My Newest Addition!

D

DanLarn

I'm New, Please Be Gentle
This morning I recieved my first 'proper' train! And I must say, I'm very excited about it!

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I've had it running using my existing controller and it will move at a snails pace, which is handy because at the moment it can only go about 8 inches before coming off at a corner.

I will get all my straight sections together in the hallway later and give it a chance to stretch it's legs.

Personally I think I'd like to see it weathered a bit, I've never been a fan of anything looking 'new'! Any advice?
 
Great, aren`t they?!      Next you`ll be wanting some suitable wagons to pull!


(Yes, My 66 has shrunk!  We were doing a load test of the little Bachmann Davenport, it handled this lot as if they weren`t there!)
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ntpntpntp said:
Great, aren't they?! Next you'll be wanting some suitable wagons to pull!


(Yes, My 66 has shrunk! We were doing a load test of the little Bachmann Davenport, it handled this lot as if they weren't there!)
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Yes, it's excellent! I've had it running along a straight in the hallway now and I definitely need a new PSU/controller, this one barely managed two runs there and back before getting too hot to try again.

I'm definitely keen on going DCC, any suggestions from anyone for a good setup?

...Bearing in mind it will see some outside use in the future, the wife isn't best pleased with our spare room being used as a train station at the moment. [emoji1]
 
Well, I run a 10 amp DCC PowerPro system by NCE. Very pleased with it, I find it to be "user friendly".

The only drawback is it's not clear whether the NCE wireless communications are legal in the UK (definitely weren't when I bought the system but there are some legislation changes "in the works" from what I've read recently). Many folk will say that wireless throttles are an important consideration for outdoor garden lines, and I can understand the advantages.

You'll find Massoth DCC systems mentioned frequently on here, they're not cheap but are well suited to large scale (Massoth used to be the manufacturer of LGB's decoders and MTS systems).

Piko DCC is worth considering, as it's rebranded (& possibly slightly simplified?) Massoth gear.

I would say avoid old LGB MTS 1 and MTS 2 systems, they come up cheap 2nd hand but are limited capability and obsolete.

There a few people on here using Lenz systems or Digitraxx systems.

Avoid low amp DCC systems intended for smaller scales, you want a minimum of 5 amps at minimum 18 volts. Avoid systems with infra-red wireless throttles, they're no use in the garden!
 
If you are technically inclined - I have seen a Raspberry Pi computer combined with a Sprog 3 running DCC - using a smartphone as the "wireless" handset.

You still need a PSU to supply power to the track - but then you send commands from your smartphone app, through to the Raspberry Pi (running JMRI (Java Model Railroad Interface)) which issues the relevant commands via the Sprog

DCC for under £100
Raspberry Pi - £30
Sprog 3 - £60

Software - free (open source)

Arthur Aardvark of this erstwhile forum demonstrated this to me at GRail - I already have a Massoth setup - but I'm sorely tempted to give this a go - Just to see if I could do it.............. ???
 
Ian_S said:
If you are technically inclined - I have seen a Raspberry Pi computer combined with a Sprog 3 running DCC - using a smartphone as the "wireless" handset.

You still need a PSU to supply power to the track - but then you send commands from your smartphone app, through to the Raspberry Pi (running JMRI (Java Model Railroad Interface)) which issues the relevant commands via the Sprog

DCC for under £100
Raspberry Pi - £30
Sprog 3 - £60

Software - free (open source)

Arthur Aardvark of this erstwhile forum demonstrated this to me at GRail - I already have a Massoth setup - but I'm sorely tempted to give this a go - Just to see if I could do it.............. ???
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I'd seen something about this sprog thing elsewhere, hadn't really given it thought. I had considered mapping the commands from an existing system and then using arduino to make my own, but figured it must have been done already by someone.

That'd be a very tempting option indeed, the money saved could go on outfitting it with a sound module.
 
SPROG3 is rated for 2.5 amps so in reality a couple of small locos in our large scale.  The 66 will be a bit more demanding, and certainly strain the SPROG if loaded up with a few wagons.

The SPROG is a great tool for decoder programming if you find you get "into" that side of DCC.  It`s my programmer of choice.  The  JMRI supplied with the SPROG can connect to many different brands of DCC system (though sadly not Massoth nor LGB MTS).  As well as decoder programming, JMRI can also control layouts, run freight operations and all sorts of other fun stuff which I`ve not personally delved into yet.

In the past I`ve used JMRI on my little netbook PC to control my NCE system over our home wiFi network - drive locos and operate points.  To be honest though I prefer the more tactile control of a proper throttle and a layout diagram with push buttons for the points.

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PhilP said:
Does it come with a teenager?
??? ;)
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He is now! About to take GSCEs next month. Trains have taken a back seat, replaced by music and girls!
 
ntpntpntp said:
SPROG3 is rated for 2.5 amps so in reality a couple of small locos in our large scale. The 66 will be a bit more demanding, and certainly strain the SPROG if loaded up with a few wagons.

