N Gauge Forum

General Category => N Gauge Discussion => Topic started by: Southendnick on July 30, 2013, 07:51:39 PM

Title: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: Southendnick on July 30, 2013, 07:51:39 PM
Probably a really stupid question but my first railway is a pure analogue one would DCC ready trains be safe to run on it?

feeling a bit of a  :dunce:

Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: 4x2 on July 30, 2013, 07:54:58 PM
Quote from: Southendnick on July 30, 2013, 07:51:39 PM
Probably a really stupid question but my first railway is a pure analogue one would DCC ready trains be safe to run on it?

feeling a bit of a  :dunce:
DCC ready = yes
DCC FITTED = No

Simples !

I should point out however, that some DCC FITTED loco's can run on DC (analogue) - It should say in the description of the item. Most Bachmann American stuff that's DCC FITTED can be run on DC, don't know of many others, but if in doubt just ask the seller.
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: Southendnick on July 30, 2013, 08:21:11 PM
Ta

Being my first model railway, things can get confusing.

Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: willintas on July 30, 2013, 08:46:56 PM
On my first layout too mate,certainly not a silly question and i have decided to go dc as well as Choice here is very very limited and just wanted to keep it simple.
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: Newportnobby on July 30, 2013, 09:51:08 PM
The Peco 22xx steam loco is fitted with a Lenz (I think) chip but it recognises DC or DCC so runs on both with no adjustment.
They are, however, somewhat difficult to find at a reasonable price ::)
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: Southendnick on July 30, 2013, 11:04:28 PM
Am trying to find a Class 31 in blue as it was what was used on the miniature railway I am basing my railway on, they pop up on ebay but I am always out bid  :'(
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: 4x2 on July 31, 2013, 12:34:28 AM
Quote from: Southendnick on July 30, 2013, 11:04:28 PM
Am trying to find a Class 31 in blue as it was what was used on the miniature railway I am basing my railway on, they pop up on ebay but I am always out bid  :'(
don't worry, when the new tooled 31 comes out there will be loads of old ones on ebay.
The current ones are great runners so the upgrade is really just cosmetic unless you need dcc and lights.
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: Country Joe on July 31, 2013, 05:01:37 AM
DCC ready is an ordinary DC engine that can be easily fitted with a decoder. Here in the US all modern decoders are dual mode which means that they will recognize if they are on a DC or DCC layout automatically. I would think that decoders factory installed by British manufacturers are the same but I don't know for sure.
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: Southendnick on July 31, 2013, 11:04:43 PM
Cheers for the replies

it's a 100% analogue set up, actually started to lay track today  :claphappy:  all was going well until the cat thought the board looked like a great place to take a kip!

So I cracked open a bottle of wine and watched Top Gear Tornado, Jaguar & Vincent Black Shadow from London to Scotland.
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: texhorse on July 31, 2013, 11:37:23 PM
Just to echo what Joe said, it's fine for DCC locos to run on an analogue layout, as long as the decoder specifies it's ok.  I have a Kato SD70ACe with a Digitrax decoder in it.  It runs a little slower with the DCC decoder in it, but otherwise, you wouldn't know any difference.

Andy
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: Cimmerian on August 01, 2013, 08:44:26 AM
Great, that's another question I won't have to ask. ;D
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: Southendnick on August 01, 2013, 02:18:12 PM
Quote from: Cimmerian on August 01, 2013, 08:44:26 AM
Great, that's another question I won't have to ask. ;D

I'm a mind reader!
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: Newportnobby on August 01, 2013, 05:15:53 PM
Quote from: Southendnick on August 01, 2013, 02:18:12 PM
Quote from: Cimmerian on August 01, 2013, 08:44:26 AM
Great, that's another question I won't have to ask. ;D

I'm a mind reader!

That's a scary thought :worried:
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: mereman on August 01, 2013, 05:46:10 PM
Even worse if he reads my mind......
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: daveg on August 01, 2013, 05:58:35 PM
Quote from: mereman on August 01, 2013, 05:46:10 PM
Even worse if he reads my mind......

I'm not worried at all! :wave:

Dave G
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: Country Joe on August 01, 2013, 06:41:00 PM
Quote from: daveg on August 01, 2013, 05:58:35 PM
Quote from: mereman on August 01, 2013, 05:46:10 PM
Even worse if he reads my mind......

I'm not worried at all! :wave:

Dave G

I'm not worried either. I lost mine years ago.   :no:   :confused1:   :dunce:
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: Delfin on August 01, 2013, 07:15:06 PM
Just be careful when running DCC locos on DC, if you run into a short there will be no protection.  I was running an Atlas GP40-2 with a Digitrax chip on DC (I got the loco before I could afford the controller :-[).  On a hidden part of the layout it ran into a set of trailing points set the wrong way.  Because I wasn't using a DCC controller, the resulting short didn't cut out the power.

After a short time I smelt the smoke!  :o 

The chip was ruined and the body of the loco melted.  Thankfully Atlas have a very good parts service and I was able to buy a new body for less than £15. 

For this reason I have turned off the ability to run on DC on all my chips.  Not that I need to now that I do actually own a controller.

Delfin
Title: Re: Analogue & DCC compatability
Post by: Southendnick on August 02, 2013, 04:26:41 PM
Quote from: daveg on August 01, 2013, 05:58:35 PM
Quote from: mereman on August 01, 2013, 05:46:10 PM
Even worse if he reads my mind......

I'm not worried at all! :wave:

Dave G

As master Yoda once said "You will be...You will be"