Wiring
Avoid any faults in your trackage by ensuring the right wires are crossed, all controls are functional and the power keeps flowing. There’s nothing worse than having operations derailed by an untimely short circuit, so learn from the masters how to hook up your railroad.
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6:03Installing an Engine Decoder Power Pack with Martin Tarnrot
In this video, modeler Martin Tarnrot will demonstrate how to assemble a cheap model train power pack. Using cheaper power packs can save a modeler a lot of money, and the assembly is the same for most packs. Model train power packs, or batteries onboard locomotives, have grown in popularity in the hobby. Specifically in…
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2:34Wiring your Layout: Attaching the Programming Track
Modeler and DCC expert Steve Barkley uses a piece of test track as a programming track for programming his locomotives. He has two wires soldered to the two rails and connects the two wires to the programming output on the command station. The first wire is connected and screwed down to the connector, and he…
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12:32Locomotive Decoder Installation
Once a DCC is installed on a layout, decoders have to be installed in the locomotives. In this video, modeler and DCC expert Steve Barkley demonstrates decoder installation. The easiest way to have a decoder equipped on a locomotive is to buy one. The locomotive Barkley shows has one already installed and is ready to…
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14:52How to Wire a Model Railroad Turnout
National Model Railroad Association Master Model Railroader Gerry Leone shows how he wires a model railroad turnout in this video. Turnouts can be a frustration on a model railroad layout. Cars can derail from mechanical problems and engines can stall from electrical problems. In this video, Leone shows how to help solve these stalling issues.…
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10:08Using Heat Shrink Tubing
National Model Railroad Association Master Model Railroader Gerry Leone talks heat shrink tubing in this video. Electricity is essential to model railroading and when two wires touch that shouldn’t, they short-circuit and cause problems on a layout. Short-circuits can be prevented with measures like heat shrink tubing. The tubing comes in variety packs and can…
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10:47Installing Micro-Slide Switches with Tony Koester
Tony Koester talks micro-slide switches in this video. Tony uses a single pull double throw slide switch for his railroads. The microswitch has three pulls or wires; the center pull where the power is going out, and the outer two pulls where the power is coming in. On a turnout on a layout, the frogger…
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5:49Troubleshooting Your DCC System
Fixing problems on your Digital Command Control system does not have to be hard if you know efficient ways to troubleshoot. It can be a great inconvenience if you discover an issue after building out an entire layout. In this video, Steve Barkley emphasizes the importance of testing out small portions of your layout’s DCC…
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4:38Getting Started in DCC – Choosing a DCC System
As Steve Barkley states in this video, getting started with Digital Command Control does not have to be complicated or expensive. There are many DCC systems that are available in the market, and they can be as low as a hundred, to a couple hundred dollars. Barkley shows and details the subtle differences in a…
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4:14Wiring a Booster Section to your Layout
Modeler and DCC expert Steve Barkley introduces an advanced topic on wiring booster sections for your digital command control station. To better understand what a booster is, Barkley explains it as “a command station without a brain”. It’s a control unit that is slaved to your command station through 6-conductor telephone wire. All digital command…
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