Track and electrical/DCC

My situation is I don't have a layout space, so I'm just building turnouts for fun and to stock up, the same way I think some people build up rolling stock for the shelf before they build a layout. This is an aspect of the hobby I can enjoy and get better at now, while building up inventory for later.

Physical inertia DC throttle?

Tue, 2019-07-23 16:37 — gasnbrass

Track and electrical/DCC

While watching videos of the DCC ProtoThrottle simulating inertia, it occurred to me, could a DC throttle be built that has actual physical inertia using a flywheel? A notched throttle like a diesel that powers a small under layout drive motor spinning a flywheel which spins a dc motor as a generator to send power to the tracks. Applying more 'notch' will hasten the flywheel's speed, and cutting the throttle will allow it to keep spinning and "coast" the locomotive.

DCC decoder hook up wire size?

Tue, 2019-07-23 09:48 — Craig Townsend

I'm diving into rewiring my large scale locomotives from DC to DCC, and I'm curious what wire size I should use? 30, 28? 5 amp max power.

Digikey is one online retailer of electronic parts, wire, but any other sources you guys use on a regular basis?

I'm guessing it would be smart to buy the standard colors; orange/grey, white/blue, red/black. Am I missing any other standard DCC wire colors?

6 comments

Using TCS KA-2 with Soundtraxx TSU-1100?

Mon, 2019-07-22 21:45 — tbdanny

I've got a Soundtraxx TSU-1100 decoder and a TCS KA-2 keepalive on hand, and I would like to use the two of them together. Is it as simple as connecting the KA-2 across the TSU-1100's decoder connections, or are more modifications needed?

4 comments

Wire a Tortoise (am I making this too hard?)

Mon, 2019-07-22 21:26 — NeilEr

I pre-wires a few Tortoise machines to interface with a Switch-8 and, ultimately a button board as well as JMRI interface. There are 8 connections on the machine so one set (outermost) is to connect to the Switch-8 and the inner set are two single pole double throw switch contacts. I figured that I only needed one of make/break to send to JMRI so picked up a 7 conductor cable at the big box.

HO Scale Wood Ties

Mon, 2019-07-22 21:13 — laming

Track and electrical/DCC

I've been out of the hand laid track loop for more than 2 decades.

What are my options for a bag of 1000 full sized (not "profile") HO scale ties? I need to make tie loads for gondolas and tie stacks for loading sites.

I about fainted when I saw the prices of a bag on eBay.