As someone who has been away from the hobby for a number of years, but is just getting back into it now, can someone please explain to me what on earth DCC is? I have seen it mentioned often on this group, but have no idea what it is!
DP
Digital Command Control. Try Google.
DP schrieb:
A (The) method to control your railway by digital equipment, see:
NMRA-Infopage:
Or try
Keith
Make friends in the hobby. Visit Garratt photos for the big steam lovers.
"DP" wrote in message news:cj7fqq$p54$ snipped-for-privacy@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk...
The simple answer is Digital Command Control (DCC). Traditionally, model trains have been controlled with 12 volt variable DC current (depending on scale) to control the movement of trains. This has meant that a train fitted with lights brighten and dim with the varied current used to control train speed. Double heading or running in multiple has also been awkward due to different motors having varied current consumption at the same notch on the controller. If you wanted to move only a particular loco amongst many on a portion of track, they would all move at once unless you had lots of isolating sections and switches.
With DCC it is a completely radical. First, the track is energised with a constant 15 volts DC with a square wave ( a vague kind of AC). Each locomotive is equipped with a decoder that monitors digital signals on the track. When you tap in the number on your controller it will now respond to your commands. This in cludes, direction, speed and functions (e.g. lights). So appart from moving a loco when and where you fancy, you can have trains approaching each other on the same line, constant lighting in trains and loco lights will stay at a constant brightness. You can vary the accelleration and braking rates with some decoders and some have back EMF to create a uniform speed up hill and down dale. Ideal for double heading and multiple working. DCC can also be driven from a computer with the right software and hardware. Block detection is available and points and signals are easilly controlled through DCC.
The DCC standard was created (with the help of Lenz) by the National Model Railroad Assosciation of America (NMRA). It means if DCC equipment is compliant to these standards then decoders and control equipment will work with each other. Equipment is also forwardly and backwardly compatible, so you will not get left with an obsolete system on your hands. Wiring a DCC layout is much more simple and straightforward. However, locomotives require a different approach especially the British outline ones. A few are now 'DCC ready' this means you take the body off, remove a plug and insert a decoder. The decoder has a plug and flying lead with a sticky pad. The only challenge is identifying pin 1. Some loco manufacturers stamp this on the circuit board while others do not. It is not a problem to identify the wires and orientate the pins. Unfortuneatly, most UK outline locos do not come 'DCC ready'. In this case you must isolate the pick ups from the motor circuits as the current flows from the track to the motor via the decoder. In most installations the RF suppressors are removed and the decoder takes care of the TV interference (this does not apply to ZTC manufacture decoders where supprerssors are left in for operational reasons). Whilst this sounds all a bit dauting, there are now DCC user groups on the net who are ready to help plus the manufacturers and distributors. At first glance DCC appears expensive, but considering all the facilities you get it is an absolute bargain. My Lenz set 100 can control 256 locomotives from 31 controllers plus 1024 points with a 5 amp transformer for under £300 and that is a top of the range set. DC only locomotives can still be used, but all lights will light up (the AC nature of the curent will overcome directional diodes) and you get a strange noise from the motor. Lima pancake motors cannot be used like this for a long time. Decoder fitted locos can run on conventional DC but never with a feed back controller or on layouts with working overhead lines (this will burn out a decoder). Overhead electrified lines are just for show on DCC and you do not need current from them as a seperate control circuit as was required in years gone by. Aplogies for the long posting. Steve
That's brilliant, thanks for the help!
DP
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