Mike, yes, I think that’s the best route for me as well. Visual, physical reminders in the space-time continuum where I actually live. I also don’t have a roundhouse or any service sheds yet, or any block wiring, so the locos come off after they finish a run.
Mel, not at all. I have to ask a lot of detail questions after I get some context. I don’t retain information until I have that “outer ring” of context to hook the data to.
I do wonder about one more thing, and that is, what happens when you switch back to your DCC cab? Does the relay switch back automatically? At first I thought no, because it’s only connected to the DC pack (I think even this is not true, looking at your diagram again). But then I thought, the location of the AC connections on the DC power pack is really incidental, they could be anywhere, right? But then I thought, well, Mel is only trying to protect the system from DC locos on DCC-powered track, not from DCC locos on DC-powered track (although I’ve heard that you can blow the brains out of older DCC encoders that way).So I really don’t know how the final operation of this relay set up works.
What do you do when you want to run DCC again? Do you throw a switch manually?
The relay is controlled by the DC power Pack. With the DC power pack off the relay is in the DCC position. When you turn on the DC power pack the relay pulls in and disconnects the track power from the DCC controller and connects the DC power pack to the track.
I operate my layout more on DC than DCC, I only run in DCC mode when I want sound or remote control of onboard lighting, such as turning the lights on and off in my passenger cars.
I wired the lighting in my passenger cars with a DCC mode bypass using a magnetic latching reed switch so that I can turn on and off the lights with a magnet.
I wired all (70+) locomotives for DCC operation using the standard NMRA 8 pin plug. I only have 13 DCC decoders so I use a standard DCC to DC shorting adapter when the locomotive will be operating in DC mode.
I need to say that my layout was designed and built 35 years ago before DCC and I didn’t think I would be running multiple trains. By design I can only run one train at a time on my mainline. It is a John Allen original G&D type twice around mainline.
I model the mid 1950s era and don’t have any newer equipment than 1956, mostly steam, PAs and E7s for passenger service. Every once in awhile a SP GS-4 pulling a Daylight passenger consist and a Cab Forward pulling a Lark.
I would say that most of my locomotives are in DC mode so I don’t have a problem with DCC. I wired my layout for DC block control so I can turn off the track power in my yard and sidings to park DCC locomotives while operating in DC mode and vice versa.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
Ha, I smiled so wide the back of my head fell off when I saw this. You have truly answered all the questions I could have thought to ask. And wow, I love that layout design… I could almost have fit it into my space because it’s the same basic shape as mine, but I like that you get the twice around benefit and you can reverse direction one time without backing up and multiple times if you use your “cross valley” track as a wye. Plus you have beaucoup tunnels, a spacious railyard and space for roundhouse and services. My turntable will be small and cramped and the yard is only three tracks, and how I will configure my terrain for tunnels remains problematic. Thanks for sharing all that (not for the last time, I bet).
Here’s mine. Switches have moved a bit in the as-built but this is basically what’s taking shape.
I’m not into operations and your layout looks very busy. I prefer building and gadgetry over a switching type layout. With the help of my uncle I got started in electronics at the early age of 8, I had my first amateur radio transmitter that I built on the air at 10. I was in the two-way radio industry for 50 years.
I do lean toward the electronics side more because of my background. My mother was into crafts so that helped me on the scenery side.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
