DCC/DC Incompatibility/Damage Question

Hardcoaler Apr 6, 2022

  1. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    Or you could wire up about 50 - 75 volts to your DC pack throttle knob and have a switch so that if you grab the knob without switching to DC, you will be reminded to do that first.

    Drastic but effective.

    :D

    Doug
     
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  2. Mark Ricci

    Mark Ricci TrainBoard Member

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    Oh YES, been to both of these sites. The detailing of the install process is incredibly well documented with excellent illustrations.
     
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  3. Mark Ricci

    Mark Ricci TrainBoard Member

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    OUTSTANDING!
     
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  4. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    I'm also very happy I am late to the DCC party. Until 6 years ago or so, I hadn't done anything with my OLD N Scale stuff for ages it was all in totes and boxes. I would imagine DCC has gotten better over time? I mean was it like super expensive ( more than now ) back in the beginning? Usually as technology gets better, or more people buy it, thinking flat screens TV's here, etc... prices go down. Of course you can still buy a LED television for $2,000 and more if you want. But I am very happy with my OFF brand 55" SmartTV for $300.00 :) Were the first ones bad and expensive? Just wondering. And yes I know it is still expensive for DCC and everything surrounding it. Just glad I didn't go nuts buying DC, and at the time besides space being an issue, it was the Block wiring that turned me OFF! But that's just me. Everyone is different in this hobby.

    Sorry, kind of off topic I guess?
     
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  5. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    DCC can be quite inexpensive if one does just a bit of work that isn't all that hard. Build a DCC++EX Command Station for under $80 that is about as powerful as any commercial one and more than some ( HERE ). No real electronics or computer skills needed and about an hour of your time.

    A Digitrax DC 123 decoder for under $20 will fit in any HO engine and a lot of the N Scale locos ( HERE ) and for only $28 you can put in a smaller 59826 LokPilot 5 micro decoder ( HERE ) in about any loco and have superior motor control.

    So if you have some DC locos all ready or buy some older ones off the Bay like I have for under $200 you could have a DCC Command Station and about 5 DCC equipped locos up and running if you already have the locos. For no additional cost you will be running the locos with a wireless smart phone and JRMRI.

    Sumner
     
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  6. Tad

    Tad TrainBoard Supporter

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    I built this several years ago.

    I use it for testing and programming.

    8FD6ABD8-0A63-42F4-8DC7-24F5BC7C0F7C.jpeg
     
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  7. Mark Ricci

    Mark Ricci TrainBoard Member

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    The best! And, JMRI is the best tool for programming. Another option, if a pc is available, is building a DCC EX system primarily as a non-wifi programming decoder base station using an Uno under $20, motor shield $12, a 12V power supply and a computer with JMRI. With my old eyes there is nothing better than programming on a large monitor or multiple monitor pc setup. Mouse and full mechanical keyboard helps tremendously. As an example, if JMRI does not have the throttle labels for the loco, creation of Throttle labels that JMRI can push out to all throttles can be easily done by opening up and splitting screen windows and copying the label from the function table in the decoders' pdf manual and pasting it into the loco's JMRI throttle label screen. Think it took a couple a minutes to copy and paste all 28 labels.

    Definitely Nice, its great to explore and or evaluate CV changes sitting at a desk with track section build like what @Tad has made instead of at layout.
     
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  8. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Yep, you can definitely put a DCC++EX Command Station together for well under the $80 I mentioned above if you want to use Arduino Clones and also get them direct from China. I have an Arduino Uno Command Station like that and also a couple Mega Command Stations build like that. Don't need that many of course but since I had a couple Uno's and Mega's around for future projects I threw them together and can always use the Uno's or Mega's in the future for a different project.

    Saying that for someone with little electronics or computer background if they can spend a little more I'd go with an Elegoo Mega, a 'real' Arduino motor shield and the Makerfabs WiFi shield since they are a very proven combination. You can get a Mega for very close to the price of an Uno so would also at this point not use an Uno anymore (I do have one) for the Command Station. There isn't as much memory on it so you can't use all the features that DCC++EX now has. For instance I don't think the WiFi option is supported with a Uno.

    I also don't like working with anything less than a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Drives me crazy when I have to help her with her computer and she doesn't have a mouse connected.

    Great tips on using JMRI and creation of the throttle labels. I wasn't aware of that. I normally use EngineDriver on a phone and like how it shows the throttle labels for what you are running. Better even than most commercial hand throttles where you have to memorize what a function key operates.

    Sumner
     
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  9. Mark Ricci

    Mark Ricci TrainBoard Member

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    @Sumner and I suffer from the same affliction. I too bought a few Megas, motor shields and Wifi without specific use for all.

    The Mega is a much more capable and a better value but is larger. Have a couple of the Makerfab wifi shields-- are great too! Prior to adding the Pi, the additional shield added too much height to the build and so opted for the DCC EX recommended IMG_1954 DCC EX Base ESP8266 Wiring.JPG separate ESP8266 with a converter board. The ESP8266 and converter is to the right of the mega. Works great too! However don't use it on the layout since running Pi 4.

    Yes, the Uno with Wifi is not supported and lacks capacity for EX Rail. Just like the smaller foot print and wanted a smaller Uno for testing and some other projects.
     
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  10. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Likewise have the Pi running also so didn't really need the WiFi on the Command Station but couldn't help myself :(. Thanks for the info on what you are running for WiFi. I'll probably have to try that also. I didn't have luck with the Mega I got with WiFi on board but probably me as others seem to have that combo also running. I'll go back and try again at some point even though I probably won't use it having the WiFi on the Pi.

    The WiFi shield does add height and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it does fit under the case I designed for ....

    [​IMG]

    ... a Mega/Raspberry Pi DCC++EX Command station ( HERE ).

    Sumner
     
  11. Mark Ricci

    Mark Ricci TrainBoard Member

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    I followed your discussion on Discord with great interest. Which Mega brand are you testing? While others have gotten Mega built in wifi to work, it seems more of a hit or miss. I'm very comfortable with firmware upgrades and flashing but in the end, the ESP8266 WiFi is not quite as stable as the Pi's WiFi. With the Pi running Raspian Linux distro OS, networking tweaks can be done, without sketch revision, re-compiling and uploading to Arduino, to improve stability as well.
     
  12. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07THDDFSJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    This was the first time I did a firmware upgrade and I thought it was working as the network came up on the phone and I could connect to it and sometimes turn the track power on/off but only got loco control once if I remember right. It would connect/reconnect every few seconds. The other day I went back with the firmware install. Lots of places there to make a typo or other mistake and I think I must have as now the network doesn't even come up on the phone.

    Using the Makerfabs shield was simple and no problems there once I figure out that the 'O' in the password was really a '0'. I thought the mega with WiFi on one board would eliminate one shield so tried it. The extra Makerfabs shield for me seems to be easy and provides a stable WiFi connection. I probably will go back and try the Mega one more time.

    Thanks for the input,

    Sumner
     
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