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Can I Run DCC Locos Together?
Tim asks readers:
“I have two HO DCC locomotives that I want to consist together so that can pull/push up a 4% grade on my layout. Both locomotives travel in different directions for forward & reverse. Can I change this in one of them using DCC or do I need to hard wire the change in the loco”
4 Responses to Can I Run DCC Locos Together?
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You can do this easily if your DCC controller supports consists, such as NCEs. You identify which is lead loco and which others are also in the consist. You indicate for each loco if it is facing forward or backward in the consist. You can have consists such as A-B or A-A or A-B-A. In the A-A and A-B -A consists the second A unit is facing backwards and you program that info into your DCC controller.
This is what is so attractive about DCC.
Word of caution. You first should perform speed matching for all locos in your consist.
Once configured, you send commands to lead loco as described in your controller manual.
It’s good fun and certainly worth trying.
yes you can run as many as you like with dcc and any were in in consists front/ back/ middle / forward or backward just have to set it up. don,t know what dcc system you have but read you hand book on mu unit it will tell you most all decoders on market will work in a mu mod
Right on Tim, Just as they said above. They are right on. They will work better than trying to do standard DC engines together. Check out my Promontory Point Engines on their first run teamed up together in DCC. Listen to the sound as they each pass the camera. from Newman
I Need to add something to my comment. At some point you will take tour DCC engines and run them on someone else’s layout. They may or may not use the same brand of DCC. The brand does not matter but when you go there or if someone comes to your layout and you consist your engines, Make sure you de-consist your engines before you shut down and then after ensuring they run separately be sure to dispatch those engines form their system. If you don’t then when you put them back on your home layout the engines may just sit there and not move. Both DCC systems will write what you want to the engines but each will tell it in their own electric language and when you get it home it does not understand that language from the other system. Therefore they don’t work right.
There are two choices to fix them. 1st is to take them back to the layout you were at as you had them then de-consist them there or 2nd choice you will have to do a factory reset on your own system to each engine and if you had special settings on them you will have to go in and reset those CV’s Your best choice is ALWAYS DE Consist your engines and always Dispatch them before going to your friends and also when you leave your friends. Yes I learned I did exactly what I am advising everyone to not to forget to do.
from Newman