How do I determine if my Bachman/Williams locomotives are dcc compatible? If they are, what decoder is the best to install?
I am just beginning in the hobby and want to convert my first layout to a dcc system if possible. Thanks!
Mark
Midnight Layla Express Railroad
Hi Mark,
3-rail O gauge locomotives, including Williams, are not compatible with DCC. DCC is designed for 2-rail model railroads only.
Not trying to start a fight Yardmaster, but that's not completely true. When my repair shop was open, I had three different people, not interested in running 'Post War' locomotives, ask me to remove the Electronic E-Units from their modern can motor 3-rail O-gauge locos and install DCC decoders and sound systems instead.
I used decoders rated for heavier G-scale locos and Tsunami sounds systems and they were happy with the results. The main installation difference was using the center pickup and frame return instead of the left and right rails of 2-rail operation. They were especially happy with having more control over the locos sounds than the typical O-guage sound board.
Len
What is the best system to use on a 3 rail system? How do you convert these locomotives over into these systems if you can't use these decoders?
Mark
In general 3-rail trains are pretty heavy, so need more current than the average HO or N layout. Any DCC system meeting NMRA standards should work, but you'll probably want a 5 amp booster so the system doesn't get overloaded. Any decoder rated at 4 or 5 amps, often used in G scale, should work. Tsunami makes 4 and 5 amp sound decoders if you want sound. Keep in mind that if you convert the layout to DCC you will no longer be able to use O-Gauge locomotives expexting AC power straight out of the box.
From the questions you're asking, I would suggest getting some books on DCC and getting much more familiar with it before taking on a project like this. The people I did those conversions for were already very familiar with DCC, and well aware of the issues involved in using it with a 3-rail layout.
Len