DCC - laymen terms

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brubakes

brubakes

Member
Hello everyone. I'm new the forum and am just now returning to the model railroading hobby. It's been a good 15 years since my last layout so now that I am coming back I feel pretty lost. Seems like everything I have now is way obsolete.

Can someone give me a breakdown on just what all this DCC stuff if about? Laymen/Newbie terms. I've been poking around on Google and some model railroading fan sites, but most of the information I have found is for people who already know the basics. Any info or pointers in the right direction for info would be great. I want to make sure I have an understanding of what is current in the model railroading world before I start my new layout.
 
If you are familiar with computers, one way you can look at this is it is a lot like USB. The rails are live all the time with "square wave" serial data - kinda like the USB ports on your computer. The power for the motors is part of the data (so to speak).

Every loco has its own "processor" built in (the DCC decoder), and each loco has its own unique identity in the form of a ID number (programmed into its decoder). When you place a loco on the rails it is like plugging in a USB device (like a thumb drive). It will sit there and do nothing until it "hears" a command on the rails that correspond to its ID, then it will act on them (like "go to x speed", or "turn on headlight", etc).

The cool part is you can put multiple locos on the same section of rail. For instance, you have 3 locos on the rails with IDs #3, #4 and #5. You program your controller to operate loco ID number #4 - only that loco will do what you tell it to do, locos #3 and #5 will ignore the commands. Then you can add 2 more controllers and program them to control locos #3 and #5, and in the same way as #4 they will only respond to their corresponding programmed controllers.

I hope that helped and didn't confuse you more. :)

Mark
 
Thanks Mark, that did help. I actually work in I.T. so that was a great comparison.

To start, what exactly would I need?

DCC ready Locomotive (thus having a decoder).
Any old track? (recommendations) (best kind to get)
Controller (correct term) to program what the trains do?
 


Just to clarify, a DCC ready locomotive does not have a DCC decoder already installed. You have to buy one and install it. As long as the decoder interface is a standard 9 pin NMRA compatible plug, it's not hard to do. Decoders run from about $20 to $50 depending on how sophisticated they are so you need to add that to the cost of the engine to have it run under DCC.
 
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UP2CSX said:
Just to clarify, a DCC ready locomotive does not have a DCC decoder already installed. You have to buy one and install it. As long as the decoder interface is a standard 9 pin NMRA compatible plug, it's not hard to do. Decoders run from about $20 to $50 depending on how sophisticated they are so you need to add that to the cost of the engine to have it run under DCC.
Click to expand...

Are decoders specific to the DCC system you have to control your locos? Thus if I have company ABC for the "backbone" then do I also need to use ABC decoders?
 
No man that's the great thing about DCC if you liked Tsunamis sound decoders and you have a digitrax system you can use them together. Because NMRA set a standard of how the decoders and command stations communicate.
 
thats the other cool bit, all the track side of the DCC systems are the same, any NMRA compliant decoder will run with any system.

Ken.

EDIT Nick ya bet me to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
so I would get a DCC ready locomotive, buy a decoder, and it just has a connector on the inside i plug the decoder into and then (assuming I have the rest of the DCC setup) it would work?
 
also, what all can be programmed via DCC? I've seen posts on lights and sound. Is this in addition to the movement of the locomotives? Does the decoder also do all this?
 


Does DCC allow the locomotives to know when they are close to one another? meaning if I have a setup with two of three trains on the same line, what keeps them from crashing into one another?
 
you do! :D

I know of some systems or fancy wiring that you can do to set up a sensor, if there's a train that passes, and a second comes close behind it, it'll cut power to a certain section of track until the other train passes the next 'checkpoint' if you will.

tricky to set up!
 
If you are an electronics tech I can send you links on how to build your own computer controlled controller system. It is PIC chip based, uses DOS (yes DOS) on a P1 233, and all available on the internet. I built my own originally to save money and in the end LOVE the flexibility of the rig. Not including the computer (that almost hit the landfill last year) I have maybe 25 bucks into the parts. Takes some time to build though.

