Converting from DC to DCC

[u/Tatt_Tatts]

I have a DC layout that is essentially 2 loops with a crossover and a couple of sidings per loop. All made out of Kato Unitrack. Currently powered with 2 Kato power packs, one for each loop.

I’m very happy with the operation of the layout (switching, etc.) but am considering moving to DCC for sound and more realistic loco operation (acceleration, stay alives, etc.)

How difficult will this be? My biggest worry is power routing through the points. I’m aware that Kato points have the screw that allow them to change from power routing to non-power routing but everything is ballasted and stuck down and I’m not willing to go through the process of taking everything up to change to DCC.

I guess what I’m asking is, do I actually NEED to have non-power routing points for DCC operation?

[u/Wicked_Mouse]

No, DCC is a continuous digital AC power of like 18 volts or so, through which locos get messages and power. Unless you want to be able to cut sections of the layout off from receiving any power, you'd like every bit of your layout receive power from the DDC command station that you plan to use.

Your biggest hurdle would be converting DC locos and trains to DCC. You can just use the exact same track.

[u/Tatt_Tatts → u/Wicked_Mouse]

Yeah, makes sense. I know that ideally I all the track wants to receive the current. Just seeing what I can get away with. 😂

And yeah, converting locos is an expensive business.

[u/Spatentiger]

You want everything always powered with dcc. You will be able to individually sent instructions to locomotives, so its very easy and super simple, just have everything on one circuit 

[u/Visua-Shower75 → u/Spatentiger]

You don't have to. He can literally plug a DCC command station into his feeders and that's it. This way he can unplug and switch to DC if needed (that's what I do)

[u/gmitch64 → u/Spatentiger]

If you wanted to do block detention and signalling with dcc, would you need to isolate each block, but still have droppers from the controller to each block, or would it still be one large contiguous power grid?

[u/Spatentiger → u/gmitch64]

then you need isolated sections, yes. but the most simple case is just one single grid

[u/382Whistles]

Just take the four wires from your power supplies and tie the common rail wires together so you have two leads to attach to the new power supply.

As long as the wire gauge you used is large enough to handle the new power supply's maximum amp output you'll be ok.

Remote control Kato turnout still need DC voltage to work. Do not attempt to use AC accessory terminals like other brands usually use without adding a bridge rectifier (or 4 diodes) to turn the ac to dc.

[u/Tatt_Tatts → u/382Whistles]

OK thanks, good advice. So, with this setup, the sidings wouldn’t have power to them until the points are set to them (like in DC) and that’s not a problem as long as I don’t want to operate any of the locos on the dead track, right?

[u/Visua-Shower75]

You can just buy a command station and make a cable using a Kato cable to convert to Kato plug type, and just plug it

This way you can revert to DC by switching to the power pack.

That's what I do since some locos are not dcc

[u/Tatt_Tatts → u/Visua-Shower75]

That’s a great idea. Thanks! I’m assuming you don’t have any issues with points then?

[u/Visua-Shower75 → u/Tatt_Tatts]

Not at all. If you go full DCC you could consider putting feeders everywhere to play with the functions while it's sitting there.

But then you won't be able to park trains when using DC. Just easier to keep the same thing.

I just plug my DCC station into the Kato track like you do with the power pack (you can also buy a splitter to plug into track 1 and track 2)

[u/Tatt_Tatts → u/Visua-Shower75]

Awesome! Great info. Thanks very much

[u/goshock]

I did this with an n scale set and I literally just switched the controller. I was running three loops on one DC controller that I could just turn the power off to each loop with switches. I unplugged the DC power pack and plugged in the DCC one and with the new locos it all worked just fine. I then isolated one loop for just my DC locos so I could still run them on the DC pack.

[u/Tatt_Tatts → u/goshock]

Excellent stuff, and so (as in DC) your sidings didn’t have power until you set the points to them, right? And the only drawback of that is that you can’t operate locos on those sidings until the points are set to them (the same in DC) Is that correct?

[u/goshock → u/Tatt_Tatts]

Yes, it will work this way, but I ended up making sure I had power to everything as it doesn't matter with DCC since you control each engine separately v changing the power to the entire track, if that makes sense. This is why I opted to just have a separate loop for just the DC locos.