1. Can you convert a non-DCC engine to a DCC engine?
2. What is the max voltage that an N-gauge engine should be ran at?
3. I have a "Yard Boss" starter set, what is the voltage output of the standard non-DCC power supply?
4. With my "Yard Boss" set, is it ok to run my 0-6-0 Engine at full speed?
5. Is there a recommended maximum time I should run my train at a time?
6. With my n-gauge Yard Boss, what is the expected life of one of these small engines?
7. Do these small engines need any type of maintenance? If so, how often?
8. With a starter set like I have, can I run more than one engine on the same track?
9. With my Yard Boss engine, is there a maximum number of cars I can pull?
10. Am I asking too many questions?
11. Do you know anyone that has some of the n-gauge Bachmann EZ track or other startup items they would like to sell or to donate to the "thenson grand children train fund"???
12. I'm thinking about adopting a 1930 to 1950 era logging community theme... or maybe an Alaskan fishing / logging community theme... anyone got any good pictures or links to this type of theme? Right now my intent is to stay relatively small, maybe a 3ft by 6 ft layout... I might even add some WWII airplanes into my theme...
Let me know what you think of my theme ideas...
thenson
1: It depends on how the locomotive is built. If the motor is electrically isolated from the frame and there's enough room for a decoder then the answer is probably yes.
2: The maximum voltage should give the locomotive and any cars behind it just enough speed to negotiate the curves of the layout without falling off.
3: Bachmann controllers operate at 16 volts.
4: Yes, assuming it won't fall off or crash into something.
5: I believe Bachmann says to lubricate and maintain locomotives after every 8 hours of run time.
6: That depends on how often they're run and the level of care given.
7: Here's Bachmann's N scale maintenance video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNDEDkx4Org
8: Yes you can. If you want to have a large analog layout with multiple trains look up 'block control'; It separates sections of the layout into electrically isolated 'blocks' so you can control direction and speed for different trains while avoiding short-circuits.
9: All locomotives have a weight limit, when that's reached the weight of the engine on the rails won't be enough to overpower the weight of the cars.
10: No, how else are you going to learn? ;)
11: Sounds like a good cause, but no.
12: Youtube actually has videos of N scale logging layouts: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=n+scale+logging+layout
Personally, logging layouts are my favorite. I hope you upload pictures when it's ready. :)