Basic DCC Wiring for Your Model Railroad

Mike Polsgrove has been writing Model Railroader magazine’s DCC Corner column since 23. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and has worked as the motive power electrical engineer for two railroads. Since 1989, he has been designing digital electronic circuits for Eagle Test Systems. Mike has been a model railroader since the 196s, and he is currently constructing his fourth layout.

What is a DCC system?

What does it do?

What are the components?

Command station

Throttles

Boosters

Power Supplies

Mobile Decoders

Stationary Decoders

What are the features?

2/4 digit addressing

motor control

Back EMF

Sound

Etc.



Track Wiring

Track Bus

Track Feeders

Programming Track

Multiple Boosters/ Power requirements

Turnouts

Wyes, reverse loops and turntables

Power districts and circuit breakers



Cab bus wiring

Brief discussion of the different manufacturers’ buses

Wireless receivers



Mobile Decoders

Factory installed

Drop in/plug and play

Wired installation



Converting an existing DC layout to DCC.