The SPROG is a great tool for decoder programming if you find you get "into" that side of DCC. It's my programmer of choice. The JMRI supplied with the SPROG can connect to many different brands of DCC system (though sadly not Massoth nor LGB MTS). As well as decoder programming, JMRI can also control layouts, run freight operations and all sorts of other fun stuff which I've not personally delved into yet.

In the past I've used JMRI on my little netbook PC to control my NCE system over our home wiFi network - drive locos and operate points. To be honest though I prefer the more tactile control of a proper throttle and a layout diagram with push buttons for the points.

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Could we simply use the SPROG to feed a repeater which is rated for a higher output? Or even do away with the sprog entirely and configure custom outputs from CPU of some sort?

If you used Arduino, it'd be really easy to make a cool analogue style DCC controller for your trains!

...this has given me an idea! ;)
 
Er... yeah I guess you could amplify the output of the SPROG. I don't know if anyone's ever tried using a commercial DCC power booster in such a way with a SPROG.

Given that the work's been done for you by devices such as SPROG, it just becomes a technical exercise if you wanted to have a go at making / coding your own DCC interface, the NMRA spec is all public. There are folk who have built their own DCC systems, and there are groups such as MERG who do kits for DCC system components.
 
DanLarn ...this has given me an idea! ;) [/quote] [quote author=DanLarn said:
Could we simply use the SPROG to feed a repeater which is rated for a higher output? Or even do away with the sprog entirely and configure custom outputs from CPU of some sort?

If you used Arduino, it'd be really easy to make a cool analogue style DCC controller for your trains!

...this has given me an idea! ;)
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ntpntpntp said:
Er... yeah I guess you could amplify the output of the SPROG. I don't know if anyone's ever tried using a commercial DCC power booster in such a way with a SPROG.

Given that the work's been done for you by devices such as SPROG, it just becomes a technical exercise if you wanted to have a go at making / coding your own DCC interface, the NMRA spec is all public. There are folk who have built their own DCC systems, and there are groups such as MERG who do kits for DCC system components.
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Thought I may tempt you with that........ ;)

Take a look here - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/68432-wireless-dcc-system-for-%C2%A390-using-sprog-raspberry-pi-and-jmri/

and here http://www.lanbahn.net/sprog-raspberrypi/
 
The Tam Valley booster is designed to take track output and amplify that. I think they were about £38.00 last time I looked (digitrains). Tam Valley claim their booster will go to 5A, but if it would do that at 18V is not clear.

There was a thread on here about the Fleishmann Z21 that claimed that a Uhlenbrock booster could be connected to the track output of the Z21. That doesn't seem to be mentioned as a feature in the Uhlenbrock documentation anywhere I can find but apparently it works. If it works with the track output of the Z21 it should also work with the track output of a SPROG.

https://www.gscalecentral.net/digital-(dcc)/roco-fleischmann-z21-digital-system/15/

If the Uhlenbrock booster works on track output of a command station maybe any booster would work on the track output of any command station. I have my doubts about that.
 
Forgive me if this sounds a little stupid, but am i right in thinking that with DCC are the rails always live? And it's then up to the decoder on board to decode the PWM signals for motor control and all the auxiliaries?
 
Yes Dan, the track is always live.

btw, that rmweb thread that Ian_S linked to mentions the Sprog Nano - I'd forgotten about that. I think it's the Sprog interface hardware and firmware without the final amplifier stage. That's what you'd want to use if you intend to provide your own DCC booster for higher power output.
 
DanLarn said:
Forgive me if this sounds a little stupid, but am i right in thinking that with DCC are the rails always live? And it's then up to the decoder on board to decode the PWM signals for motor control and all the auxiliaries?
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The only stupid question, is the one you do not ask! - We all started with the 'dark arts' somewhere! ;)

Basically, yes..
There is an 'AC' signal/voltage on the tracks all the time.. The decoder looks at this for instructions with its' specific address in, and responds to those commands..
Normally, the signal is equally divided around the '0 volt' mark, so you do not see a DC voltage on the track.. BUT, there is a kludge, where you can select address '0', and by moving the signal above/below the zero-volt line, can supply a pseudo-DC voltage to an analogue loco.. When you do this, you can hear the motor 'buzzing' with the effect of the DCC signal on the motor..
Not good to do this for very long, do not leave an analogue engine on a DCC track for any length of time, but it does work.

The buzzing offends my Engineers ears! :-[ :o ;) ;)
 
I'm going to sound VERY stupid - I haven't a SINGLE clue as to what all the previous posts mean! :D :D :D
 
chris beckett said:
I'm going to sound VERY stupid - I haven't a SINGLE clue as to what all the previous posts mean! :D :D :D
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Its' all German!
Der sparken flashen! Und der fuzen popen!! ;) ;)
 
chris beckett said:
I'm going to sound VERY stupid - I haven't a SINGLE clue as to what all the previous posts mean! :D :D :D
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Don't worry about it. Just throw the knife switch, turn up the rheostat and watch it go!
 
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