Comments on: Converting Dad’s Layout to DCC

By: Edwin L Rahn

Edwin L Rahn — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 20:25:31 +0000

Clean the track and train wheels w/GOO Gone. You can buy at W-Mart Or Lowe’s.

Pour a little bit on track and run engines and cars over it. Will help clean everything. Nothing sticky or gooie afterward.

By: BobW

BobW — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 11:51:36 +0000

In reply to Geoff. Very sage advice. I will certainly take it to hart and think about this more before proceeding. Thank you for the additional input.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 00:38:44 +0000

In reply to BobW.

In theory, yes, but you need to make sure that your cherished older engines are on an electrically isolated section or removed from the track before you switch from DC to DCC. Otherwise, your older engines will likely fry. For added security you may want to have “toggle switches” that have a “centre off” position, and then when you switch over turn all of them off before turning them to the other power supply. Whatever you can do to make it foolproof. It seems to me that everything could work fine, but all it would take is a brief moment of distraction after a few months when it’s become routine and then a switch gets turned at the wrong time.

Also, fFor DCC, you may need to add additional feeder wires to the track – some people have a feeder wire every three feet, and some of your existing sections may be longer than that.

By: Sheldon Clark

Sheldon Clark — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 09:01:27 +0000

It depends on how complex the railway is and what you want. Then simpler the railway is, the easier it is to wire (DC or DCC), but the less need there is to go for DCC – unless you want the advantages of DCC sound (superb, but expensive).

By: BobW

BobW — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 21:03:03 +0000

Just to add into the thread, my plan is to have the best of both worlds. My current track is DC with several older engines that I cherish. My plan is to add in some “toggle switches” on my panel control board that when flipped, and which are tied together, will “cut over” all power connections from the 3 DC controllers over to 1 DCC controller to the entire track layout. Regarding the engines, I have no plans to fuss with the cost and effort to convert an older DC engine to DCC. I want to keep them as is anyway. Instead I am purchasing new DCC with sound engines. I will simply swap out the engines when I toggle between the two control methods. In theory, I think this should work fine, right?

By: Morgan Bilbo

Morgan Bilbo — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:32:20 +0000

Trevor H. The best advice I can think of to give you is: Visit some model rr clubs or an individual’s layout. Get to see what it’s like. Then, as many have mentioned, you can decide whether or not to spend the money on DCC. It is an expense. Even if you don’t buy decoders and convert your DC engines. The idea of doing a new layout in DCC might be less of a hassle and don’t have to break the bank. But everything in DCC is more expensive than it was in DC.

By: Mike Addis

Mike Addis — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 18:23:18 +0000

There is only ONE potential major problem in converting to DCC and that is the loco’s themselves.
If its old then it probably isn’t convertible, I’ve found this out the expensive way.
Do some research – Opening/removing the body from the chassis, then look for a small printed circuit board, if there is one then its DCC ready. If not I suggest that you take one to a model shop that does repairs and ask them. That will answer the issue for most of the locos with similar motors.
Welcome to the hobby and many hours of fun and frustration.
PS the 3 steps in the above post are good advice

By: Tom Roise

Tom Roise — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 16:38:30 +0000

Wow Trevor, I’m not sure if you need anymore advice than what you have here. great options for you to choose from. Just remember that DCC is more expensive. Decency is more sensitive. You will have to worry about shorts. You will have to check all of your switches. DC motors tend to run and run and run. DCC motors tend to have more electrical connectivity issues to deal with. At the end of the day, it comes down to how much you want to do or how much you want to just enjoy what you have.

By: Timothy Purdy

Timothy Purdy — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 14:43:10 +0000

In reply to Steven Attias. I run Athearn HO Diesel Locomotives. I've got about 250 total old blue box Loco's. What I did was go to digitrax and but their conversion kit that will allow you to convert a blue box loco to DCC. They even have a step by step video on how to do this. You can covert one loco for about $30.00 that's a lot cheaper than scrapping the loco and purchasing one for $300.00.

By: Frank B

Frank B — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 15:09:48 +0000

Step 1) Get a good grasp of basic electronics. There are free online courses.
Step 2) Buy a book on DCC railroading, and get a good overview of the system.
Step 3) Then decide how far you want to go.

By: Wayne Norman

Wayne Norman — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 11:38:25 +0000

Hi Trevor,
Welcome to the best hobby in the world, but don’t rush in to it. If done correctly, it will give you many hours of fun and pleasure Learn as much as you can before investing $ into purchasing DCC equipment or converting older locos. There are many many sources of excellent info out there both in written and video formats which explain in detail what you should and should not do to achieve your goal. Spend a bit of time on research up front and you will reap the benefits down the road. Good luck with it and happy railroading !!

By: john turner

john turner — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 09:50:31 +0000

I converted from dc to dcc, first of all, converting the track if in good condition is quite easy go for a nce controller second I converted many dc locos to dcc but my honest opinion is it is not worth it
also do not buy ddc trains that are dcc ready they are buggers to fit sound chips in expressly Hornby
buy trains with dcc sound which will greatly enhance your pleasure