jpendle

Sorry about the multiple posts. The website is giving me gip today! John P

As you are using Peco N Gauge set track then all you need to do is to connect the power from your controller to each loop as shown in the diagram above. Once you started to test out the way DCC works you may then notice that you won't be able to turn on the lights on any loco that has them, if they are parked in the sidings. Then you'll need to consider adding extra power feeds to the sidings. BTW I think a test track to start is an excellent idea. Lots of the electrical stuff done on a layout starts to make sense once you have experienced the limitations of not doing something. Also, Peco N Gauge Track comes in 3 flavours, Set Track which is Code 80, Streamline which is also Code 80, and Finescale which is Code 55, Code refers to the visible height of the rail. And VERY IMPORTANTLY, there are differences in the way in which certain things are done electrically as OO Gauge points are 'finer' than N Gauge ones. There are mods that are made to OO points for DCC running that are not necessary for N Gauge Finescale track for example. Also as the majority of users of this forum model OO then that is assumed to be the default scale. So it's always best to be clear, right at the beginning of any post, which scale you are working in. Regards, John P

Stop quoting Nobby Nobs John P

You mean someone from Essex? John P

There's the old Bridgewater collieries line over the M61 near just before the A666 junction. Regards, John P

@arran How far have you guys got with shipping these out? Thanks, John P

You probably need to buy a more sophisticated decoder, like a Zimo. CV57 on a Zimo allows you to define the Maximum motor voltage (in volts) independent of the track voltage. For example setting CV57 to 90 would set the max voltage to 9V. I'm sure that there would be similar settings on decoders from ESU, etc. Regards, John P

I haven't received my KFA's either, it's good to know I'm not alone . Regards, John P

As opposed to making one yourself, as the OP did? I'm don't see why 'British' has anything to do with, I would wager a Lenz BM1 would work just as well. Regards, John P

An iPhone has nothing like 1000 pounds worth of components in it, a DCC sound decoder has nothing like 100 pounds worth of components in it. The margin on anything like this is at least 50% and probably more, AND that's as it should be. I work for an electronics manufacturer, we sell stuff for $35k that costs $2k to manufacture. The manufacturing cost of any sophisticated electronics product is a very small fraction of the overall costs of bring a product to market. Market research, design, manufacturing, cost of sales, etc. Then add to that mix, pensions, benefits, regulatory approvals, warranty costs, product liability costs, etc, etc. You could argue that the ancillary staff at any business don't add any value to the product (cleaners, caterers, receptionists), you could also argue that Quality Control, Warehousing, & Shipping staff add no value. But the bottom line is they all have to be paid, and all that work has to be done, but none of it has anything to do with taking a kit of electronics parts and soldering them to a PCB. I could go on, but I won't. Regards, John P

Surely this depends on the DCC system? On my Z21 you just point at a picture of the loco on your phone/tablet and then drive it. John P

I beg to differ. There are now TWO trains a week. On a Saturday rather than a Friday. Stalybridge-Stockport & Return. My son lives right next to Reddish South and last time we visited I made a point of catching it (it was still a Friday one way service at the time). There were around 2 dozen people on the train but the 'Friends' of both stations organise events on the train, they have also persuaded one of the Heritage companies to run steam specials along the line AND to stop and pick up passengers. Regards, John P

I have no idea as I live in the US, but we have a similar system of paying 'up front' So over here if you make payments 'on account' then these payments are taken into account on your tax return and are subtracted from any amounts you owe the tax man at year end. I would have thought the UK system would be similar. (Before we moved to the US in 1999, I was always on PAYE and have never filled in a UK Tax return) Regards, John P

I agree. There are plenty of Farish models I would like to buy, but they are not available. Again I model post 2000 so maybe earlier periods are better served, but on my list would be. CL150, CL158, CL319, TPE CL350, new liveries/ numbers for CL66 & CL70. More bogie Cement tanks, and other modern wagons. At advertised prices for their new releases, that would set me back over 1000 pounds, just buying one of each. Regards, John P

We have an Audi diesel and it won't run at all if the Adblue tank is empty. John P

Errrrmm? John P

Maybe I'm missing something. Wouldn't you need to fix the 16 before you could sell it? In which case why not keep it? Regards, John P

Don't worry about it. There's a lot of advice that leads people to over engineer a DCC layout, and this is particularly true for N Gauge. I have a large DCC N Gauge layout (in a 36' x 28' shed. I have no switches or buttons anywhere. I use CAT5e network cable stripped out into 4 separate pairs for my track wiring, with a couple of lengths of mains cable running to the furthest sections of the layout. The Cat5e cable is single strand 26AWG. I don't have a DCC 'bus'. If the loco is DCC ready then in a lot of cases you just take the body off, remove a 'blanking plate' and replace it with the decoder. But for earlier DCC ready models you may have to solder wires to the loco's PCB. IMO ZIMO decoders (MX617N for 6 pin locos and the MX618N18 for Next18 locos) are a no brainer. They offer exceptional motor control and are priced at 20 pounds. I have chipped all my locos with Zimos, they all run well and I've never had to tweak the CV settings to get good motor control. I don't think that there are any ZIMO decoders that are suitable for N Gauge that have a stay alive, but then again I have very few sound fitted locos. Oh and as I said earlier you don't need very thick wires. Regards, John P

Resurrecting an old thread. I found an article about this working which explained everything. @newbryford You are correct loaded trains avoid Miles Platting Bank, thanks. In addition the Atherton line isn't open before 6am so early trains run through Man Vic the take the Chat Moss route and rejoin the WCML at Golborne Junction, others take the Atherton line. Regards, John P

I don't know, but if you go to the Revolution trains website they will have a spec that will probably contain that information. Regards, John P

As Box Brownie said, there are other options for controllers that give easier control of points, Z21, ECoS, & Digikeijs DR5000. With all you have the option of a traditional handheld controller, plus a large creen where a mimic diagram can be created and then changing a point can be as simple as touching the point on the 'touchscreen' display. I believe all these systems also support the creation of routes, so multiple points can be changed by selecting the appropriate route. However there's no right or wrong answer and a lot of people prefer the button pushing approach. Regards, John P

Before the real things a) get replaced, or b) get repainted? We can but hope. John P

How can buying another car not cost you anything? John P

One other interesting tidbit is that the before the addition of the '1' the STD codes outside the big cities were somewhat in alphabetical order. For example Bolton 0204 Cambridge 0223 Carlisle 0228 Derby 0332 Doncaster 0302 Oxford 0865 Warrington 0925 Wigan 0942 Of course a lot of others have changed as more numbers have had to be added. John P

You keep referring to 12VDC- being connected to GND. if this is truly -12VDC then you are connecting 24V to the board NOT 12v. You should connect +12VDC to the VCC pin and 0V to GND. Regards, John P