benzino

Hi everyone. Last summer during first (or was it second lockdown) I decided I wanted to play trains again (last time I had a layout was the 90s) but lack of indoor space dictated I would have to move outside for anything of decent size. Construction is gravelboards, square pvc pipe, wood posts and fence post mounts. Mostly reclaimed. I'm using my old analogue guagemaster controller and waterproof switches from b&q for isolating sections. I bought a box of used code 100 and good used points. Insulfrog in the 'fiddleyard' section but I've wired four electrofrog points with waterproof microswitch for the planned small depot area and station passing loop for shunting. Trackplan is simple because outdoor maintenance. All track linked with soldered joints, points modified for outdoors etc. Finally getting round to finish the trackwork but rain has stopped play pat couple of days! Trains seem to be running ok on the loop after winter at least.

Thanks. Out of my budget atm, but will look into something like that at a later date

Thats right, it reads 15v at the track but as you say, the meter probably isnt accurate. It seems the app operated controller may be more suited to small layouts then... and I'd need to buy something more substantial

I did measure with a multimeter, however the controller physically cant put out more than 15v. I accept the wire gauge is smaller than seems ideal, but I'm suprised it would make dcc running this bad. I think I'll come back to dcc on my planned small indoor layout with a more conventional dcc controller (an actual model railway rather than a big 'testtrack') and keep this outdoor setup dc with the old guagemaster for now so I can just run trains around now the weathers getting better. Thanks very much for your help though.

It certainly seems a signal issue with the erratic movements of the locos. Perhaps first step is to borrow a command station as you said

Thanks for the reply. The controller puts out 15v. I used 24/0.2 wire, which was sufficient for beefing up the DC circuit for outdoor, but perhaps not enough for DCC?

Hey everyone. I returned to the hobby last year, building an outdoor oo loop due to lack of indoor space and my enjoymejt of running full length trains.. (so far single loop with a 3 road fiddle yard, yet to add a couple of sidings) The track is all peco code 100, soldered links between track sections, and feed wires to each rail running all around with 'droppers'. The points are all modifed with feeds to the point blades for outdoor use. It runs fine on DC. Obviously, although level as possible, its not perfect due to being outside and on roofing felt covered decking boards. This year I thought Id give DCC a go. I aquired an arduino based controller to use through phone app 'locomotive wifi 3' app as lazing in the garden controlling trains via phone or tablet seemed fun. So far ive fitted zimo mx638 decoders to 3 Bachmann class 37's. Problems are constant stalling at random places, not just the 3 points the locos cross. sometimes they'll stop, take off in reverse, then resume. sometimes they'll speed up randomly. Track is clean despite being outside. I tried the locos after much track cleaning with peco rubber and alchohol as well as wheels and pick ups. The lights remain on when the locos stall. Tried some cv settings such as disabling dc control. Phone is close to the wifi controller so no signal problems. Power to track is through a clean 2 pin plug, the sort for mowers etc. At this point I feel like just keeping DC, perhaps playing around with dcc with another controller at a later date. Perhaps these controllers that use a phone or tablet app are just not that great? Perhaps its the slight undulations and unlevel track that cant be helped with running outdoors? maybe its loco/ decoder combo? Any help would be appreciated, thanks