Terms List
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DCC Terminology
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| Term Definition | |
|---|---|
| Accessory Decoder | A decoder normally mounted under the benchwork or alongside the track for control of accessories, such as turnout motors . |
| Address Range | The range of addresses available on a Digital Command Control system. |
| Ammeter | Device to measure current flow |
| Analog | Control based on magnitude of voltage applied to the track. |
| Analog Conversion | Allows a locomotive with DCC decoder to run on non-DCC powered tracks. |
| Auto Reverse | Automatically corrects mismatches in phase between track sections such as cross overs and reverse loops. |
| Back EMF | Back Electro-motive Force is voltage generated in a motor while in operation. Decoders can monitor this voltage for control purposes. |
| Booster | The Booster is an electronic device that takes instructions from the Command Station, and creates the digital signal supplied to the track. |
| Bus | A specific group of electrical wires that carries a particular group of voltages or signals. |
| CV Readback | Reading back a CV from a decoder. |
| Cab | A DCC term for the controller used to operate a train. It has the throttle, plus other controls needed. |
| Can Motor | A Direct Current motor in the shape of a can. |
| Command Control | A method of controlling multiple trains independent of track voltage |
| Command station | The heart and brains of the Digital Command Control system. Listens for commands from throttles and other devices, processes them, and sends the resulting digital data to the booster |
| Computer Interface | A device to connect a computer to a DCC system. |
| Consist Address | The unique address by which a consist can be accessed. See MU consist. |
| Consists | Two or more Diesel locomotives acting as one unit. |
| Continuous Load | The maximum current that a decoder can supply to a particular output for an extended period of time without causing damage to the decoder. |
| Coreless Motor | A type of Direct Current Motor |
| DCC | Digital Command Control |
| DCC Ready | Easy conversion to DCC |
| DCC in a Box | A self contained Digital Command Control system, often used in modular setups. |
| DMM | Digital Multimeter, a multipurpose electrical measuring device. |
| Decoder | Decoders receive commands from throttles or other devices and are responsible for controlling the vehicles and/or performing certain functions around a layout. |
| Decoder Connection Method | Decoder connection method |
| Decoder Programming | |
| Decoder-Assisted Consisting | Places the burden of MU consisting on the decoder instead of the command station. |
| Digital packet | The data packet containing the information needed to control a decoder |
| Distributed Power | Another form of Consisting |
| Ditch Lights | Low mounted headlights which illuminate the ditches on the sides of the ROW. |
| Dither | Helps model locomotives run better at very slow speeds. |
| Energy Storage | Decoder accessory to store backup energy |
| FRED | Flashing Rear End Device |
| FX Lighting | Additional functions available from some decoders, such as lighting effects. This is also a Digitrax trademark for additional features |
| Frog Juicer | An electronic device which provides correctly phased DCC power to the frog |
| Functions | Additional features availble on a decoder, such as lighting circuits and effects. They are controlled from the throttle using the function buttons. |
| Heat Shrink Tubing | A polymer tube which will shrink when exposed to heat. |
| High-Frequency Decoders | Decoders with this feature allow slow speed operation without a distracting buzz from the motor. |
| How DCC works | Commands are sent digitally to decoders |
| Jump Port | Method of using analog throttle to control DCC command station |
| Kick Start | Decoder function to help overcome motor and drivetrain stiction when a locomotive starts to move from standstill. |
| LCC | New layout control bus from NMRA/OpenLCB. |
| Layout Command Control | An NMRA Standard for a Layout Control Bus. Doing for accessories what Digital Command Control does for the track. |
| Lighting | Lighting Effects Available |
| Loco Momentum | Decoder feature which attempts to replicate the mass of a real train, that is, real trains just don't stop and start suddenly. |
| Locomotive | Motive power to a train - the train's engine. |
| Locomotive Interface | Method of connecting a mobile decoder to a locomotive |
| MU consisting | Running more than one locomotive (double heading) on a train. |
| Magic Smoke | Belief that electronic devices contain 'magic smoke' that escapes when the device is overloaded (ie burned out). |
| Motor | A mechanical device which converts energy into a force that can do work. |
| Multifunction Decoder | A decoder typically installed in vehicles such as locomotives, which controls motor and lighting functions. |
| NMRA Connector | A plug and socket system used to connect decoders to the motor and light circuits |
| NMRA DCC Plug for Multifunction Decoders | Interface between the decoder and the locomotive's wiring |
| OEM | Short for Original Equipment Manufacturer. |
| OpenLCB | The People, Idea, and Technology powering the NMRA's Layout Command Control(TM) (LCC). |
| Phase | Phase is the relationship of the voltage levels on the rails. |
| Power Bus | The bus that connects the outputs of a booster to the track or accessory decoders. |
| Power Conversion | Ability of a DCC decoder to operate on a non-DCC layout |
| Power supply | Supplies power to the booster and is used to power model railroad trains and layout accessories. |
| Programming Lock | A method of locking the decoders to prevent programming. |
| Programming Modes | Modes available for programming a decoder. |
| Programming Track | A track set aside for programming locomotives using Service Mode. It may or may not be part of the layout. |
| Pulse Width Modulation | Pulse width is modulated in a square wave for better control of energy (watts). |
| Quartering | Alignment process for steam locomotive drivers |
| RJ12 Connector | The connector was originally used for telephone equipment. The RJ means Registered Jack. |
| Rail Size | Various sizes of rail are available to represent main lines, branches, and sidings, as usage/tonnage would require. |
| Rule 17 | Rule 17 is a prototype railroad rule specifying conditions for dimming lights on locomotives. |
| SUSI | SUSI is an interface between DCC Multifunction Decoders and additional devices. |
| Series Resistor | A resistor installed in series with a load. |
| Silent Drive | See High-Frequency Decoders. |
| Silent HF | See High-Frequency Decoders |
| Slots | A Digitrax term to refer to an address for locomotive under control by a Digitrax system. |
| Snood | A small plastic cap used to retain a wire. Often found in new locomotives, as it eliminates the need to solder the wires to the decoder/light board |
| Speed Curve | See Speed Table |
| Speed Table | A list of settings of how fast or slow the decoder should run at a given throttle speed. |
| Speed steps | Speed steps can be thought of as how many steps or notches there are between idle (stopped) and full throttle. Can be 14, 28, or 128 steps. |
| Stall Current | The current that an electrical motor draws when its shaft if prevented from moving. |
| Standard Dimensions | Dimensions that determine clearances between tracks, structures, platforms, etc. |
| Stiction | |
| Throttle | A Throttle (or Cab) is a way to control the locomotives and other aspects of the layout (turnouts, animation, lighted passenger cars, etc). |
| Transponding | Transponding is a system where a decoder can report back to the system, or command station. |
| Turnout Motors | A motor (or switch machine) that is usually connected to an accessory decoder to control a turnout. |
| Turnouts with Digital Command Control | Arrangement of rails to allow a train to be switched between the main route and a diverging route |
| USP | Uninterruptible Signal Processing |
| Voltage Drop | Lower voltage at the electrical load than power source, due to resistance in the wire. |
| Worm gear | |
| XOR | Logical function used for error checking |
| XPressNet | Lenz's network system |
| Zero Stretching | Method of running a DC powered locomotive on DCC powered rails. |