I'm planning on having DCC for my track in the future...would I be able to make my track DCC with my 12V plain DC&CC controller??...or do I have to buy a whole new controller?? I want to run 2 or more trains at different speeds and go different directions.
I am not totally clear on your question but I will try to interpret what you are asking. To convert from DC to DCC, first you will require a command station. This is the unit that is the heart of DCC. It is a small computer that takes input from the handheld throttles and then sends out coded commands to the individual locomotives on the layout. Some DCC systems also require a separate booster while some systems incorporate the booster in with the command station. As already mentioned, you will need handheld throttles, one for each operator. Some of the handheld throttles allow you to control 2 trains at once. I use trains here because a train can be consisted of more than one locomotive. These throttles do not send information directly to the locomotives, they send coded signals to the command station. You will need a power supply. Depending on the DCC system you purchase, you may be able to use your existing DC power pack. In most cases though a larger power pack is required. Finally, you will need a decoder installed in each locomotive. The decoder takes the coded information from the command station and power from the rails and controls power output to the motor and lights. If this doesn't answer your question, please ask again.
Ya thanks for the info. I do want to get a new control because I'll be hooking up turnouts to it so I'll need more than 2 hookups(terminals I think their called). So I'll be having about 2 trains going at once, 3 turnouts and signal lights...will one control station do me good, with lots of places to hook up things??
I think you might want to go to your local hobby shop. They should have a good book about DCC. Not sure what its called though, DCC for beginners? It will go through everything you need to know step by step and will answer questions you havent thought of yet ....Mike
One connection is all you need as the DCC signal caries information to various devices to control various things. As previously mentioned, you'll need a booster for your track and decoders in any engines you want to control. If you want to control other devices, like switches (turnouts), you'll need accessory decoders, which, like the ones in the engines, decode the information sent to them and provide outputs to control ... switches (or lights, or accessories, or animations, etc.). Everything you want to control must have a decoder of some sort. And all the decoders are connected to the same information bus (one connection). You can have multiple boosters (and therefore multiple information busses) if your layout is very large, but this doesn't seem to be the case. So, for you, all the decoders will all connect to the one output, each one "hanging" off the information bus (some by connecting through the rails, some by direct connection). Look at EZ DCC for inexpensive accessory decoders, even kits you can build -- they can be used to control anything electric, like the switches and lights mentioned above.
