An Introduction to DCC- Digital Command Control by Don Pearson

With my next project- Matlock Bath- in mind, I took time to consider matters I wished to incorporate;
a) To evaluate and utilise DCC control
b) To enable portability, and other uses of space taken
c) To have potential for further extension i.e. Modular construction
d) A continuous run facility
e) Reasonable depiction of the area at Matlock Bath Station ‘Then and Now’

Evaluation of DCC systems available.

Having gathered literature, examination was made of the Hornby, Bachmann, ZTC, Gaugemaster, Lenx, and ESU systems.
Starter prices ranged from £120 to £560. I particularly liked the Bachmann Dynamis system which has a large screen
Displaying Locomotive Identity, Speed Steps, Address of Locomotive, Stop Indicator, Direction Indicator, Headlight On/Off
Short Circuit indicator, and Battery Level. It has a Joystick rather
than a rotary knob which makes for easy Loco selection, especially
as I envisaged only having five on my layout. Furthermore the
InfraRed technology obviates the physical connection from the
handset to the Command Station. Dynamis has available in
addition a ‘Pro Box’ which enables Reading CV values as well as
Programming. It is also possible to connect up to 4 more
handsets/throttles, and another Infra Red sensor. For the
advanced user an ESU Link EcoS can be connected enabling
computer integration.

These matters all attribute to the development of the system

without having to start anew.

Layout Construction

Having decided Matlock Bath to be the project modelled, I commenced obtaining track diagrams and as much data as
possible. (for this I thank Bill Hudson his book ‘Through Limestone Hills’, Glyn Waite of the Rowsley Association, and my
friends Doreen and Arthur Stevens who live at Starkholmes situated at the top of the hill from Matlock Bath Station.
The ‘Up’ platform is no longer in existence nor are the sidings, now replaced by a Car Park. However I wished to
incorporate both of these. Matlock Bath has at each end of its lines entry into Tunnels giving a natural scenic break. To
achieve continuous running I incorporated a return loop to each end. An amount of compression to the original track plan
resulted in two 4 foot long modules, plus a 14inch addition, then at 90degrees to this panels with the return loops
contained

Modular Aspect

Each of the boards with the return loop has its tracks as per guidance from the N Gauge Society, for Modular layouts
situated 1” and 3” from board edge, such that it would be possible to insert further developments, in my case Matlock in
one direction and Cromford in the other.

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DCC Wiring

It is possible to have just two wires to run a DCC layout, but as soon as in my case five boards are required to give
portability, then connections are needed across each board. For alignment I used ‘Red Dog’ style bullet male and female
connectors between each board, and had the idea of using these also to convey the ‘Bus’ power supply. Prior to basebard
construction the end panels were clamped together and drilled on a pillar drill for the connectors to be fitted. As these
were hammered home a colour coded wire was trapped into each such that they also conveyed the Bus power from
board to board. My ‘Bus’ is by means of Adhesive copper strip (Rapid Code 34-0635) making it easy to solder these wires
from the board connectors as well as the Power Feeds required elsewhere.

As soon as turnouts are used then it becomes essential to fit isolators to

each rail from the turnout ‘Frog’ to avoid short circuits. A number of
articles I have read make suggestions to modify the turnouts and utilise
accessory switches to change frog polarity. I have not done this and to
date have not found any problems at all. However for the reverse loops I
have fitted the ‘Hex Frog Juicer’ available from Digitrains. This device
enables continuous running and eliminates the need for DPDT switches.
It also serves my two double slips employed as Peco have prewired a
connection to the frog which is connected to the Frog Juicer. For all
other turnouts I have found no need to make additional connections,
other than after each insulated rail joiner ensure a ‘Drop Wire’ is soldered
to the copper Bus strip making as required ALL rails LIVE continuously.

Initially I made a mistake of thinking my track plan was in effect a continuous

circuit of two lines connected with a loop at each end. I connected the Bus
feeds to (a) the Inner rail and (b) to the outer rail. However as soon as
turnouts fitted enabled trains to pass across the main lines, shorts occurred
and I had to consider and change my Bus connections so that as viewed the
Upper rail is (a) and the lower rail (b).In other words a Ring Main will cause
problems with DCC and wiring should be in the form of a star or legs radiating
from the system and not a ring. With DCC the track has a supply of around
14volts AC, there is no Positive and Negative anymore.

DCC can use decoders to control and change turnouts and slips, but I felt this
an advanced step I was not ready for, I have used SEEP point motors and use
the auxiliary connections to illuminate my track plan via LED’s to show the
route set.

It is not easy to glance at Peco Slips and determine which way the route is set. Using stud and probe operation also
requires special consideration and the diagram above shows how each of the two operating positions achieve the
direction of travel for the train. (Diagram by John Busby member Tring & District MRC). The stud needs to operate the
direction change on the opposite end of the slip to achieve correct LED indication. My track plan was produced by
photographing the layout and reducing the image on a computer, as I was hopeless in trying to do this otherwise.

Next Stages

I now have track installed, wired, tested and ballasted. Green Scenes ballaster was very helpful for neat margins. Now
Scenery and Buildings to construct. Programming of CV’s to be studied to refine running parameters. Further reports in
due course.

Don Pearson.