Track and electrical/DCC

Buss and Loconet lengths?

  Hi All, sketched up a schematic for the buss and loconet for my S scale layout and have a couple of questions for those more familiar with DCC.    First is the buss length, I'd like to break them at the spots shown on the sketch which leaves one run at 36 feet from the Zephyr. Does anyone have runs that long with no problems? I'll only be running one or at most two engines at a time if that matters. The second is the Loconet to connect to a booster on the far side of the layout.

IAISfan's picture

Cheap 21-pin decoder harnesses, or other alternatives for hard-wiring?

As part of my conversion to from Tsunami to Loksound, I recently took six Loksound Select 21-pin decoders (originally from Bowser and Rivarossi locomotives) in trade.  I don't own any locomotives with compatible sockets, so I'm planning to hardwire these.  The original owner of the decoders suggested using these TCS harnesses:

https://www.tcsdcc.com/Zen/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=63_67

Alco_nut's picture

Progaming NCE Switch-it Mk2

Im looking for some help on programing the address on these with an MRC Prodigy Advance 2. I have gone over both manuals but I can not get the address to program. The Mk2 manual says they must be programmed on the main but the MRC manual says to use the program track. 

What is your favorite signal manufacturer? Most durable?

What is your favorite signal manufacturer in HO? Furthermore, which has the best durability for modules on the move and can survive an arm or hand bump? Good bang for the buck would be helpful.

I am looking at 3-light aspect signals with individual visors, such as the SG-938 from Details West.

Fast Tracks HO #6 three way turnout template

Save your self some grief, I used their template to make my switch,, great template BUT there are 4 frog isolation gaps, only three are circled with out cutting the 4th you have a short, found after installed on layout.  Darn near destroyed the switch trying to find, it is shown on the template but easily missed, my error.  But switch works good after finding my error. As I only needed one three way I didn't want to buy the aluminum setup but I did use the quick sticks ties, makes life easy.  And they do make great products.

PineCreekRR's picture

HO scale deadrail operation

So I'm thinking about using the dead rail option for my HO scale layout, and im wanting to know what company or kit would be best to use for this. I am planning on installing the first one into a Bachmann HO GE 70 ton switcher. Thanks in advance for the help.

Long Haired David's picture

Issue with one switch using a DCC Concepts CobaltIP Digital motor

I have a stupid problem that I can't clear. I have small layout with 15 Peco electrofrog swithces - each one controlled by a Cobalt Digital motor. 14 of them are working perfectly but I have trouble with the 15th. When set straight, it causes no issues but when I set it for the siding, I immediately get a full short and my NCE Powercab shuts down. There are only three connections to the Cobalt - 2 power and one for the frog. Both exiting tracks have the required peco insulating joiners.
Would anyone have any suggestions as I am tearing my hair out?

HO turnouts, N ground throws and 1/8" cork roadbed

In like Caboose Industries ground throws. They are cheap, easy to use and reliable – but they can be a real eyesore. Using N-scale ground throws makes it a little better, but still …

For my new HO layout I am using 1/8" thick cork roadbed and that gives me the opportunity to mount the ground throws underneath the head block ties. They work just as well this way, but look way better.

Kato DCC Power Pack

I'm using Kato N scale unitrack for my coffee table layout and really like the plug and play features Kato offers. However, their power pack seems like its a DC power pack only. Do they offer a DCC system?

Thanks-Tim

Signaling & Computer Control

As I'm dismantling the current G&AM I'm also planning and preparing for the next layout. One of the features I want to have is signaling and the possibility to automatically control and run a number of trains from a PC. This post is not about the software side, I pretty much know what options I have. It's about the hardware for occupancy detection and such.


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