Subject:
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Re: DCC and the future
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Thu, 19 Dec 2002 15:43:35 GMT
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Viewed:
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1381 times
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How does DCC work with reversing loops ? Also thank you for being willing to
anser these questions about DCC. I am mostly a lerker but I have found this
very informative.
ondrew
niltc
In lugnet.trains, John Hill writes:
> In lugnet.trains, Ahui Herrera writes:
>
> Yes, thats right, no matter which way the loco is facing on the tracks
> 'forwards' is always forward.
>
> Yes, the only Lego component to be modified is the train motor.
>
> The decoder is a small electronic circuit that has to be mounted on or in
> the train motor.
>
>
> Unfortunately the old speed regulator will not be much use for running trains.
>
> Yes, and not only multiples on the one track but you can control the speed
> of each independantly. They can ever be going in opposite directions.
>
> I have converted about 10 or 12 Lego trains to DCC and had one failed
> decoder which the supplier cheerfully replaced with no question asked. I
> don't know if I made a mistake or was just unlucky.
>
>
> In addition to the decoder that is mounted on each train you need a control
> station, this unit has an individual 'throttle' control for each train on
> your layout or some means of sharing one or more throttle controls among all
> your trains. In addition to the throttle control there may be direction
> (i.e. reversing) controls and one or more other controls to handle things
> like lights.
>
> Depending upon the size of your layout and the number of trains you may need
> a 'power station'. As far as I can tell this is just a current applifier
> that can put out about 8 amps at 12 volts.
>
> Under DCC all track sections are joined together and all rails have full
> power on them all the time. The power station supplies this power and the
> controller adds the control signal to the track current. Each train decoder
> has it's own address so that the controller can do things like command a
> particular train to stop, start, lights on/off etc etc. Each train decoder
> only responds to commands that are addressed to it specificially.
>
> With power on all the time the lights glow at full brilliance while the
> train is stopped, trackside lighting can be powered from the track, you can
> mount a decoder to control points (i.e. 'switches'), turntable, even cranes
> or whatever your imagination can manage in Lego.
>
> You might have guessed, I am a fan of DCC and Lego. It is expensive to get
> started on as the decoders (which you need the most of) are probably beyond
> the capabilities of most hobbyists to build.
>
> I am working on a power station and trying to develop software so that I can
> drive the power station from a PC. My aim is to have a few trains running a
> pre-programmed sequence with a couple of manual controls for the 'hands on'
> component.
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: DCC and the future
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| (...) Reversing loops are accommodated in DCC The DCC combined power and control signal is a form of alternating current so it is possible to reverse the connections to a section of track without changing the behaviour of the trains. In DCC systems (...) (22 years ago, 19-Dec-02, to lugnet.trains)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: DCC and the future
|
| (...) Yes, thats right, no matter which way the loco is facing on the tracks 'forwards' is always forward. (...) Yes, the only Lego component to be modified is the train motor. (...) The decoder is a small electronic circuit that has to be mounted (...) (22 years ago, 19-Dec-02, to lugnet.trains)
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