Setting up dcc layout

Dcc is a bit more complicated if you get into the nuts and bolts, but setting up a basic system takes just a few more steps than setting up a traditional analog power pack. Incredibly easy to use and set up, they also have a huge range of features which makes them exceptional value. But once he got started and discovered that everyday modelers can add dcc to their layouts. You can find out by asking at your local hobby shop. Sign in submit a request my activities have you figured out what you need. If running a dc locomotive is a must have on your list of dcc system requirements despite the risk to the the motor, then one should investigate the capabilities of the dcc. Imagine youve just begun running trains on a layout equipped for digital command control dcc and suddenly your locomotive and all the other layout action jerks to a halt. Converting a layout to dcc welcome to the nce information.

A consist is setup with the first unit as the top unit and then units are added to this. The first time we ran a digital command control system we knew we couldnt live without one but, we couldnt afford it either. A beginners guide to decoders, dcc systems, and layout wiring. You can always build a block control system, but as your layout grows, this can become very. Adding dcc power districts to a model train layout. To find out how to programme a second loco on your layout with the hornby ddc select controller click here. The train derailed creating a short circuit on the track. Sarah, from experience, i would recommend breaking your layout up into sections. Suppose you wanted to set up the decoder with normal direction, 28128 speed steps, operation on dc, standard speed curve, and with cv1 as the address.

One of the easiest and best ways to get started in model railroading is with a 4x8 train layout in ho scale. Wiring a layout for dcc power layout wiring is fairly well documented, and pretty simple when you come right down to it. Works on dcc or dc limited operation on dc works with nmra loco, accessory or signal addressing builtin warm white led can be disabled up to 3 outputs leds may be controlled separately builtin resistors just connect leds can function as an nmra signal decoder each output individually dimmable. This means that you will be able to program decoders using one set of dcc outputs while the layout is running on the other set of dcc outputs. These are both features that up until now were unheard of at this price point. Actually, on a budget, since she is running dcc, you can have the train enter the reversing loop, and while the train is still moving, flip the dpdt and the train will not even hiccup. We also support non dcc layout if there is a way to make a computer communicate with a given piece of model railroad equipment, it is possible to connect it to jmri. All locos and units on crayshot end have dc capability, so can be stood on dc controlled track. Other comprehensive features include two or four digit. Wiring a new dcc layout or converting to dcc a layout that is currently wired for dc.

You can always build a block control system, but as your layout grows, this. With dcc, a booster can supply 12 volts at 5, 8 or even 10 amps into a track short circuit without becoming overloaded. Dcc is short for digital command control and is a modern method of controlling a model train setup. Dccconcepts make a range of high quality accessory decoders covering both solenoid and motor drive point motors. Power bus wiring for digital command control dcc basics. Setting up computer control by using dcc software and creating a diagram of your layout, youll be able to see the location of the track, whether the track is occupied or not, and the position of switches. Buying a starter set will give you everything you need right out of the box and are more cost effective than buying individual items. For those who have a medium to large size layout, and wish to use a tested recommendation for new wiring, i offer the following. Digitrax is a full time professional company dedicated to bringing superior engineering, quality and affordability to model railroaders everywhere.

Do not use this decoder on any layout that is set to o or g settings or is set to deliver more than 16v to the track. Setting up layout for both dc and dcc model railroader. Dec 18, 2014 the zephyr manual allow setting up of universal consists. Mrcs entry level system is the prodigy express and it offers the features of high end dcc at an entry level price.

Setting up an advanced consist the nce way welcome to the. I am about to set up a layout and i have only old equipment that was bought in the 1970s1980s and i am wondering if i will have any problem adding modern trains or electronics to an old equipment layout. Like your track, the power to the layout is fundamental in importance. So i would not use a center off to keep the train moving, and a.

