QUOTE (Brian @ 16 Oct 2007, 17:32) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I have to agree with MMD
Conventional operation of points by levers, stud & probe or centre off sprung switches from a central control panel is easy, considerably cheaper than DCC and much, much more fun.
With DCC operation you will need to leave the last loco being controlled and then enter the address of the point to be moved (if you can remember all those numbers!) press enter then wait a second for the point/s to operate, then return back to the loco originally being controlled or enter an address for another loco etc. During all this time your eye has been taken off the loco/s that are moving. Often with the result that they aren't where you expect them to be or have collided with another one. Of course much money can be spent on pc control with block sections etc. but isn't the joy of the hobby all about running and controlling locos yourself?
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My take on this subject is; to each his own. My layout is 20'x10' area and all my points(switches) are operated thru DCC. I even have some street lights, neon building signs operated with DCC. Why? Because I want to and because I can.
I would even op layout shed door with DCC if I could. There is a chap here in Aelaide that has a lift bridge on his garden G scale tram layout operated with his Lenz DCC system. It is the only way to get into his house thru the patio door.
I have been a Lenz user since Aug 95. I can switch any point on layout singularly with hand control from anywhere without having to move to a control panel. The elimination of miles(kilometers) of wire was also a very big attraction. I also had an old laptop(Win 98) set up as central train control which allowed route setting etc., using Zug DCC.
Nov06 I replaced the laptop with an Ecos which allows point control,route setting and a lot more.
I still use my Lenz system connected to sniffer port of Ecos which gives me full walk around etc .
How do I identify each point? Most point motors(Peco) are surface mounted. Getting to old to be crawling around under layouts trying to fit point motors.
Over each p/motor is a small scratch built hut. Each hut is numbered corresponding to DCC accessory number. Those very few p/motors that are attached under layout has post with number on a disc attached adjacent to point. Which means that all points are easy to identify.
The rule on my layout is such that all points must be set before starting train. I have seen many disastrous mishaps occur on DC analogue layouts(control panels) because points were not changed quick enough in front of a moving train.
My main lines are blocked with thru the rails block detection which operate signals which must be obeyed by operaters at all times. My points are slowly being fitted with ground signals to show which line is set.
I use Lenz LS150 accessory decoders which allows op of six(6) points per unit. I have found that operating two points(cross over) wth LS150 is not a problem.
So for me, the more I can operate with DCC the happier I am.
Happy DCCing
Iansa
Conventional operation of points by levers, stud & probe or centre off sprung switches from a central control panel is easy, considerably cheaper than DCC and much, much more fun.
With DCC operation you will need to leave the last loco being controlled and then enter the address of the point to be moved (if you can remember all those numbers!) press enter then wait a second for the point/s to operate, then return back to the loco originally being controlled or enter an address for another loco etc. During all this time your eye has been taken off the loco/s that are moving. Often with the result that they aren't where you expect them to be or have collided with another one. Of course much money can be spent on pc control with block sections etc. but isn't the joy of the hobby all about running and controlling locos yourself?
My take on this subject is; to each his own. My layout is 20'x10' area and all my points(switches) are operated thru DCC. I even have some street lights, neon building signs operated with DCC. Why? Because I want to and because I can.
I would even op layout shed door with DCC if I could. There is a chap here in Aelaide that has a lift bridge on his garden G scale tram layout operated with his Lenz DCC system. It is the only way to get into his house thru the patio door.
I have been a Lenz user since Aug 95. I can switch any point on layout singularly with hand control from anywhere without having to move to a control panel. The elimination of miles(kilometers) of wire was also a very big attraction. I also had an old laptop(Win 98) set up as central train control which allowed route setting etc., using Zug DCC.
Nov06 I replaced the laptop with an Ecos which allows point control,route setting and a lot more.
I still use my Lenz system connected to sniffer port of Ecos which gives me full walk around etc .
How do I identify each point? Most point motors(Peco) are surface mounted. Getting to old to be crawling around under layouts trying to fit point motors.
Over each p/motor is a small scratch built hut. Each hut is numbered corresponding to DCC accessory number. Those very few p/motors that are attached under layout has post with number on a disc attached adjacent to point. Which means that all points are easy to identify.
The rule on my layout is such that all points must be set before starting train. I have seen many disastrous mishaps occur on DC analogue layouts(control panels) because points were not changed quick enough in front of a moving train.
My main lines are blocked with thru the rails block detection which operate signals which must be obeyed by operaters at all times. My points are slowly being fitted with ground signals to show which line is set.
I use Lenz LS150 accessory decoders which allows op of six(6) points per unit. I have found that operating two points(cross over) wth LS150 is not a problem.
So for me, the more I can operate with DCC the happier I am.
Happy DCCing
Iansa
