Adding A Programming Track To Your Model Railroad (350)
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- čas přidán 1. 07. 2024
- It is so much more convenient and safer to have a programming track on your model railroad. That way you can program your locos without having to pick them up and carry them to a workbench or desk and take the chance of damaging them in the process. In past videos I have shown in generic terms how to set up a programming track but in this video I'm going to actually show how to do it on my modular layout. We'll get it set up and then try it out using the new Aegis system.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
2:26 More playlists
3:08 Selecting a track
5:18 Cutting gaps
7:12 Adding feeders
7:47 The final connection
8:18 Light’er up
8:32 Bring on a loco
9:10 Mind your gaps
10:10 Programming
14:54 Testing changes
16:25 Back to mainline mode
17:30 Wrapup - Jak na to + styl
Excellent video as usual Larry. Always good to have your programming track on the layout as this involves less handling of your locos. Didn't realise you also had a British OO layout as well!
As an idiot proofing method I will use 2 NCE Auto SW's with an isolated "dead" track between the programing track and the layout. With this method, only use the "Main" outputs of both the Auto SW's and power the "Programming" track section with a feeder placed on the main power bus BEFORE the bus connects to the Auto SW's. (See NCE Article "Live Program Track with Auto SW.) Thus, one Auto SW will have the only have the Main output connected to the dead track and the other Auto SW Main will be connected to the layout. Again, the dead track is completely isolated as is the programming track. In normal mode a loco can operate on both tracks. Both special tracks are longer than my longest locomotive.
I will try that. Great video.
Thank you for sharing.👍
I needed this video a while ago
Larry thank-you so much for providing this Video. Was able to make a dedicated programing track using one of my yard lanes. Did everything as you did. Using NCE power cab with nce auto switch. Works great.. Thx again
Glad it helped!
I suggest one use the styrene trick as temperature changes can cause the space to close
Another really good video Larry ! Really enjoyed it ! I have a couple of questions about your layout : #1 Do you have a separate DCC track bus AND a DCC accessory bus ? #2 Does your layout have separate DC bus(3.3 volts, 12 volts, and 24 volts) ? I assume the separate DC bus would power your accessories ? Merry Christmas Larry !
I currently use the main DCC bus to power accessory decoders but plan to add a separate DCC accessory bus. I also have a 12VDC bus for accessories that run direct off DC.
Is it easier &/or better to make a cut in the rails vs. attaching an additional section of track using insulated rail joiners? I haven’t fully finished laying track at this point so both options are available to me. Even after watching the majority of your videos, as they are ALL very informative, I do appreciate the work you’ve done to create playlists as it will make it easier to go back and quickly find specific topics. Merry Christmas! 🎄
It would be the same, I just wanted to show the process for adding it to an existing layout.
@@TheDCCGuy excellent, thank you!
Thank you for all of your videos. They are very well done and easy to follow. I power my layout with a Digitrax DB150 and a PM42 using three of the four sub-districts. I would like to add the "drive-on" feature to a short spur but it seems that I cannot add a DPDT switch after the PM42, as this setup will still allow programming to the other sub-districts. I plan to place the DPDT switch between the DB150 and the PM42, then use the fourth sub-district to add power to the isolated programming track. My concern is when the DPDT is thrown to the programming track, will commands be sent backwards through the PM42 by way of the fourth sub-district wiring? Please let me know of your thoughts on this. Thanks.
Would like a Playlist on weathering and painting.
hello Larry & it's is randy and i like yours video is cool thanks Larry Friends Randy .And Merry Christmas & Happy New Years & Good New Happy Larry & Best 2024 Thanks Larry Friends Randy
I can only guess how long the programming track would need to be for a 3-rail O-scale Lionel product that is a diesel locomotive with a coal-burning steam turbine with tender behind it. The minimum track curve is O-72, so it's LONG. The channel Eric's Trains has a video on that product specifically, but I can't remember the name of the product off the top of my head.
Larry With My NCE system I setup and Isolated section of track in one of my yards and I can run the engine on the programming track I use a toggle switch to turn on and on the DCC system to the track that works for me.
A surprising number of people are still confused when it comes to using the DPDT switches with various types of DCC command stations. The nice thing about Aegis is it is all done internally for you so no “complicated” switch wiring to be done.
Ok Larry looks great but I don’t plan to use this new system from DCC concepts, I will checkout old video on the new playlists
Hi Larry, I am finally getting into model railroading after dreaming about it for 40 years. I will be starting off with the NCE digital system. I am enjoying watching your videos, learning a lot. My question on this subject is, with the track isolated how is it powered up to drive your engine on to it before you go into programing mode?
Hi Larry,
Your videos are always interesting and enjoyable .
My control systems is NCE Pro Cab, SB5 DCC Concepts circuit breakers, Alpha Meter, Alpha Panel. Considering going wireless the obvious avenue would be the NCE RB 02and Procab Radio rather than the Aegis system. Can you give me any pointers as to which route may be best. The NCE route would give me an additional hand set which could be used to use for the programing track. Probably is ok but one may be better!
Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thanks
Arnold Sumner
Did you connect your feeder wires directly to the NCE autosw, or did you connect feeders to bus, then bus to autosw?
First, I didn’t use an Auto-SW since the Aegis system has built-in provisions for a programming track. However when using the Auto-SW with a powerCab you connect the output from the PowerCab to the input on the Auto-SW. Then the programming output goes to the programming track and the main output goes to the bus wires. There is a diagram on or about page 13 of the PowerCab manual.
Thanks Larry for all your help over the years I do have one question for you where do you get your surface mount LEDs that have the resistor inline? Could you please give me the order number and the number and size of those LEDs I would appreciate it muchly. Thank you could you send me a message by text, so that I can keep it
Watch video 268 and read the description.
Like your presentations. In this one, on your fascia there is a box containing a pencil and a NMRA gauge. Do you have a plan or source for that? Richard West
The pencils came from Staples and the NMRA gage from a hobby shop. But I bet you meant the wooden car card box with 3 or 4 slots. Those are sold by Micromark.
Thanks. The box is what I an interested in.@@TheDCCGuy