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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4:16How to Make Ground Throws for Your Turnouts
Every modeler has their preference for how they like to control the turnouts on their layout. Some like to go through the trouble of installing wires for automatic switches, while others opt for the less complicated method of building manual throws. Master modeler David Holl is one of the latter; he likes to utilize built-in…
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2:09How to Use Panel Connectors on Your Layout
Once you’ve wired the trackage on your model railroad layout and programmed your locomotives with onboard decoders, it’s time to hook up throttles to the digital command control (DCC). To do so, you’ll need to install panel connectors, which are available in a few basic types, and the type you choose dictates the kind of…
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1:24Choosing the Right Wire Gauge for Your Trackage
You don’t need any special skills or background in electrical engineering to properly connect the trackage on your model railroad layout to your digital command center. All it takes to safely and correctly wire tracks to the DCC on your layout is a basic understanding of resistance and wire gauge, along with a quick trip…
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0:59Using an Isolated Track to Program Locomotives
Decoders can be used on a model railroad layout to operate a wide variety of components, from switches and lights to signals and controls. But the most important piece of equipment you can control with a decoder is the locomotive. In order to properly operate a locomotive with an onboard decoder, you have to first…
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2:03How to Use Decoders on Model Railroad DCC Systems
There are many benefits to using model railroad DCC systems on your layout, both organizationally and aesthetically. With a direct command center, you can drastically improve the way your layout is run and maintained, and you can add a variety of tools to your system to customize the way your specific layout functions. From block…
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1:01How to Use a Model Railroad DCC Block Occupancy Detector
Knowing where current is flowing can be essential to a well operated model railroad. When operations become more involved and you have multiple trains running at once, it’s important to have a complete sense of which lines are in use and which are clear should you need to alter your schedule. If you’re like us…
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8:01Installing a Tortoise for Turnout Control
When it comes to controlling a turnout on your layout, you have a number of different options to choose from! NMRA master model railroader Gerry Leone introduces to you an array of options and tools for controlling a turnout on your layout in this premium video. Find out the benefits of each option presented to…
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4:26DCC Command Stations and Throttles
It’s time to take a look at the components you need to put DCC on your model railroad layout. DCC expert and modeler Steve Barkley introduces to you the materials you’ll need to begin putting DCC on your layout. In this video, learn the necessary information for determining the right command station for you. See…
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2:40Creating Control Bus Wires When Wiring Your Layout
Before diving into the process of wiring your layout, be sure to check out this video on DCC Command Stations and Throttles! Now that you’ve seen exactly what you need in regards to equipment for a DCC equipped layout, it’s time to start wiring all of the pieces together! DCC expert and modeler Steve Barkley…
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