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 Posted - December 12 2012 : 6:32:27 PM
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Thinking of maybe purchasing a dcc train set for Xmas. Is this the only way to run two trains on one system? Anybody seen any good dcc sets out there of good quality?
RTR
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Posted - December 12 2012 : 7:32:54 PM
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RTR, its not the only way to have two trains... without DCC, you could use multiple power packs and connect them to different track sections or loops. The neat thing about DCC is that it simplifies the wiring.
For a small layout, you just connect two wires from the DCC controller to the track and thats it (I'm simplifying a bit here, but that's the essence). The tradeoff is that every loco needs a DCC decoder. For me, that's a happy tradeoff.
Things get really interesting when you have your friends over and all of you can control trains on the same system. If that is something that interests you, you might look at a DCC system from Digitrax or NCE. I myself have a system from EasyDCC with multiple wireless handheld throttles and I really like it.
-Thomas
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Posted - December 13 2012 : 06:02:24 AM
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Redwoods, can you DCC decoders on the older TYCO trains? Alsowhat happens if you have a DCC track and you put a non-DCC cor on it will it go?
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Posted - December 13 2012 : 11:04:22 AM
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GG1, its possible to put DCC decoders on the older TYCO locomotives as long as they are running well. However, you do want to have clean wheels and track, because DCC requires better electrical contact than regular DC. I've converted a few locomotives that didn't have good contact and they have been a frustration.
I recommend trying diesels with all-wheel electrical pickup first and getting used to DCC before trying it on an older locomotive.
I don't recommend putting a non-DCC loco on a track with DCC. There is a good chance that the motor will burn out.  Tracks with DCC have a constant 14 A.C. volts (or so). At a minimum the motor will heat up and it will make a buzzing noise. What I do on my layout is to have a switch on each block for DC or DCC. When I want to run a DC loco, I just switch those blocks to DC and use a regular power pack.
BTW, once you have a few DCC locos with sound, you won't go back to DC - at least, that's my humble opinion. 
-Thomas
Edited by - Redwoods on December 13 2012 11:09:57 AM
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Posted - December 13 2012 : 12:00:48 PM
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Thank you Redwoods, learned a lot from what you shared with both of us.
Im thinking dcc sounds like a more fun experience with railsounds, less wires etc.. Any opinion on bachmann spectrum dynamis sets? Looks like a turnkey setup but I've heard they're trains aren't all that good.
RTR
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Posted - December 13 2012 : 5:52:46 PM
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RTR, Bachmann is always an interesting topic. I can't speak to the Dynamis because I haven't tried it.
As far as locos, some of their recent releases are superb - I have the Alco S4 with sound and the Spectrum 2-8-0 with sound and they just run and run. On the other hand, I had to repair a Spectrum 8-40CW (loose universals) and an axle on my GS4 broke just sitting in a display cabinet.
If there is one theme to Bachmann locos, it seems that the ones they developed new since about 2000 are more reliable and better designed than the ones that they redesigned from the models that they've had since the 70s.
I'm curious to hear what others think about this.
Thanks!
Thomas
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Posted - December 14 2012 : 8:46:26 PM
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RollTycoRoll, the earlier Bachmann Plus engines are the ones to avoid, they had quite a few problems. The newer Spectrum units are much nicer and hold up well ( so I hear ).
You CAN run a non-DCC engine on DCC track, I think you have to set it to Address zero, but then you can't run anything DCC while that is on the track. DCC is basically square-wave DC volts, -14 low and -14 high, so a normal DC engine will just hum ( and overheat sometimes ). How DCC works is it adjusts the highs and lows for forward or reverse, more +14v square waves, the train moves forward, more -14v square waves, the train moves in reverse. It basically pulses the square waves so that one is longer duration than the other to move the engine in the direction you want it to go. Not quite THAT simple, due to the digital control of the waves, but more or less.
To run multiple DC engines, you literally have to make different sections of track use different power supplies, hence Block wiring, and then have a block in between the engines, and as one engine moves out of one section, the other can move in . It was a clunky way to do it, DCC is MUCH more practical for running multiple engines nowadays (although expensive by comparison), it's based on the X.25 Data transmission protocols from the 90's. Works well for what it does. Plus with the recent explosion of sound Decoders, the realism is really getting incredible.
I'm about to purchase my first home-use Digitrax DCC system, I need a new throttle to match my club's usage, so the new DT402R ( radio ) Simplex throttle with dual engine throttles is what I"m looking at. The Duplex version allows you to acquire a locomotive's address with just wireless communication, but a club member said it eats batteries, and since we have loads of plug-in modules anyway, it'll probably be cheaper to just use the plug-and-acquire method for now with the Simplex throttle. I think it'll cost about $450 for the Throttle, Base Unit, and Power supply, the Super Empire Builder Extra. That will allow for a small 4x8 layout to power, and run my DCC engines at home, which I can't do right now. It's amazing what some inheritance money can do for you.
Anyway, that's the gist of it.
Jerry
Anyway,
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - December 21 2012 : 4:23:25 PM
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Thanks guys.. I made the Dynamis move for wireless reasons. I hope the signals are strong. Also my hope is.. that all makes of trains will work on the system. Excited about it!!
RTR
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Posted - December 21 2012 : 4:44:29 PM
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Older Bachmann also has gear crack disease! I say stick to newer stuff for DCC. Multiple trains can be ran using DC Block control, just lots of wiring and switches.
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - December 26 2012 : 10:03:07 PM
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Hope everyone had a great Christmas!
If anyone here uses EZ track and runs DCC.. is it possible to covert non dcc turnouts to dcc turnouts by installing a decoder? Would like to make use of 5 basic turnouts. Let me know if this is possible. Thank you!
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Posted - December 26 2012 : 11:34:30 PM
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You can either replace them with Bachmann DCC turnouts (expensive) or you could buy an accessory decoder. Digitrax makes the DS52 accessory decoder for 2 turnouts for about $25. I've also used NCE's Snap It decoder for single turnouts. They are about $19.
-Thomas
quote:Hope everyone had a great Christmas!
If anyone here uses EZ track and runs DCC.. is it possible to covert non dcc turnouts to dcc turnouts by installing a decoder? Would like to make use of 5 basic turnouts. Let me know if this is possible. Thank you!
Originally posted by RollTycoRoll - December 26 2012 : 10:03:07 PM
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Posted - December 27 2012 : 09:55:22 AM
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I use MRC accessory decoders on my old Tyco switches. They can handle 4 switches, they were in the neighborhood of 30 dollars from TrainWorld.
Edited by - eaglerock109 on December 27 2012 5:00:35 PM
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Posted - December 27 2012 : 12:52:03 PM
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Thanks for the recommendations guys! All sound like good options... headed to the hobby shop 
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