DC TO DCC

Started by old timer, January 27, 2025, 07:37:29 PM

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old timer

Hi all, i,ve been an N gauger for a while, but always had trouble with electics, i have 12 - 14 old steam loco,s but all run well, my question is how much would it cost me to change to DCC.

Newportnobby

Hi, and welcome to the forum.
Could you just explain to this old DC dinosaur why you want to go DCC please?

ntpntpntp

#2
It depends what locos they are? 

Are they labelled "DCC Ready" on the box, in which case they should already have a socket and a DC blanking plate fitted? If so then simply replace the blanking plate with a DCC decoder.

If they are older models then they may need a decoder hard-wiring. Sometimes this involves cutting away part of the chassis block to make space for the decoder.

So as you can see it's not really possible to give a definite cost without more detail, plus it depends on whether you want to use cheap decoders or better quality? Do you want sound as well - that will require space and wiring for the speaker too?

As NPN asks, what's the driving force behind the desire to go DCC?  It's not the "cure-all" for electrical challenges., forget the old hype of "just 2 wires to the track" :)    DC is still a perfectly viable control system and doesn't require the cost of a decoder per loco and a (potentially expensive) DCC control system.    My exhibition layout is DC and over 25 years old. I have 300+ DC locos from late 1960s to current models, so for me it's really not worth the cost and effort to convert them.     I do have a fleet of DCC fitted locos, and if desired I can plug a DCC system into my layout and it works.
Nick.   2021 celebrating the 25th anniversary of "Königshafen" exhibition layout!
https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=50050.0

Bealman

Yep, the only way I'd go DCC these days was if I was starting completely from scratch.

Welcome to the NGF, by the way! :beers:
Vision over visibility. Bono, U2.

Newportnobby

I know little of DCC but reckon even if your locos are DCC ready (and they don't sound like it) you're looking at maybe £20-£25 per loco for the chips you'd have to fit :hmmm:

Moose2013

@old timer

If you would like an idea on what is involved in converting a locomotive to DCC, see if there is a guide for any of your locomotives on this webpage:

https://youchoos.co.uk/Index-Resource.php?L1=Guides

Professional installation services and additional reference information for installations on this website:

https://wicknessmodels.co.uk/services/dcc-fitting-service/



 

njee20

Bear in mind that YouChoos guides mentioned above are for sound conversions, which are usually much more involved than 'normal' DCC conversions.

old timer

Thank you all i will stick to DC.

port perran

Quote from: old timer on January 28, 2025, 07:49:21 AMThank you all i will stick to DC.
Welcome aboard and I good solution I think.

I'm sure I'll get used to cream first soon.

Newportnobby

Quote from: old timer on January 28, 2025, 07:49:21 AMThank you all i will stick to DC.

Obviously it's your choice at the end of the day (or even the beginning of the day), but I'd still like to know what made you ponder going DCC. There must have been some perceived benefit other than perhaps the wiring aspect. DC wiring can be as simple or as complicated as you want.

Malc-c

There can be more electrical wiring headaches with DCC as there can be with DC. Watch any layout build video and you can see how complicated even simple DCC layouts.  I went DCC for two reasons, the first was because lighting remains on even when the loco is stationary, and the second was the ability to have more than one loco on the same track without the need for isolating sections.  Sound, auto braking, or full computer control and all the other fancy stuff is a separate hobby if its own, and for me takes the fun out of driving a train.

As for converting old locos.. if they are really old you have to get creative as some used the chassis as one side of the power pickup, so has to be isolated to form the feed to the decoder.  It can be a faff and the end result isn't great as you try and make things fit.
Malcolm

_______________________________________________________________________________________
For lots of 3D printed N gauge goodies visit my website here -  http://mr-3d.co.uk/

old timer

Like you said Nobby thought the wiring would be easier.

Newportnobby

In the 'Your Layout and Models' section, there's a sub-section 'DC Wiring'. Any questions you have about wiring can probably be provided with answers in there. If not, just ask away in that section. We're all here to help each other

ntpntpntp

Quote from: old timer on January 28, 2025, 02:44:54 PMLike you said Nobby thought the wiring would be easier.

Some aspects of wiring are less complex with DCC (eg. no need for isolating switches to park locos, electronic modules are available to handle reverse loops etc.), but on the other hand once you get beyond a simple starter set you start to need "robust" feeds to all the track to ensure the DCC signal isn't corrupted (eg. by bad joints). On larger layouts you need to consider a DCC bus feeding the track "droppers" because of the higher current flow when you're running several locos at the same time.

A properly wired DC layout can also run DCC very well, you just switch on all the sections :)  A poorly wired DC layout may struggle.
Nick.   2021 celebrating the 25th anniversary of "Königshafen" exhibition layout!
https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=50050.0

Steven B

Quote from: old timer on January 28, 2025, 02:44:54 PMLike you said Nobby thought the wiring would be easier.

Wiring a layout for DCC can be easier than for DC. Depending on what you want to do it can also be harder.

For a basic roundy-roundy both are two wires to the track. Both DC and DCC benefit from more track feeds, but for some reason many think this only applies to DCC.

For a depot based layout there's probably less wiring on a DCC layout as there are no section switches to worry about.

Start adding in automation and the number of wires increases rapidly for both DC and DCC. It's easier to do with DCC so more likely to be done hence you'll find plenty of videos on YouTube of DCC layouts with lots of extra wiring. DC based layouts with automation and interlocking do exist, but are probably less common as it's harder to do as there are fewer off the shelf products available.



Steven B.

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