Dcc combined with computer control model train advisors. Digital command control dcc is the method of running a model railway by controlling the locomotives rather than the track. If youre impatient and want to get your locomotives running on dcc before youve converted them all you can set up your layout for mixed dcc and analog operation. Ignore that for now, as we want to focus on setting up a brand new locomotive from scratch. Developed in partnership with digital command control dcc innovator lenz electronik, ez ommand allows you to digitally control the speed. Where people mess up is setting it up so its possible to have one block running dcc and another next to it is running dc. If this is the first time you run the program after you installed the software, the preferences screen will come up automatically to allow you to set up the system for your particular configuration. The digitrax complete train control system is our answer for model railroaders who want to enjoy the. To learn more about dcc, check out this dcc resources page. To do this, simply click the drop down menu next to locomotive dcc id. This collection of articles and columns from model railroader magazines dcc corner takes the reader through a series of dcc projects, including setting up a dcc layout, decoder installation, lighting effects, sound effects, layout wiring projects, advanced decoder programming, and tips and ideas for advanced dcc projects. In fact, i learned to my considerable pleasure and relief, it really didnt take much more than that. Also to my pleasure and relief, the trains ran just fine the first time i fired up the n scale salt lake route layout. August 30, 2014 17 comments on low costlow effort dcc for the small layout if there is a chance that i am going to run more than one locomotive at a time on a layout, i will use digital command control dcc.

The first time you run jmri it will ask you to set up a controller. This can easily burn out wires inside the locomotive decoder. This forum was set up and moderated by wiring for dcc administrator, probably back in the 1990s. Unlike old fashioned direct current systems, the digital command control booster can put out a lot more power, from five to eight or more amperes of current. I am not entirely up to speed on the pros and cons of setting up digital control to enable two operators to use the system at once but i am sure there are lots of people on this forum who can help. With a standard analogue layout you would control the locomotive by altering the direction and strength of a direct current applied to the.

Higher currents heavier power wiring, and overload protection must work. As necessary check the various dcc devices in the layout, the track wiring and the loconet wiring. My lenz train buddy laurie is ecstatic as he now has a really nice and very easy to use one handed radio throttle and it only cost him us12. Low costlow effort dcc for the small layout author. I also purchsed a usa branded walk around controler, which to be honest does work ok, the only problrm being i can never remember the loco adresss, there being no. Power district 1 power district 2 power district 3 power. The day you will thank me is when someone puts a loco or wagon on the track with a short circuit in it, and you cant figure out where the short is located. Aug 30, 2014 the work is not just in setting up block control but you must work to run the trains by throwing switches to power blocks as you move around the layout. How to set up a locomotive in hornby railmaster hawkin blog. X current limiter goof proof isolated frog turnout. I would like to incorporate computer control without abandoning my dcc hardware. So when you push the bell button on your dcc throttle, your dcc command station sends a signal through the dcc. With steves guidance, youll wire your layout for digital command control in no time.

Adding power districts to your layout can help with that. Dcc allows you to run a command bus in other words, one pair of wires around your layout and attach your track and stationary decoders to it. Hornby oo gauge layout ideas great tips for getting. However, as with any electric railway, there is wiring to be done, but because dcc controls the locomotives individually, there is no need to split the track into many sections in order to run multiple locos, making dcc layouts easier to wire than dc. Dcc wiring is simpler, but intolerant of sloppy workmanship. Digital command control resources for model railroaders. For g scale, 8amps should be your minimum starting point for outdoor layouts. Withrottle a free radio throttle for many dcc systems. Locomotives made before the arrival of dcc can draw up to an amp. Oct 15, 2014 with dcc, your son and you will be able to independantly run a train each on the same track. Also if you change your system configuration, or if you have your laptop away from the railroad, but you want to play with jmri there is a.

There are provisions in a lot of todays soundequipped locomotives to operate them in dc, but to get the full range of fun from the sounds you need dcc. The nuts and bolts of dcc do get rather technical after all, youre dealing with a computer network. Dc loco on dcc this section talks about running a dc locomotive on dcc powered track. Like many of you, steve swore he would never convert his layout to dcc and never use a computer to assist with his operations. Nothing worng with that but it does cause me some wiring headaches. A typical ho scale locomotive equipped with a sound decoder will draw 500ma. The steps below show a possible progression, however it is your choice as to how many of these steps you adopt. Its not fun for anyone if the layout doesnt run properly. Learn what is needed to convert a dc analog layout to dcc. In theory, dcc requires only two wires from the command station to the rails, and thats it. The july 2019 issue of model railroader magazine features a buyers guide for digital command control dcc starter systems. This means that bit 2 and 3 are on, while the others are off. The principle of wiring a dcc layout is simple supply power to all areas of the layout, avoiding the possibility of any short circuits. Installing dcc from start to finish steve barkley, your host, is a lifelong modeler.

