Well I'm working on my first ever HO layout and have never worked with DCC before. Ok I have got most of my wiring in place, got the color code working well, soldering went good no melted ties. But now I'm down to the last section of main line and my separate programing track and this is where I'm confused. I have the NCE Power cab system and in the book it shows a diagram how to wire a switch for it. It shows 2 wires from Power cab connector to a DPDT 6 pole switch(2 center posts) then 2 wires to the programing track (from one end), and 2 wires going to the mainline track(other end). So are the Power Cab connector wires just from my bus wires? And I understand that with the switch to the program side the rest of the layout is stopped but when programing is done will this section of track operate normally with the rest of the main line? It is isolated from the rest of the main line. I hope I explained this right and understandable I've never done this before and trying not to make to many mistakes. Thanks for any help you can give me.
You'll want to check this thread http://siskiyou-railfan.net/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?2865.post And look into get this video (I'll recommend the whole series) http://model-trains-video.com/volume3.php Steve
David it is either Programming track active or Main line active, one or the other period. NCE also sell an Auto-SW to prevent human errors. It is $24 MSRP, a good buy. The first link provided by Steve is also a foolproof way to wire your programming track. It is recommended when the programming track is part of the layout main line. Personally I keep the programming far away from the layout. Jack W.
Well I guess a pat on the back is in order for myself . I got the wiring for the track all done and working and didn't burn up the controls or the house. Had to redo the programing track to another spur but actually made it better because its right on the side of the layout easier to get to. I played with one engine and a few cars for awhile then got brave and reset the addresses on 2 engines and ran both of them with a few cars. Still need to play with the DCC to get some settings set up for easier operation but all in all not to bad for the first time ever as far as I'm concerned. Now I'll start wiring all the turnouts next week and see how that goes. Thanks for all the information and help guys.