As for the question about DCC ready engines, nearly any loco will take a DCC decoder. I've kitted out old 1970s Athearn F7s with no problems. As long as there is space inside the engine you're good. The key is you need to isolate the motor from the chassis and/or rails. Only had trouble with two of them and it had to do with a bad motor and another that drew a lot of current.

What's so cool about DCC is you can program custom "momentum" settings for startup and stop, plus all kinds of light functions depending on the decoder. I use NCE's D13SR and have had great success.

Mark
 
brubakes said:
also, what all can be programmed via DCC? I've seen posts on lights and sound. Is this in addition to the movement of the locomotives? Does the decoder also do all this?
Click to expand...


Check out websites of manufacturers of DCC decoders - some have their manuals for their decoders online in PDFs. That way you can see first hand what you can do. Worst case if you strike out finding any, let me know and I'll email you a PDF of the manual for the NCE one I use.

Mark
 
chimmike said:
you do! :D

I know of some systems or fancy wiring that you can do to set up a sensor, if there's a train that passes, and a second comes close behind it, it'll cut power to a certain section of track until the other train passes the next 'checkpoint' if you will.

tricky to set up!
Click to expand...

so the only safe way is to run fully separate lines for each train I want to have going. I like having at least three trains running at a time. no biggie, i was kinda planning on that anyway.
 
"DCC-Ready" is a nebulous term, mainly because it's used more as a marketing term rather than some specific, ease of installation annotation. Even a Blue Box Athearn loco can be called 'DCC ready', because you can put in a decoder without a whole lot of trouble. But, not as easily as, say, a new Athearn RTR with the 'DCC plug equipped' sticker. Those have a plug already there, and all you really need to do is plug in a decoder that has the matching plug type.

All of the recent P2K locos have the 8-pin plug, you need to remove the existing board and replace it with the decoder board, plus maybe add resistors to the lights so they won't blow out due to excessive current (though some decoders don't require this because the decoder has circuitry to drop the current to the lights).

The next level of 'DCC-Ready' are those that have no plug, but the whole circuit board can be removed and replaced with a decoder board made for that loco. Again, you probably have to put in resistors if the decoder doesn't specifically say it can provide lesser voltage to lights.

The lowest level of DCC-Ready is the Blue Box Athearns.

The last two are basically my own rankings; some folks think those really should be listed as 'DCC-Capable'. But some folks have seen people refer to them as 'DCC-Ready', even though it's not close. The only locos not really DCC-Capable are those with open frame, coreless motors that draw high amps and need to be replaced with a modern can motor before even thinking of adding a decoder.

In reality, the only locos that aren't candidates for DCC are the absolute junkers. Almost everything else can be DCC-enabled, given enough time and wherewithal.

Kennedy
 
Well, Kennedy, for a beginner install, split frame Bachmann's are definitly NOT dcc ready, however, it CAN be accomplished (ask Jeffrey). However, I do agree that Blue box units can be easily upgraded.
 
You got that right. The only ones I don't touch are the split frame Bachmanns. I have a few, but those are old Spectrums with the suspect powertrain. They've had the motors removed so they're dummies now. I'd like to put in sound-only decoders at some point in time. The speaker will go where the Motor used to be, and I'd chop off the frame that's above the motor.

Kennedy
 


Ahhh, it's only confusing to you because its new. It really isn't all that bad. I would recommend you do some reading first. There are many places to do that, but here is a good starting place. http://tonystrains.com/tonystips/dccprimer/index.htm
(Tony's is a very good place to shop with knowledgeable people to help you with your order if you choose to order through a web store. )

Some decoders are specifically designed to fit certain types of locos based on plug, size, and electrical differences and are usually easy to install. Many types are good in most locos if they fit and/or the modeler can make any necessary wiring changes. Hobby shops usually have someone that can help and there is always HERE. How about a nearby modelrailroad club?
 
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