DCC Information
This section is dedicated to all aspects of DCC, Digital Command Control.
Our Own Digitrax
The MCMR N and HO layouts are controlled by Digitrax systems and controllers. The link below will direct you to the Digitrax so that you can refer to at a leisurely pace from home. Check ou the latest updates, check for upgrades etc. Here's the link:
I’m adding my own comment today, March 4, 2014. At the club today, I thought I would start to use this information, on the Program Track, to reset a couple of locomotives from the bench that had become unresponsive. I learned that you can’t get to second base until you reach first base, um, first.
First, one needs to understand the Club’s Program Track set up. A Program Track needs to be electrically isolated from the other tracks. On the Club’s layout, I see THREE switches for Program mode: One under the table in the center near the main power switches to the districts. Its marked Program or Normal; the next is at the end of the layout where the program track is. It’s the box that gives a choice between Off, DC, DCC, and PROGRAM ; the third switch is right in the same area. Its called BPX or BBX or something, a programming little black box.
So… which way do we activate our programming track so that when we program on the Program Track, we don’t inadvertently mess up any other loco? Do any old timers remember?
Bill Flanagan
The switch near the main power puts the Lenz system in programming mode. The system will not run trains while in this mode. The switch near the programming track is used to isolate it from the rest of the layout (and thus prevent affecting any other loco decoders). The BBX (Black Box) can be used to program decoders separately from the Lenz system. The switch near the main power does not need to be used for this. The BBX has a separate jack to plug in a controller. The BBX does not have enough power to run the loco and therefore can not be used to test if the programming was successful. That can be accomplished by switching the test track to DCC (and using a different jack for the controller).
Larry McCarthy
Thanks Larry, that information is very helpful. And, as you know, we successfully read cv’s using the BBX method. It’s my understanding that by providing less power, the BBX program track helps prevent shorts if a new controller were inadvertently wired incorrectly.
Bill Flanagan
The DCC system went from Lenz to MRC to Digitrax. This section needs to be updated, 5/12/21
The HO and N scale layouts use DIGITRAX DCS 240’s with UT6D and DT602D throttles. HO layout has WIFI access for cell phone operation.