Anyone Have a Part DC and Part DCC Layout?

[tehachapifan]

My layout is all DC and I've been trying to avoid the DCC bug. Initial resistance was the fear of melting down a loco at a turnout but I haven't heard any horror stories as of late. Biggest issue now is the expense to convert all my locos to DCC and the desire to still be to run locos that can't be converted. Pondered the idea of maybe part-time DCC, if that's possible, or maybe making one line DCC (I have a double-track main and a branch line). Anyone have something like this? All three lines are already isolated from each other.

[Lemosteam]

Many Ntrak module setups employ the switchable design.  Each line can be toggled to one ot the other for any unique combination.  I have been fortunate to have run both my DCC and DC kitbashes on some.

[rrjim1]

I had a two cab DC layout for a long time, using DPDT switches. I then started into DCC, I just changed one cab to DCC, worked great. I just recently rewired to all DCC and removed the DPDT switches and panel. I use a Digitrax system and have had lots of shorts with cars and locos, no extra short protection and have never had a melt down. 

[VonRyan]

My close friend Konrad's layout is set up with a DC cab/block system, and since it's all common-rail as well, he just added DCC in as another "cab".

It works well, and with the way his panels are set up, to turn the whole layout over to DCC only requires turning 3-4 rotary switches.

[arbomambo]

Our burgeoning T-Trak group runs both; DCC on the inside track (where all the spurs and sidings reside), and DC on the outside track (pretty much a straight run).
We've decided on this for a number of reasons. We want to be able to demonstrate both forms of control at shows and set ups, and we also want to make sure we're inclusive- we want to encourage those who don't have decoder-equipped power to run on the layout.
We're also discovering that the large DC power that we're using allows a number of multi-unit consists ( as long as the units are speed matched well, such as a Kato F ABBBA set) to operate with no loss of power.
The Digitrax Zephyr unit we currently use for the inside track just can't handle a multi-unit set in addition to a few other locomotives working various spurs and sidings.
Of course, T-Trak lends itself well to a dual system like this (which is 'switchable' in our case).
~Bruce

[C855B]

Our N-Trak club also runs dual at some shows. Typically the outside two tracks (red and yellow) are DCC, the inside (blue) is DC. The logic behind this is by having DCC on two of the loops, the assembled layout is large enough for two or three trains on each loop. The DC track is primarily to accommodate unconverted power, and many of our members are DC-only at home.

In this setting the dual mode is a little cumbersome since we simply lug our old DC system around, with a power supply and two three-track throttle stands running just the one track. This makes it a pain since the DCC operators have wireless throttles, but the DC operators are fixed at the throttle stands. So one project on my bench is using a larger-scale decoder as a DCC-to-DC plug-in, to run the DC track as loco #01. We've had this discussion before on TRW, the concern being what happens when something crosses over between the DC and DCC lines, and does something go "poof!"? I guess we'll find out soon enough.

But in all honesty we are increasingly DCC-only. We're doing more non-traditional exhibitions, where we have the space to arrange the layout into a dogbone loop. That unfortunately demands DCC; without the ability to block the layout, managing more than one train becomes a problem.

[SP-Wolf]

My layout is DCC. However, I set up the outside loop with a double pole double thro (Center off) toggle to run DC on it. Works very well. I just use it to run my DC locomotives (til I can get it/them converted).  Kind of like a built in test track.

Thanks,
Wolf

[R.Groff]

My first layout was DC and I converted it to DCC using a Digitrax Zepher on that system you can run all DCC locco's and one DC locco on (00) at the same time.
The new layout is still Digitrax but is a DB 150 and I can run 1 DC locco along with all DCC loco's.
Rick

[tehachapifan]

Thanks for the replies thus far! this is encouraging!

My first layout was DC and I converted it to DCC using a Digitrax Zepher on that system you can run all DCC locco's and one DC locco on (00) at the same time.
The new layout is still Digitrax but is a DB 150 and I can run 1 DC locco along with all DCC loco's.
Rick

I read something at the Digitrax about being able to run or lashup analog locos a the same time. How the heck??

[eric220]

Thanks for the replies thus far! this is encouraging!

I read something at the Digitrax about being able to run or lashup analog locos a the same time. How the heck??

That is true. Analog is address 00. Basically they alter the length of the AC "wave" on the tracks according to the throttle setting. For instance, if you're set to forward and you turn up the throttle, the positive cycle will be longer than the negative cycle, resulting in net forward movement. It's not really good for the DC motors, especially being left in idle, where the positive and negative cycles are equal. They "twitch" on the AC power as the polarity shifts back and forth.

[peteski]

Just to add another voice, the N-Trak club I belong to also does the mixed DC/DCC setup.  One track is DCC the other 2 are DC. As long as they stay isolated, they can happily coexist.

I would however discourage you to run DC locos from DCC track power (on cab 00) for the reason Eric mentioned. The motor acts like a constant load on the 12V pulses always present on the track. So it heats up and the constant vibration of the armature cannot be doing it any favors.  If any of your DC locos have coreless motor then I would discourage you from placing it on DCC powered track at any time.  The delicate windings in its coreless rotor basket will get hot enough to damage them (since there is no iron core to dissipate the heat of alternating 12V constantly applied to the motor.

[Baronjutter]

My railway is DCC but tram system is DC.  They never mix so it works fine.

[Hamaker]

+1 what Peteski said !  I tried running one of my DC locos on my big DCC layout.  Didn't run worth crap !  It gave me an excuse to build a couple of small DC layouts.  How good is that !

[mrhedley]

The main part of my layout is still DC.  I bought a starter DCC system (NCE Power cab) and a couple of DCC locomotives and set up another 'zone' using Kato unitrack.  I installed a DPDT switch for changing between DC and DCC when I want to run older locos in this section.  The DC on my layout is standard two cab control with DPDT switches and a number of local cabs.  I am experimenting with adding a pair of wires to the center off position where the positive/negative track feeders connect and connecting to the DCC.  But I have to test it all to be sure that there are no 'gremlins' that can cause DC and DCC in any block at the same time.  Even though I have been very careful to isolate my turnouts properly, sometimes a longer consist of 3 axle diesels crossing a pair of turnouts will give me fits.  I suppose I'd have similar problems with DCC unless I replace the troublesome turnouts.  That's probably the next step before I move ahead with the experiment.

[jagged ben]

The club I belong to has a DC and DCC common rail wired layout with 50 mainline blocks.   We have 5 mainline DC cabs, 3 yard cabs, and the DCC system.   (To do the common rail method we had to special order boosters from Digitrax which have Loconet optically isolated.  If starting from scratch we might not have done common rail, but switching would require a lot of expensive 2-pole rotary switches.)   

With a few exceptions, DC and DCC play very well together.  A lot of my DC locos have been exposed to DCC voltage for short periods of time (seconds) without suffering noticeable harm.    The notable exceptions to this are DC locos that contain fancy electronic circuits (e.g. Richmond controls lighting stuff).   DCC voltage can fry some of that stuff if a loco overruns its block or is subject to some other operator error.

BTW, I think it's much easier to melt down a loco on DC than DCC.   DCC is more often better at sensing shorts and shutting down.