The power bus and control bus need to be physically separate under the layout recommend 1218 inches or more if possible. The droppers then connect to a thicker bus wire pair under the baseboard that is connected to the dcc controller you finally end up deciding to use. Hornby oo gauge layout ideas great tips for getting started with your hornby trackplan menu. If youre running a lot of trains, youll need to make sure your dcc system can supply all your power needs efficiently and safely. If there is a local model railroad club in your area, consider joining that. Dcc installation for large layouts, part 4 setting up power districts tired of hassling with an entire layout shutdown when a single train derails on your dcc layout. With dcc control systems so prevalent, the art of wiring a model railroad for multiple train operations with conventional dc power supplies isnt spoken about very often.

That represents perhaps 60 or more continuous watts being available to cause spot heating at the source of an electrical problem. The ideal companion to the sboost, sprog nano interfaces your computer in the most compact package. At the very basic level, all that is needed is two wires run to the track. Ho scale lakeshore southern model railroad track plan. This works ok for one train, but what if you want to control two or three. Installing dcc from start to finish dvd model railroad. Digital command control troubleshooting by john m wallis digital master. Search it for railway layouts and railroad track plans by scale, size, tracks and other criteria. Installing dcc on your layout doesnt have to be intimidating. But i think its worth restating some of the basic concepts as part of this section, as this is what i used as the basis of my own layout wiring described in the electrical systems subsection of my model railroad section. Sep 08, 2014 setting up tracks and dcc ben is new to the hobby and seeks advice from readers. Then select the com port same as what you saw in device manager. The salt lake route, part 4 wiring a small layout for dcc.

For practical purposes and to avoid possible conflict you will need to set up two independent circuits so each boy can run his own train at will. Having a plan before setup begins will make the layout easier to setup, and fun to run. It is possible to run more than one locomotive on the same length of track in a different direction and at a differing speed without any other locomotive responding to the control signal. I have spent quite a bit of money on my dcc layout only to discover that computer control via my pc would be the next logical step for me. See the nano, or click here to order your computer to dcc booster interface solution. Dcc wiring clinic 25 summary dcc wiring is different from dc blocks and cab control in consideration of wiring methods, but many of the same basic rules for electrical gaps etc. Other ranges arent really useful for track wiring, but can be for other things. This is great for setting up individual locos to run at the same speed and have similar speed curves. Apr 20, 2015 in this video we show you how to set up your hornby dcc train set. The hand held throttle features a full numeric keypad plus a smooth encoder for speed control. Model railway digital command control dcc wiring a layout. Bachmann ez command setup and programming instructions pdf. I have started planning my first layout a 12 ft x 6 ft ho railroad with a small mining town, at least one industry and some mountains.

Read some books and magazines, and go to some train shows. Modeler and dcc expert steve barkley demonstrates how to use the program winlok 2. The rate that you convert to dcc is entirely up to you. For a locomotive to be in the backward direction you need to run it in reverse just before you start setting up the consist. When using pom, you dont get any display of what the cv value is in the. Beginners guide to command control and dcc national. Keep in mind, you can always add more power to your track layout with the use of an additional booster. Steve barkley offers a stepbystep demonstration on the dcc installation process. Soldering wires to the track joiners is not a recommended solution.

Setting up modular layouts with digitrax complete train control. I have been setting up my layout for a few years, on and off, as you do. Option 2 implement a dcc bus power distribution system and solder dropper wires to each track piece. The new club layout is in the plannuing stages and the general opinnion seems to be that we have to have both dc and dcc control avaliable so that everyone get a fair go with their stock. Dec 29, 2018 if you can set it up with one master switch so the entire layout is either running on dc or dcc, its not a problem. Converting your layout to dcc atlas model railroad.

