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Analogue limits


steveprice

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Hi, my last train set was 50 yrs ago (a Hornby) but now long gone. I quite like the idea of buying a new analogue set, seems more nostalgic and I dont like the idea of grappling with Windows having dumpled it 20 years ago for Mac. But I note that analogue = one track, one engine one power supply and I would like to run more than one engine. Does that mean that every engine has to have its own track and power supply. Or does one get round this somehow. I guess someone has asked this before but I can't find  the topic. Thanks.

Steve

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Does that mean that every engine has to have its own track and power supply.

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In principle, Yes.

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My sticky document at the top of the forum General Section titled "Getting Started with Track Extension Packs" will go some way to filling in some knowledge gaps. Section 5 of the document explains the current techniques for basic Analogue DC control.

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If you want some more in depth information (splitting up a layout into different switched DC power domains for example) then you can't go far wrong reviewing the info on this following site:

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http://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/index.html

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Welcome to the forum....

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 You do not need Windows or a Computer to run DCC. You can just have a DCC controller to controll DCC fitted locos. You just type your loco's ID into the controller and drive it more or less as normal.

see

With an elite you have two control knobs so you can drive two locos independently on the same track once you've programmed them with different IDs. No need for separately wired sections, Isolating gaps etc.

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 50 years ago your Hornby train set was a very different 'animal' in that it was a Meccano product made in Liverpool England made mostly of metal. These were extremely well engineered (albeit somewhat cruder than modern products) and have stood the test of time. There is a very active supporters club for people who hanker after the nostalgia of those days, (have a look at  http://www.hrca.net/ ) and train sets are still availble on the second hand market.

 

These were always analogue control (AKA DC), but this was not seen as a hardship, unless you wanted to have an extremely complicated set-up. Each circuit needed its own power supply of course and you needed to ensure that these were electrically independent, although with self isolating ponts this was easy to do.

 

Current wisdom is however that if you are starting afresh you should go with with Digital Control.   It offers much more flexibility of operation and adds greater functionality with the possibility of sound and lights etc. controlled by the user.

 

Warning, the hobby is addictive and can severely damage your wealth! 😆

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