Wiring Your Model Railroad--Voltage, Polarity, And More (114)

[@v4victory665]

Excellent series Larry, I easily learned a lot, enough to that I don't feel so intimidated by the electrical side of model railroading. Thank you very much for taking the time sharing your knowledge. 💯👍👍

[@michaelwolak3098]

hi Larry another fine video learning more about dcc with each video Mike

[@TheDCCGuy]

That’s why I do these videos, thanks for the feedback!

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

That was extremely informative! Thank you. I've never run Digitrax, but that's a cool little feature of the older models. Now I know you can't assume the responsibility of sharing this information... But as a stopgap (due to financial situation), I have SUCCESSFULLY run a NCE PowerCab with a 4A Power Brick instead of the 1.5A Wall Wart it comes with. Nothing ever even got WARM, the system had a lot more headroom, and Brownouts were a thing of the past! I was eventually able to upgrade to a PowerPro and PowerHouse 10A system... But that trick worked for 7 YEARS! Which thanks to this Video, will be adding a couple of Fans to!! 😁 Carmine ✈🚂🚙

[@peterjhillier7659]

You are a Life Saver, what a really great Series of Videos Thank You.

[@michaelmcdougall4527]

🎩🎩 off to ya 👍🏻 Great Imformation! Looking Forward to more Great Videos!🚂🚂

[@ricter591]

Thanks Larry!

[@Conn653]

Great video series! Subscribed a long time ago. Any chance of a video recommending budget starter sets? Thanks!

[@TheDCCGuy]

I personally suggest either the Digitrax Zephyr or the NCE PowerCab. Both offer a good upgrade path with lots of accessories, and a long history with lots of users to get advice/help from.

[@fishon7301]

New to this stuff. What's the purpose of adding a 'booster'? Is this to replace a track "bus" wire? And then regarding adjusting the voltage output, why would I want to do that? What's the purpose?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Watch video 113

[@dougdearinger5837]

I noticed you mentioned connecting both the booster and the command station track terminals to the track...so that would be parallel?

[@TheDCCGuy]

No, first, all command stations have a built in booster. The purpose of adding a second or third or more boosters is to allow you to provide extra power to the layout. This requires you to break the layout into two or more isolated blocks each powered by a different power source.

[@philmartinez2227]

Very informative video, but one thing I see in a lot of video's is...they never say what size wire to use . Sure we all know bus lines and feeders, but your boosters, power managements and such...maybe i missed it but I have not heard or seen what size wire to use. From a beginner by the way. thanks for your videos

[@TheDCCGuy]

It’s back there in one of the 137 other videos on the channel, so check out video 110. I will be discussing it again when we get around to wiring the modules.

[@DennisMurphey]

I am in deep trouble. I am a hobbyist not a scale guy or rivet counter, to make it worse i ONLY have 1950s American Flyer. About 25 engines, 3 loops and a mix of TMCC, MTH DCS, and Conventional. Not one DCC anything. BUT now MTH is sold and TMCC is hard to find and both are getting $200 per engine to install their Gear. Now, i am asking you a question in hopes you can help. I want to get RailPro with their nice held held unit and radio control Engine Models with Sound. They cost $100 and support wireless operation. In my layout I would then only be able to control Rail Pro engines with a Rail Pro Handheld device or on a PC with they USB interface. This way I can operate ALL my engines on the same layout at the same time. BUT, i am unable to understand how to get DCC inside an Engine from my AC Track Transformers. I have looked for a mini DCC Emulator that i would embed in each engine designed with Rail Pro Modules but I can not fully grasp what is going on and how to do it. Can i buy a DCC decoder plug the TM-3S into it and wire the DCC Decoder into a track interface that will take my track power and condition it for the DCC Decoder. I will NEVER use the DCC commands or vcontrol a DCC engine thriu the track signal. I will only use TMCC, MTH DSC and Rail Pro. Can i do this? Is this possible in a unit small enough to put in each Rail Pro Engine for MY Vintage AC track layout??????? I am in Ashburn, VA and don't know any DCC users to ask. Thanks Dennis in Virginia

[@TheDCCGuy]

Dennis, sorry but I have never experimented with any of that stuff and it sounds like you are headed down a path potentially fraught with frustration. Your best bet is to find a dealer/installer who sells all this and has experience so can advise you. Check with Litchfield Station in Arizona, they do a lot,of installs.

[@DennisMurphey]

I have learned RailPro operates off a 14.8V battery with Zero DCC interface. Providing all control via their radio control method thru a hand held controller or USB adaptor and PC App. So I need a DC regulated 14V to the LM-3S and the USB adapter to operate on my rails isolated from TMCC and MTH DCS. Worth the $140 to test. D

[@jerrysmith1929]

You said electrical specs are given in MR product reviews. I just checked the MR review for Scale Trains N scale C44-9W. There are no specs for current draw. I found the same to be true for the HO version.

[@TheDCCGuy]

You did better than me, I can’t find the N scale version. I’ll have to ask Dana why he didn’t give a value for the operating current, he usually does provide those data.

[@jerrysmith1929]

@@TheDCCGuy I found it on the MR website in staff reviews.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Very strange. I searched both the Model Train Magazine Index and the MR Archive search function and could not find the N scale review. Glad it turned up on the MR website for you.

[@jerrysmith1929]

@@TheDCCGuy I find the MR search functions aren't always reliable. I've done searches for articles I had photocopies but still couldn't find them in search.

[@railbuilderdhd]

Can you use the dcs 210 with the zephyr ds50 as the command center?

[@TheDCCGuy]

You could but why would you want to? Just use the DCS210 as the command station and the DCS50 as a booster.

[@railbuilderdhd]

The DCC Guy looking on the digitrax site it says the DB210 is not a command station but booster only. The DCS210+ or DCS240 are only command stations.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yes the DCS210 is a combination command station and booster. The DB210 is a booster only. In your original question you referred to the DCS210 not the DB210. You should be able to use the DB210 as the booster with the DCS50. Unfortunately the DCS210 is only available as part of their Evolution system or it would be a good replacement for your DCS50.