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dcc power track


mikeraw

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Fishmanoz said:

As you have posted this in the DCC forum, I'll assume you are going to run the layout with DCC. On this basis, put a a DCC power track anywhere you like in either of the loops, install DCC point clips in all of the points,

and away you go.


He did put DCC power track fishy so your assumption is correct.
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Yes, for flexible operation on DC, you would put IRJs between the crossover points and run separate controllers in each loop so you can control a loco in each loop independently. And this is a perfect example of the difference between the two, with an

 

isolated section and separate controller needed everywhere you want to run a loco independently.

 

WTD, RM/eLink are just another DCC controller in the first instance, but the knobs and switches are on the computer screen. There is initial complication

 

though in getting all the components to talk to each other. Then if you want to control points, you need to set up a schematic of your layout and get the points to talk to RM via decoders on the schematic. But that is just like a mimic panel and switches.

 

Having got all of that working, you can then record a program that will remember any sequence of point changes and loco movements and repeat them for you later using a simple programming language. The one significant problem running programs is that the system

 

is currently open loop and things creep away from where they started when you try to run a sequence more then once. Loco detection will fix that when it is released as it will close the loop.

 

So that's the whole thing in a nutshell of one paragraph.

 

Simple isn't it?

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WTD, if you want to try it out, you don't actually need anything DCC. Just download the evaluation version of RM from this site, set up a couple of locos (you can only do 2) and use one of the layouts that come with it to play around, but only on screen.

 

When you restart RM, it will upgrade itself to the latest version after asking you for permission, and the latest manual will be installed on your desktop. Don't forget to do the initial installation with administrator rights. Once you do that, it isn't necessary

 

for any upgrades.

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I agree simple DCC is a piece of cake. So no doubt is Railmaster and eLink, I just don't have a computer brain. I like using them but not sorting out problems with them, that's why we had IT specialists in the control tower at Heathrow.

 

I have persuaded

 

a friend of mine who is just got his layout running to use eLink, just up his street. He doesn't have a clue about wiring DC, had so many short circuits it was beyond belief, but now with a couple of wires all is well.

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walkingthedog said:

Exactly the same except the point clips. Perhaps an extra power track depending how many circuits are involved.

Must admit wiring simple DCC is dead easy, it's when I start reading the threads on Railmaster and

Elink that my brain grinds to a halt.
Don't your trains also grind to a halt with DC, WTD?
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