I recently converted to DCC and I have a question about remote turnouts.  My layout is with Atlas flextrack and Atlas #4 and #6 turnouts.  All I have used in the past is remote snap switches and I want to replace the switches so I can control them using my Dynamis Controller.  The three brands I have seen are the Genuine Switchmaster, Circuitron 6000 The Tortoise Switch Machine and DCC Concepts Cobalt Turnout Motor and DCC Concepts Colbalt DCC Ready Turnout Motor.  Any advice on these would be appreciated.  I cant tell from what I have read is if any or all of these are ready to run on DCC or if additional equipment needs to make them that way such as a attachable decoder. 

jward

I appreciate the explanation, I think I am starting to grasp the idea of how the values work.  I know I need to do some experimenting and I think I will write down everything I change so I can return to them if the result is not what I want.I have been trying to read up on dcc and decoders and I am starting to pull a lot less hair out.  Again thanks for the help

Rick

Thanks for the info, I finally broke down and did some reading about dcc.  I had to admit I didn't know as much about as I thought I did.  Things are starting to click about how dcc works and I think I will break down and purchase an auto-reversing module and eliminate my Atlas switch and possible damage to my engines.  Again thanks everyone for the advise

Rick

Since I switched to dcc, I changed my track layout and added a loop to change directions on one of the tracks.  I have seperate power to it and use it as a service track for programming the decoders.  I initially made the mistake of having it powered by the mainline which caused a short in the track when the engine passed through the turnout and touched the  reverse loop section.  My problem is since I wired that loop seperate, using an Altas twin switch from my old dc track setup to reverse the current everything works fine until the engine is attempting to leave the loop and reenter the mainline. Do I need a different type of manual switch. If I move the switch while the engine is on the loop and isnt touching either end of the mainline it keeps running.  Am I missing something?  Sure wish I was an electrical engineer.  Would connecting an auto-reversing modual be the best solution?  Trying to save movey.

Rick

I guess I knew that the command station doesnt have any values and that it is just used to send commands to the decoders.  I went to Digitrax site and looked up the different decoders, it appears that most of the decoders use the same values for each CV.  Being fairly ignorant about dcc I wish the manuals were written for those like me that are new to dcc.  The more I read I am starting to pick up on some of it.  Some of the stuff I have read gives a value for a specific CV and I understand that.  What I need to know is what is the range of values for the lower CVs that control speed and does the lower the number slow it down or not.  Do the CV values change if you use a 28 step speed vs a 128 step speed.  My other concern is with Digitrax decoders and the CV values listed, ie: a value listed by Digitrax is 008, with the Dynamis you cant enter 008 only the number 8, does that do the same thing?

do you need to know any specific number of the decoder installed or are the cv values the same for all digitrix decoders?  Two of my engines came dcc equiped with sound, two dcc equiped without sound and my other two engines were dcc ready and I installed the decoders  The main problem I am having is with the speed control.  My first two egines that I installed the decoders run at a much higher speed than the two that came dcc and sound equipped and I want to slow down the first two to try to match the others so I can put them in a consist.

where can I find a list of CV codes and associated values for my Dynamis dcc system?  I have the Pro box and can read the values but I dont know what the correct values should be.  Before I got the Pro box, I couldn't resist changing some of the codes to see what they would do and now I have problems.  I have the Kato brand BNSF engines and they have the digitrax decoders and the manual with the Pro box doesn't help at all.  Anyone know where I can find a list of these CV's and values?

Thanks

Rick

there seems to be no reason to when I seem to lose signal strength, sometimes a couple trains are running on different tracks and is do so for several minutes with no problems and then the signal meter will go down to one bar or go away all together.  After a minute or two the signal is back to full strength.  Really confusing.  I have my layout in a separate building more than 50 feet from the house, no other electronics in the building other than lights.

I checked my Volts coming out of the outlet and it is a strong 120 volts, put new batterys in the controller and shut off the florescent lights and still have the problem with the signal coming and going

Why do I keep losing signal strength for my Dynamis controller.  I can be a foot away from the box with good strength and then lose all signal without moving.  Do florescent lights affect it?  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.


Ric