Choosing a DCC system that’s right for you
by Ron Newby
Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2004 edition of “The Interchange” the newsletter of the Ottawa Valley Associated Railroaders and updated on November 16, 2010
What prompted me to switch from conventional DC to DCC was when I started calculating the cost of wiring my new layout. I had always thought that the cost of a DCC system was expensive and that I could not justify the expense to myself or to the finance department. The cost of toggle switches, rotary switches, power supplies and throttles for a walk around system that I would meet my needs soon indicated otherwise. The cost for the yard at Depot Harbour alone would pay for the major part of a DCC system. So, without further ado, here is my story.
I got my start in DCC a few years ago the hard way. The first DCC system I owned I built myself using an old computer and plans off the Internet. Using this system on my test layout (a circle or track) turned out to be a fun and an interesting endeavour. I also had bragging rights, I built it myself. I finally got the nerve to start building my dream layout, so I designed a trackplan and started construction, but that’s another story.
What the system I had built was capable of, and what my needs were going to be on my new layout differed somewhat. In order to get this system to do what I would like required some serious R&D and my understanding of electronic circuitry leaves a lot to be desired.
I’m real good at following directions, but designing something electronically is another matter. My talents lie elsewhere, give me a screwdriver and a fuse box and I can get zapped with the best of them. It was time to go with plan “B”, choosing a commercial system. With so many choices, which one is the best system out there? I started asking around. Talking to people led me to believe that the best DCC system in the world was the one they were using. Ok, I may be exaggerating a bit there, but you get the picture, confusion city, here I come. At one point I thought about tossing a coin, start eliminating the losers of the coin toss one at a time and go with the last system standing. As you can see the coin toss wasn’t really a smart way to go, so it was on to plan “C”.
The first step in going about choosing which DCC system is right for you is to make a list of what you want to do with your DCC system:
In the end, the system you choose will be your own personal preference based on your needs and likes. Doing your homework in advance will allow you to make an informed choice and let you purchase a system you will be happy with. One thing I would suggest is that you don’t buy a system that is too small to meet your needs as a compromise. You will soon be either disappointed in that the system doesn’t do what you would like and/or you will by buying a bigger system in the near future.
So, what system did I chose? I’m not saying as I don’t want to influence anybody and besides, I bought the best system out there.
Manufacturer Web Sites:
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