Hi all.

I have aquired a Power Cab and trying it out to see if I want to go to the expense of DCC'ing everything and just after some other opinions...


1. What are the chances of 1 NCE D14SR decoder surviving while running two TOR 44 classes? It has a rating of 1.3amp continuous, 2amp peak.     I have two permenantly coupled back to back and I don't want to worry about consisting them. Failing that, will two decoders programed to the same address work?



2. My layout has a common return. Can I just hook up the power cab and turn all the switches on? I have heard that having a common return could cause voltage doubling if a rail joint is faulty. 



Thanks

Hi all.

I have aquired a Power Cab and trying it out to see if I want to go to the expense of DCC'ing everything and just after some other opinions...


1. What are the chances of 1 NCE D14SR decoder surviving while running two TOR 44 classes? It has a rating of 1.3amp continuous, 2amp peak.     I have two permenantly coupled back to back and I don't want to worry about consisting them. Failing that, will two decoders programed to the same address work?



2. My layout has a common return. Can I just hook up the power cab and turn all the switches on? I have heard that having a common return could cause voltage doubling if a rail joint is faulty. 



Thanks

Albert

I would reccomend contacting MRRC at Blacktown & ask Garry.   

If the current drawn by both motors is less than the decoders 1.3a rating you should be fine. If not 2 decoders set to the same address will work.
On the common rail question. I've been doing that for 4 years. Make sure your other (DC) supply is completely disconnected, and don't have any reversing loops or 'Y' s or you'll get a short circuit.
HTH
Alan

G'day Albert,
If I read what your are saying correctly, you want to run two locomotives of on decoder.


Others may correct me here and I am happy to be if needed, but running two locos off one decoder would only be possible by using jumper leads from one unit to the other. While I think it would be possible, why would you bother?  


For the cost of a decoder it would be far easier and, to me logical, to have each locomotive receiving its own signal.


After all, consisting with the NCE equipment is very easy and takes only a few seconds.


I am not trying to put the idea down, out of hand, I just can not see the long term functional arrangment being there for you. Even as a test bed the time and money it takes to put in a TCS (or something of the same elk) decoder would be better than having to risk shorting something out and destroying a locomotive. I have had a decoder catch fire and melt the side out of a loco due to a short in the decoder. The loco had been in service for some time before it happened.


I would go down the path of using two decoders, as you also suggest, and still program them to each locos'  number. As I have mentioned, it only takes a few seconds to set up a consist. Perhaps a little longer when you are getting to know the equipment, but certainly not long enough to warrant any other modification. imho.


NCE gear is very easy to use and I have a common rail set up and have had no trouble for quite a few years now.  Something like twelve years.


As I said, I will stand corrected if need be.


Regards and respect      

1. yes
2. I think so 

Sorry, I will elaborate.

1. I have consisted locos using the 2 decoders with the same settings, but make sure the decoders are comaptible and the acceleration and decceleration is the same.

2. My Bachmann manual CD tels me you can simply turn all the blocks on. I have questioned this, however fortunatley I do not have to worry about that. 

wrongroad, the locos are already wired together with a jumper made to look like a m/u cable. You are probably right though. Consisting them is the way to go as I can use either loco number to select the consist.



  Glad to hear no one has had problems with a common return. 
  

G'day Albert,


OK, now I understand how you have your locomotives wired.


If you are going to use one decoder make sure that you isolate the non decoder locomotive from the track power  and only feed power to its motor via the decoder. It would be easy enough to remove the wires going to the motor and feed the decoder power wires (grey and orange) to the motor. Just make sure you insulate the track feed wires so that they will not short out or remove them altogether.


And, of course, you will have to watch which wire goes to which side of the motor in the second locomotive if they are back to back.  

I tried to make something else work once and found out that the manual was correct. The wrong wire going to the wrong place does not work. Fancy that!!


And I can tell you that decoders are full of foul smelling smoke     


         . It takes a long time for the stink to go out of your train room and the decoder never wants to work again.

I would still use two decoders  

  Regards and respect

I'd be quite surprised if one decoder connected to two motors managed to produce decent running qualities. Just use two decoders.