DIY Network

Power and DCC: Digital Command Control Find out how to control multiple trains at once with new technology. From "Workin' On the Railroad" episode DWRR-106L

Chris and David are in the studio to discuss the ins and outs of Digital Command Control.

Host Chris Chianelli is in the studio with model railroader David Popp to talk about the latest technology in model railroading--Digital Command Control (DCC). This system allows the simultaneous operation of multiple trains at once. David explains what decoders are and how they are used with DCC. He also explains several starter-set power packs aimed at the beginner model railroader.

"There are a myriad of different things you can do with digital command control," David said, "that you couldn't do with old direct current control."

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Digital Command Control

• Chris and David demonstrate how DCC works with an N Scale model (figure A--on the left, notice the difference in size compared to a HO Scale, on right) train.

  Note: The N Scale was chosen specifically due to the smaller size. You can demonstrate more with the minute size for television purposes.

• With DCC David can control one locomotive (figure B--the black one) while Chris can control his locomotive (the red and silver one) at the same time by simply using two wires that run to the rails. Each car was controlled independently.

• Each locomotive has a digital address, which means each has its own little computer chip, which makes them "smart" locomotives.

• The microprocessor (computer chip) receives signals through the rails into the locomotive and tells it what to do based on what the operator does with the DCC (figure C).

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Decoders

• With DCC you can add a lot of scale excitement to your model layout. One of the main components needed for every locomotive on a layout is a decoder--the brains for the locomotive. You need a different size decoder for each scale.

• A 1-amp decoder (figure D) is made for Z and HO Scale models and is a typical decoder.

• This G Scale decoder (figure E) is made for large-scale trains, which is why it's bigger than the 1-amp version. This one can handle a locomotive up to five amps.

Figure D

Figure E

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