Converting to DCC

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Hi, I have a layout, and thinking about converting to DCC. However the locomotives that I have are not DCC ready. I am not sure about this, but I beleive this is the case.

So if I convert to DCC, how will these locomotives function ? Do I have to do anyting apecial.

Thanks in advance.

-- Kumar Kumaraguru (sankavai@sympatico.ca), February 27, 2003

Answers

Short answer - you have to install a decoder in each engine - if you are not going to install decoders in your engines don't bother to convert to DCC. All of the advantages of DCC are based on the ability to send instructions to a specific decoder which in turn controls the operation of the engine, switch, or other decoder equiped item.

Although DCC systems will generally allow ONE non DCC equiped locomotive to operate on DCC layouts, not having decoders in your engines defeats the purpose of converting. Atlas does make a "dual- mode" decoder which allows you to choose whether you are running the locomotive on a conventional or DCC layout - so if you have any new decoder equipped Atlas engines they may run on conventional layouts providing the switch is set for DC.

Charles

-- Charles Lewis (cslewis1@attbi.com), February 28, 2003.


I should like to convert my non-digital Fleischmann HO locos to digital. Can I install decoders myself ? Where can I get them from ?

Any help you can give me would be most welcome.

-- Tony Brookes (gdz00@btinternet.com), August 14, 2003.


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