08-29-2010, 11:19 AM
Lots of information here.
Some thoughts on DCC- You can convert Brass locomotives to run on DCC. Some MUST be re-motored! Some times the gear box must be changed.The Amp draw on some older motors is just too high for decoders to work with these high amp motors. Something that you have to watch out for is- The locomotive is brass and it is a conductor. So if you have a wheel or any other thing the makes contact with the locomotive you could have a short. You need to take you time and make sure that there are no sneak paths anywhere. You did not say anything about sound decoders. Are you thinking about any sound installs? Sound installs are a little more difficult to do. Also one of the biggest problems on brass locomotives is LIGHTS! Most times you will find 1.5 volt light bulbs in them, and you must drop the voltage to them to keep them from going poof! You will have to add some type of voltage regulator on the install to operate them.
Sounds like you are still wondering about a DCC system. If you are a single user and want a very easy system, you should take a look at a POWER CAB from NCE. You said that there was a club near by that used Digitrax. Do you belong to that club? If you do then you might be better off going with Digitrax.
But if you are using the Zephyr system you will need to get a serrate throttle, this will let you have a hand held throttle to use at home with your Zephyr system, and you can unplug the throttle and take it to the club and you will have your OWN throttle to use on the clubs system.
Some thoughts on DCC- You can convert Brass locomotives to run on DCC. Some MUST be re-motored! Some times the gear box must be changed.The Amp draw on some older motors is just too high for decoders to work with these high amp motors. Something that you have to watch out for is- The locomotive is brass and it is a conductor. So if you have a wheel or any other thing the makes contact with the locomotive you could have a short. You need to take you time and make sure that there are no sneak paths anywhere. You did not say anything about sound decoders. Are you thinking about any sound installs? Sound installs are a little more difficult to do. Also one of the biggest problems on brass locomotives is LIGHTS! Most times you will find 1.5 volt light bulbs in them, and you must drop the voltage to them to keep them from going poof! You will have to add some type of voltage regulator on the install to operate them.
Sounds like you are still wondering about a DCC system. If you are a single user and want a very easy system, you should take a look at a POWER CAB from NCE. You said that there was a club near by that used Digitrax. Do you belong to that club? If you do then you might be better off going with Digitrax.
But if you are using the Zephyr system you will need to get a serrate throttle, this will let you have a hand held throttle to use at home with your Zephyr system, and you can unplug the throttle and take it to the club and you will have your OWN throttle to use on the clubs system.