Recommendation please

DCC Made Easy: Digital Command Control for Your Model Railroad by Lionel Strang

Aspects of Modelling: Digital Control Command by Ian Morton

I think PECO also do a couple of booklets on the subject.

Hornby have a range of fitting instructions available on their website.

Chris

In message , snipped-for-privacy@o2.co.uk writes

Thanks

Adrian

I suggest you also check out some of the other forums too eg

Chris

Thanks, I'll have a look when I've got half an hour.

Adrian

I would stick with the internet. I've yet to find a book that is both up to date and comprehensive in it's coverage of what is out there.

If you are at all electronically minded then consider MERG. Their DCC pages

are open to non-members with designs for various DCC modules. Membership gets you access to the Yahho group and Forum and the Newsletter. Lso look at CBUS , (also applicable to DC) for accessory control and layout feedback.

What scale/gauge/period will you model?

MBQ

In message , Man at B&Q writes

I'll look them up as well thanks.

I acquired a varied collection of 00, ranging from GWR livery through to BR Green diesel, so I'll be fitting in there somewhere.

Adrian

So, plenty of room for decoders, compared to N at least, maybe even sound.

Virtually anything can be chipped, if you are prepared to put in enough effort. Features such as "dither" and back EMF control in decoders can mitigate some short comings, but you should really make sure everything runs reliably/smoothly on DC. A rolling road can be a useful investment and can be used in place of a programming/test track once you start fitting decoders.

It sounds like you'll be hardwiring a lot of decoders. Whilst you've got the body off (and maybe half the chassis dismantled in some cases, LOL!) it's well worth adding extra pickups wherever possible, especially on short wheelbase locos.

If your DCC hardware supports a computer connection, consider something like DecoderPro (free software) tp make decoder programming/ tweaking easy.

MBQ

I would recommend some caution on the MERG designs. Some are great and still current. Others strike me as antiquated, quite possibly excellent a dozen years ago, but overtaken by event elsewhere. For example I would advise against building the DCC control system, but recommend the DCC accessory decoders.

- Nigel

Of the Forums, I think RMWeb has the biggest number of DCC contributors who seem to know their stuff.

With any Forum, before asking a question, try using the search box. Chances are that many questions have been answered before.

- Nigel

Since everything has been in store for at least 8 years, my intention is to start off with a simple test track wired up with DC to make sure that everything works (could help with trouble shooting !), and then look at converting to DCC.

I'll bear that in mind, there is at least one GWR pannier tank in the collection.

As yet I don't have any DCC hardware (the reason for this thread is to do some background research before I start spending).

Adrian

Nigel Cliffe writes

Thanks, I'll bear it in mind.

Adrian

I prefer Model Rail Forum for the level of knowledge/understanding. I've seen some really stupid things said in the RMWeb DCC forum, probably more about the electronics side rather than DCC itself.

MBQ