Track and electrical/DCC
N scale DCC questions
Hi all,
I'm building a early steam era N scale layout and have been comtenplating adding in DCC for control. Here is where my problems rise and my questions come from. My main motive power is from 4-4-0 and 2-6-0 steam engines. Because of the size and configuration of these engines, there is no place to mount a DCC card in them. Gearing is in teh loco with the motor in the tender and a small "drive shaft" connecting the two.
Peco Electrofrog Question
Using Peco Code 55 Electrofrog turnouts in a crossover with a short piece of track between them. Do I need to insulate the diverging routes that connect with the piece of track? If so where should I put the insulating joiners?
How do you connect DCC controllers other than Bachmann to E-Z track?
Hello, I'm new to the forum and this is my first post, so take it easy on me guys. LOL In the coming month, I'm going to be setting up a 4X8 layout running only one locomotive. Probably a simple oval with a couple of turnouts and smaller ovals. For various reasons I'm sold on E-Z track and I'm pretty firm on that. I will be using DCC but really only reason I'm going to use DCC is because I'm REALLY interested in having the sound equipped locomotive. So my locomotive is in the process of having DCC and sounded added.
Can Stretch Braking be simulated with DCC sound?
STRETCH BRAKING was the common way of reducing speed and stopping a train before the development of Dynamic Brakes and the elimination of the caboose. The Locomotive would work enough power to keep the slack stretched in the train while an application of train air brakes would slow the speed of the train. Keeping the slack stretched was important to avoid slamming the crew in the caboose.
digitrax sound decoders...
Are the digitrax sound decoders any good. I know you get what you pay for, but I am thinking about putting some into my much cheaper models I have. I am not a real sticker for accurate sound. I just want sound. Any opinions?
Amplifier failure in a SoundTraxx DSD-LC?
I have a SoundTraxx DSD-LC sitting around, having put it away some time ago after an apparent failure. Today I tested it, and the results are interesting..
I'll start of by admitting that I tried to make my own circuit board to mount it in a small tender, and I had a couple shorts in the traces where I should not have had any. I goofed. The funny thing is, the thing still ran, just no sound.
HO Signal Relay Cases
I have some HO scale block signals, built many years ago, that have relay cases at the base. I would like to find more of the same type of relay case, but cannot find the manufacturer (or mfrs.). Does anyone recognize either one of these? Thanks. (I've tried current searches of NJ, Details West, Detail Assoc, Tomar)
I'm also thinking of making castings, with these as protos, but only if the original mfrs are long gone.
DCC and CMRI integration
Over the years (gee, we can now say that, here!) there have been discussions on this forum, and others also, regarding layout wiring issues: where the problems lie, where are "best-practices", gremlins, etc. And, we have been pointed to some excellent sources of accurate information, such as the various Yahoo groups, and some notable individual's forums.
DCC block wiring
Just starting the wiring on my layout. The layout has four bus runs of 15 to 20 feet in a radial or star pattern originating from a terminal barrier strip that is connected to my command system with a single pair of wires. I want to break up the layout into four power subdistricts and use seperate circuit breakers for each subdistrict. Do the power subdistricts have to coincide with the bus runs or can they go across or straddle two areas powered by two seperate bus runs? Using NCE Powercab without a smart booster right now but will be adding a smart booster after a while.
detection
I do not know the proper name for this type of track detection but it uses a track feed wire passing through a coil of wire and it senses the flow and thus reacts. Does anyone know where this type of system may be purchased or do you have any plans of the circuit?
Thanks Don
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