the DC and DCC wired and simply turning one off is simply too risky. The risk is blowing out one unit by human error.
This is the way I wired my DPDT switches. If I flip the switch up, DCC goes to the block. If I flip the switch down, DC goes to the block. Placing the switch in the middle turns off power to the block.
I know now using a DPDT can kill the power to either one of them, but wouldn’t it be simpler to unplug one or the other?Unplug the power to the one you don’t want to use.?
No. Just unplugging the DC unit won’t help. It will still cause problems with the DCC unit. When using DCC the DC unit must be completely disconnected from the track and vise versa. The DPDT does this job well.
That’s a good answer, The Prodigy does not have an off on switch so I imagine when I’m done running trains It is okay to unplug it?Or would you just turn off the switch? Do we need a DPDT for the DC and the DCC or just one of them?
Both units are connected to the switch. The switch selects which unit is connected to the tracks. If you have any doubts about doing this, don’t do it. You need to make sure that you understand what you are doing, or you will burn something out.
I only have doubts because of my questions. I want to do this, because I don’t want to build a another layout for my DC.I have a label maker, so I would be sure NOT to mess anything up.I usually plan these things out before I do it.That’s why I ask the questions I do.
You would need just one. When I flip any of my DPDT’s up, that track section is powered by DCC. When I flip any of my DPDT’s down, that track section is powered by DC. If I set the DPDT in the middle position, that track section isn’t connected to either power source and is therefore dead. This is handy for storing locos on unpowered spurs until I need them.
before I found out about the DPDT swich, I was dreading about adding on to my layout. That would have been difficult to do.After the guy from the LHS told me this I was thrilled about getting this started.
The wiring is really easy to do. With the DPDT you can have DC and DCC systems ready to go but only one of the will connected to the track at any one time.
I just came downstairs from the third floor. That is where my track is set up,I need a 15 degree cross over and I can connect the two tracks. I will be running two trains at once.I will have 6 sidings to park DCC locomotives and or rolling stock.
Sounds like a good setup. I usually have two trains running at once myself, sometimes four. So that’s four to seven locos running at once.
Froggy: Check your PM’s.
Just make sure you don’t have any DC engine on the track when you cut over to DCC or you may fry them.
Dave H.
How would the diagram look if I had a power pack for DC that had cab A and Cab B?I am running two DC locomotives with DC.
Almost identical. Cab a feeds one end of switch, Cab B the other and track off of the center.
No, you will not.
David B