this may have been asked somewhere back down the line, i've searched a bit through the threads, but didn't see the answer jumping out to me. i am getting ready to build some oNeTrak modules and was planning on having them set up for DCC, but I want to be able run DC at the house (can't justify spending the $$ for a controller at this time). however, i was looking at the controllers for the tortise switch machines and signals, detectors, etc. that can be driven within DCC. how would a person run the turnouts, etc. when running DC? what would happen with the signals, etc.? thanks!!! beast
I've not tried it, but I think if you're lucky a stationary decoder will just ignore straight DC and thus you will be unable to control the switches and signals. If you're unlucky, it will respond adversely and throw the switches / signals at random. My advice would be to wire a seperate bus for the stationary decoders, if possible in oNeTrak. Even when purely DCC, I'd be inclined to keep stationary decoders on a seperate circuit from the (electrically) noisy train engines. If you had a main track bus which comes back to the controller - DC or DCC - and a seperate accessory bus which comes back to a switch at the controller (closed for DCC, open-circuit for DC); then you could at least guarantee that the accessories won't get confused by direct current. But you won't be able to control the accessories.
AAA, Those are good points. I did some talking with a couple of guys in the NTrak club I belong to (and am planning on hooking my oNeTrak layout to most of the time) and they had similar comments about controllability. Currently even if I ran the stationary decoders, I wouldn't be able to run them with the club layout because it doesn't have that capability (yet). I may just table this idea, but keep everything wired on a separate bus to make sure i can convert at some point later in time. thanks for your input!!! beast
One concern about DCC turnout control in an NTRAK setup would be making the turnout addresses known to others running the trains. Also, many DCC users don't use DCC for turnout control and may not be familiar with the procedures. Better to provide local control (mechanical or electrical to the stationary decoder) for club setups, and use your throttle at home.
One other thing to consider if you were to got he DCC route is that not all stationary decoders get their signal from the track. This is especially the case with some LocoNet based decoders. If you have a decoders on your module, and the layout isn't using the control system your decoder needs, then you need to be able to provide the appropriate signal. This certainly applies to modules you're using at home as well. I've been thinking about this subject quite a bit lately myself. I've even written down many of these thoughts into a small document that was posted to the NtrakDCCSig group on yahoo groups a couple of months ago... Paul
