"Er" can someone tell me ?

[pete]

Ok here is where I make a complete fool of myself.
I am building a model railway, I am getting on quite well, despite setbacks such as illness and "er" indoors wanting to go to Asda or somewhere.

But when I look at a Loco I fancy,such as now I want to add a Jubilee to my layout, but I keep seeing "DCC" ready, or something like that, what is DCC ? Will it run on my layout ?

I realise it is a modern thing, but exactly what it is I have not got the faintest idea.

Am I doing something wrong please and have I wasted a lot of money on my present Locos, none of which, as far as I know are DCC. My newest addition in my Loco shed is class 8 8510 and it does not mention anything about DCC on it.

Thank you

Peter.:confused:

[TWICK9]

Hi Pete, I don't know a great deal about DCC, I have too many older locos on my layout to make it worthwhile changing, but if I was starting again I would use it, this is what I do know about DCC, it’s a different way to control loco's. But you need to have a completely different type of controller and each of your locos has to have a chip fitted and is programmed with a code, the track is live all the time , you put in the code of the loco you want to use into the control unit and only that loco will respond. among the advantages of this system is you can have locos going different speeds and directions on the same track, other advantages are controlled lighting in engines and sound, also track wiring is basically just two wires to the whole layout. Disadvantages are price, chips are getting cheaper but are still about £20 each depending on make, So you see If I had to chip all 35 of my locos it would cost a fortune + having to pay for the chip to be fitted. DCC ready means you just have to fit a chip in already fitted socket and it’s ready. Some engines such as the class 08 are not fitted in this way and you have to solder the chip in yourself, The only loco that is fitted with DCC at the moment is the Peco 2251 class, but that detects whether your running DC or DCC and adjusts automatically. I’m sure Richie or some one else with more knowledge than I will be able to help you with more information. Regards, Brian.

[Richie]

The engine will run as normal on your layout. As Brian said, the loco is Dcc ready which means by removing a blanking plug and inserting a Dcc chip will enable you to run the engine on a digital layout.

[pete]

Thank you chaps, I think I am too far advanced in non-Dcc now to change, and I have got at least a couple of years work with my layout left to do so I dont think I could afford to change.

Incidentally I plan on going to Stonleigh on January the 17th, anyone else going there ? It would be nice to meet up for a chat ?

Peter.

[bypassm6]

I am in the same position as the original poster only I saw a bargain for the DCC goods set by hornby with both steam and deiseasel locos. I bought it although all my locos up to press are just DC. The reason being that you can run DCC locos on the same track if your DC controller is off, and visa versa so I am told. So I've got the best of both worlds.
Cheers ken:D

[alfaz-di-pi]

Hi Pete I too will be going to the show on the 17th, I will be going with a friend, maybe we will see you there, but if it is anything like the last one I didn't see my friend until we got back home.

[hairyhandedfool]

DCC (Digital Command Control) uses AC electrics whilst traditional analogue (often refered to as 'DC') layouts use DC electrics. You can safely run most 'DCC fitted' locos on 'DC' layouts, but DO NOT run 'DC' locos on DCC layouts.

DCC is useful if you want to move two or more locos on a single controlled section, at the same time. It avoids the need for isolating sections and allows you to control lights and sound more accurately.

If a loco is 'DCC ready' or 'DCC Friendly' it is fine to run on 'DC' layouts, but not DCC layouts, however they are ready to be fitted with a DCC decoder for use on DCC layouts.

Once the layout is appropriatly wired (it is not actually complicated) the main cost is for the controller, the digital decoders can cost anything between £10 and £50 each, depending on your requirements and sound costs more.