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Electronics

DCC Complete, Turnout Control

Electronics - DCC

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DCC Turnout Control

One of the advantages of using DCC is the ability to control the turnouts on a layout through your DCC system using the hand-held controller. The same controller that is used to control the locomotives. Thus you do not HAVE to build control panels. However, in a lot of the cases, modelers have found that the control panel is almost indispensable except on the smallest of layouts.

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DCC Complete, Special Trackwork Wiring

Electronics - DCC

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Special Trackwork Wiring - Reversing Sections

Reversing sections can be classified as special trackwork that has different wiring needs than most of the track on our layouts. There are three types of reversing sections that almost always required some sort of special wiring in order for them to work correctly. They are: 1- The Reversing Loop; 2- The Wye; and 3- The Turntable. In all cases, the section of track that is set aside to be the reversing section must be completely isolated at both ends from all other layout tracks or wiring. This is usually done by track and electrical gaps at both ends of the reversing section.

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DCC Complete, Track Wiring

Electronics - DCC

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Track Wiring

Main Power Bus

Power to run our model locomotives has to be put on the rails or track from the Command Station or Booster. We use wires to do this, as the interface or connection between the Booster and track. Since the DCC system allows for controlling multiple locomotives individually on the same piece of track, we do not need to separate our wiring into "control blocks" as we have done when using DC control. (Don't confuse the "control block" wiring that previously used toggle switches, with DCC block type wiring or Power Districts, which will be explained as we go along.) This makes the task of wiring our model railroad layouts simpler. However, because the DCC system is capable of providing more current to the track than our old DC system, the size of the wires used in various places is different.

Read more: DCC Complete, Track Wiring

 

DCC Complete, basic parts

Electronics - DCC

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I. Basic DCC System Parts

A. Command Station

The Command Station is the heart of the DCC system. It takes the input signals from the Command bus, that the hand-held controllers connect to, and changes them to the digital signals that the Decoders in the Locomotives receive from the rails.

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DCC Complete, the intro

Electronics - DCC

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The DCC System

DCC systems have brought new controls and features to our Model Railroads. Along with being able to control multiple locomotives individually on the same piece of track, we can also control the lights and sounds associated with a particular type of locomotive.

Read more: DCC Complete, the intro

 

SE8C Signal Board, Digitrax

Electronics - Signals

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Elmer Mckay presents to us a review of the SE8C Signal Decoder from Digitrax. We hope you enjoy this new series of DCC focused articles.

We hope you enjoy this new series of DCC focused articles. We welcome Elmer and all his knowledge of DCC to the site.

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A quick soldering tip

Electronics - Tips and techniques

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I hand lay N scale turnouts using printed circuit board so do I a lot of soldering. One frustrating aspect of soldering is controlling how much solder is used. I used end up with too much on the rails and PC board and that's big mess to clean up. I came up with a simple method of limiting how much solder is applied and this is an idea you may be able to use on your own soldring projects.

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SmartSwitch, AneModels.com...

Electronics - Animation

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Converting to DCC and electrifying our layout was going to be the last thing we did. However, we are always looking for new products in model railroading - to help fill in the blanks concerning quality, along with creating step-by-step instructions to get you up and running quickly.

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Modern Signal Tower BLMA (HO Scale)

Electronics - Signals

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packageBLMA has been making great strides in creating quality prototypical products for the model railroading industry. A good example is the product we are reviewing today. To find one of these in the wild, is a common occurrence. Finding a good example of the prototype on a layout, is like finding Waldo without your glasses.

Read more: Modern Signal Tower BLMA (HO Scale)

   

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