DCC Made Easy
Kalambach Publishing $11.50

This publication is a must for those interested in DCC and includes:

1. Terminology and Concepts

2. Buyers Checklist

3. Decoder Installation

4. Layout Wiring

5. Many additional topics

A DCC Power system replaces ordinary DC transformer power used in prior years.  Because of the popularity of DCC many manufacturers have emerged.  Atlas, Digitrax, Lenz, LGB MTS, MRC, NCE, Soundtraxx and System One just to name a few in alphabetical order.

Installation of DCC requires installing a small circuit board (decoder) in each locomotive at a cost of $15 to $60 depending on the scale of your layout and the features you desire.  Additionally you will need a command station and hand throttle.  These vary in price starting at $150 again depending on the features desired.

DCC to control and power trains offers significant advantages over conventional DC transformers. The following are just a few of the most obvious.

1. With analog DC the speed and direction of trains is determined by increasing the voltage and polarity of the power supplied to the rails of a layout. This means when trains stop, smoke stops, lights dim and go out, sound ceases unless battery power is provided. DCC provides a constant power to the rails at all times regardless of the locomotive's speed or direction of travel. When stopped trains will continue to receive power and burn lights at the same intensity, smoke generators continue to operate, sound systems will continue to function and batteries are not required.
2. DCC allows one engineer to control many trains or many engineers to control their own trains limited only by the number of hand throttles available.
3. The DCC industry has adopted standards recommended by the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA). The NMRA extensively tests all products that manufacturers submit for conformance approval before the manufacturer is allowed to display the "NMRA Conformance Warrant Symbol". This means that with the introduction of new products and accessories the investment made in DCC will not be lost. Products purchased from multiple manufacturers will be interchangeable.
4. DCC equipped locomotives will operate on conventional DC layouts so we can still enjoy operating on other layouts without concern.
5. Leads can be reduced to 2 wires that provide power to the track and still control turnouts, reverse loops, signals and more.

DCC works by providing both power and signals to all trains on the track through the rails and the decoders in individual engines determine how to respond in terms of speed , direction, lights etc..

DCC power is similar to AC but the current alternates in a controlled series of pulses that the locomotive decoders can understand as series of 1's and 0's (or digits)  and then interprets those digits as commands which the engineer has controlled the hand throttle.  Hence "Digital Command Control" or DCC.

Because DCC is Hi-Frequency alternating pulses it is the ideal TRACK POWER system for minimizing electrolysis that causes corrosion build up on the rails.  This is especially true for G-Scale outdoor layouts.