What you need to know before wiring your dcc layout duration. The obvious result of this is that the actual speed of the train will vary depending on the dcc command station or booster and its output voltage. The whole reason for dcc is to allow multiple locos to operate independently on the same track, without having to divide up the layout into complicated electrical control blocks. He purchased a nce 10 amp system rationalizing that by using a 10amp booster, he would never run out of power. Page 1 electri c products, precauti o ns should be observed duri n g handli n g and use to prevent electri c shock. Each club should submit their requirements to the layout master for inclusion in the layout. Sep 12, 2018 setting up a layout using old equipment richard is seeking advice from others. Dc block control remains a viable means of powering a layout, and you can always convert it to dcc in the future. Using your f3 ab with s helper services dcc sound decoder. Dcc is a tool for model railroad layouts, and a train set is too simple for dcc to be a component of it. Scratchbuilding a coal shed building the main structure. Again, there are some myths to be debunked here, and some just common sense stuff. If you have not thought about sound, you owe it to yourselves to visit a club layout. Low costlow effort dcc for the small layout small model.

Setting up a layout using old equipment model train help. You can feed them all from the same wire and they can all carry the same electricity. In this article, i plan to show what dcc equipment and configuration i use. Sprog nano is a low cost usb interface that allows your dcc power boosters to be connected to a computer running windows, macos or linux. A starter set includes the command station and booster many are now integrated into a single unit, and a throttle. The first step in creating a new locomotive is is selecting the number that youd like it to be. Paul dolkos takes you through the steps he used to set up power districts on his ho model railroad. All thats necessary when visiting a layout, is to turn on your wifi and connect to the hosts wireless access point and you up and running with radio, irrespective of the hosts brand of dcc. The dcc communication scheme allows this to happen. Hardware support jmri supports a wide range of dcc command stationstyle products from various model railroad automation vendors. The easiest way to get up and running with digital command control is to buy a dcc starter set.

If you set your trains to run at a certain speed on a system with a 12 volt output, then take them to another layout with a 16v command station, theyre going to run about faster. Dcc wiring clinic 20 tricks with auto lamps i momentary shorts that would just stall one train with dc can shut down the entire layout with dcc. Compact railroad junctions for model train layouts. By separating your layout into districts, you divide the total track power available into smaller, more manageable units. Ac 16v ma setup and programming instructions bachmann trains is pleased to bring you ez ommand. Imho, these arguments suffice to go for dcc, regardless of the size of a layout. The first thing to do, which really needs to be considered before laying any track, is the placement of isolating rail joiners. At a minimum for track wiring this needs to measure dc on a 0 20 volt scale having a larger range is better, and resistance on a 0 50 ohm scale most meters will have a much wider set of resistance ranges. This page gives a very brief explanation of the advantages of dcc, how dcc works, and finally how to use the atlas dcc wiring diagrams to either build a new atlas dcc layout or convert to dcc an existing atlas layout that is currently wired for dc operation. When i started, i started off with dcc and purchased a modern diesel two car set, with lights and sound. I set up so that on speed step 1 the loco will move slowly as i almost always stop about 10 feet out, pause, then come up to the cars. Step 1 all you need to get running with dcc is a control system dcc command station and a loco fitted with a dcc decoder. A beginners guide to decoders, dcc systems, and layout wiring mike polsgrove on.

So do not order any decoders of this type for a dc dcc layout. Wiring your layout setting up computer control mra. Steve barkley offers a stepbystep demonstration on the dcc. Gaps to switch switch 1156 light bulb has less than 1 ohm resistance at low current, drops full 12 volts with 2. He set up a loop in a room and started running his trains. Find jmri in your programs list and click on decoder pro. Beginners guide to command control and dcc national model. You probably know what dcc is digital command control. Wiring the layout i mentioned earlier that the myth of wiring for dcc is just that a myth. Dcc or digital command control to give it its full title is a method of controlling your layout by sending signals along the track that can be picked up by a locomotive and make that locomotive do just what you want it to.