The DCC Guide | The World of Rail

This guide is for anyone interested in or now using DCC. It is a complete guide from planning, through setup, operations and trouble shooting.

There are two approaches to installing DCC. First is to buy a commercial system and the second is to build you own. We cover the build your own first. If you are going to use a commercial system, a DCC guide is below this first section.

**Layout And Train Control**
DCC Guide Everything About Installing DCC From The Simple To The Complex	DCC & DC Kits Boards Needed To Install And Use Inexpensive Control Systems	Animation Tutorials Many Ways To Add Life To Your Scenery	DC Train Control Local And Unique Remote Systems	DCC Tutorials How To Easily Install An Inexpensive DCC Control System.

Build Your Own DCC

A group of volunteers has taken over DCC++ BaseStation Project and have rewriten/expanded it into “DCC++ EX. It is an ongoing and ever improving system that suits someone who wants to use DCC with an inexpensive, fully functional and versatile system.

This page is intended to get you started with DCC++ EX by helping you in building your hardware setup, installing software, f and running your first train. After that, we will provide examples for how the base system can be extended and upgraded.

The Components of a Full System

Command Station – An Arduino with a motorboard and the DCC-EX uploadable firmware
Controller – A Throttle/CAB such as WebThrottle-EX, JMRI, Engine Driver, etc.
Power – A DC power supply for the motor board to the track and optionally one for the Arduino
A “main” track aka “operations” track – most people already have this, it’s your layout
A “programming” track aka “service” track – a short section of track that you will use to program locomotives (see section on layout)
A Train Specifically, a locomotive equipped with a DCC decoder (either a standard or sound decoder)

To start, you will need the boards. You can get them to make a basic command station or one that you can use with wifi. You can get them here.

Once you have your boards, the tutorials below will take you step by step through everything that you have to do. Below is the list. Images to the left link to supporting videos.

How To Install DCC++ Tutorial Library

The tutorials below will take you step by step through everything that you have to do. Below is the list. Images to the left link to supporting videos.

DCC++ Base Station Assembly — Click To Learn How To Assemble Base Station

DCC Base Station – How to make the Base Station more often referred to the Command Station (CS).

DCC WiFi Control – How to install Wifi for control from your phone or other remote device.

DCC Wiring — Click To Watch Video Demonstration Of Wiring

DCC Power And Wiring – A necessary step.

Automatic Installation of DCC — Click To Watch Automatic Installation

DCC Software Automatic Installation – How to use a simple installer (very easy and fast)

Install DCC++ Base Station — Click to Watch Video

DCC Software Installation Using Arduino IDE – For those who prefer to use the IDE.

DCC-EX Web Throttle — Click To Watch How To Use Throttlee

DCC Ex Throttle – Control trains from your computer.

Engine Driver Throttle – Control from a phone.

All the information in the tutorials above have been condensed from the work done by a group of volunteers who are continuing to make this system more fantastic than it is already. Their work can be found her. DCC-Ex

Second Approach To Installing DCC

The following is useful, and actually important if you have more than a garage size layout, if you use a commercial system or want to know more about DCC.

It is a paid book but worth the investment. Don’t take a chance on burning out that expensive commercial system that you saved up to buy. Get this.

Here are some highlights.

All the DCC basics are clearly and simply explained – from How DCC Works, The Functions Of Decoders, What Are Boosters And What Do They Do, Wiring Bus Requirements, to Time Voltage Pulses And Their Application, plus much more.

It covers everything you need to know about wiring from the ground up. It includes easy to follow wiring diagrams, wiring reversing loops, how to program decoders, turnout control, free DCC control software and where to get it, controlling trains with a computer and more.

Questions such as these are answered with how to instructions:

What are the different power districts on a DCC system?
How can DCC and DC trains operate at the same time on the same track?
How much power is needed to run a DCC system?
Should points be modified? How?
What type wiring is needed on a DCC layout?
How should a DCC layout be wired?
How can a DCC layout be operated using a computer?
What free systems are available for DCC control?
What is the proper way to solder bus wires to the track?
How does one deal with reversing loops?
Must trains be upgraded to run on a DCC layout?
And many more.

And it shows you how to avoid costly mistakes setting up your system like, for one, shorting out that DCC controller that you saved up months for.

Once you are up and running, you will run into other problems. That ALWAYS happens. The DCC guide gives you the solutions to most.

This is just a summary.

Read complete DCC Guide information by clicking here.