Portal:Wiring
The Wiring Portal
Without wiring, our model trains, lights, switches, and other effects around the track will not do anything.
Most model railroads begin with the around-the-Christmas-Tree loop of track. The usual setup includes an analog (DC) power pack, track, an engine, and a short string of cars. As the layout continues to grow, the complexities of wiring increased.
Thanks to DCC, our wiring can be simplified.
- Main article: Wiring
Selected article
- Main article: DCC advantage over DC
DCC's advantage over analog operations comes through your ability to control individual locomotives without any complicated switches and wiring. This advantage can come as early as your decision to purchase your second engine. Contrary to some thought, serious consideration of DCC operation needs to start at the beginning stages of Model Railroading.
In the analog environment, no matter how much you grow your power availability, all you ever control is the track. It either has power on it, or not. With DCC, you control the engines - ie you drive the train!! You control the speed, the direction, whether or not the lights are on, and, potentially additional lighting effects, or sound effects. You can put additional trains on the tracks without having to worry about extra wiring, switches, or power supplies. You do this with multiple engines on any track you want, even on the same track as other locomotives. Read more
Selected picture
Need more pictures of DCC content. A great picture of a jumble of wires or some such would be perfect here. TazzyTazzy 13:47, 7 February 2007 (EST)
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Did you know...
Know any FYI's to put here?
Topics
- Wiring - Main wiring article.
- Soldering - Tips and techniques on soldering for model railroading.
- Track wiring - Suggestions on wiring tracks, wire selection, tips/hints.
- Reverse sections - How to wire reverse sections of track.
- Connecting your computer to DCC - Introduction to getting computers interfaced with DCC layouts.
Things you can do
- Many wiring topics are still needed. I'm sure whatever topic you can think up on wiring, can be used here at DCCWiki. Just search for something, and if you can't find it, start a new topic.
- Consolidate or make the main wiring page and track wiring page compliment each other instead of carrying much of the same information.
- Need articles on connecting power distributions, stationary decoders, crossing guards, animations, etc.