NCE DCC newbie AC in -> DC out?

If you hookup a transformer to just a booster (no command station), I believe you will not have any voltage coming out of the track connections as the booster looks for a valid input waveform from the command station to amplify and put out to the track connections.

Scott K.

Austin, TX

Oh sorry, left out that part.  Have the CS02 command station connected to it.

Before I buy a PS , wanted to verify if I need a transformer that gives vdc to the booster or if I can use a VAC one instead.

From NCE manual for PB-105 booster:

Recommended input power for the PB-105 is 14-18 volts AC or 18-24 volts DC.

http://www.ncedcc.com/pdf/PB105.PDF

Just a VAC transformer is fine for powering the CS02 and PB105.  There is a bridge rectifier inside each enclosure to rectify the incoming AC voltage into DC.  Then there are switching regulators to filer and regulate into filtered DC for use by the internal electronics.  The output to the rails is amplified Bi-Polar DC, or square wave AC depending on your interpretation of the the waveform.  A non-decoder equipped DC engine placed on the rails will just sit in place and hum to the frequency of the Bi-Polar waveform.

Scott K.

Austin, TX

Actually, a power supply that works well for the NCE is a Lionel 180-watt "brick" which puts out 18VAC at 10 Amps. It's less expensive than the NCE "Brutus" supply. A friend of mine uses them and loves them. I plan to use them when I get my DCC setup. NCE is testing a resource site. It's pretty good and can be found at:

https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

Matt,

When you do set up dcc, will it be for o gauge 3 rail or something else?

Thanks,

Lou N

Maybe we should retitle this topic "What a Dope".  As thats what I am. 

I have been scouring the web and found some great sites loaded with info on DCC for beginners but never realized part of what the boosters were doing when they sent power and signal to the track (light bulb goes on in his head now thanks to you guys).  Got confused between some specs showing using VAC and others using/suggesting transformers such as Digitrax PS2012 which outputs regulated DC.  Heck, the newer NCE PB5 booster ships with a PS that outputs either 12VDC or 13.8VDC.

Thanks Gentlemen.

If I go with a S scale layout, now I am good to use MTH, AF, and American Models GP35s, FA2, etc. stuff and even the odd brass piece (missed a sweat River Raisin 1225 Pere Marquette Berk - was a little rich for my blood anyways).

If I build 2 rail O scale instead (on the fence between O & S) now I can use newer MTH DCC enabled diesels I picked up last year along with Atlas GP35s. New Lionel diesels on order will have to be Legacy-gutted and decoders installed and wheels converted to 2 rail - but I am rambling on here.

Thanks again guys - this forum is so great since I found it last year!

- Thad

* sweet River Raisin - Thats what I get for writing it late at night.

Matt, thanks for suggestion about the 180 bricks.  Have two sitting here that were to power planned layout about to get under way with DCS/TMCC setup this fall (or at least the start of it).   

Since it looks like my layout will be hybrid because of my large number of 3-rail locomotives, the DCC implementation will be able to support 2-rail or 3-rail engines -- just not at the same time. I did briefly work on a design to detect 3-rail locomotives and switch the hot lead from the right running rail to the center rail (left rail would be common for either situation), but I determined it wasn't going to be practical to implement -- just going to use a toggle switch instead and keep things separated.

So if the Lionel Bricks will work would the Z-4000 also work as a power source, or any old ZW?

Thanks,

Gary

Yes, but with an old ZW I'd install a fast-blow circuit breaker between the transformer and the DCC system.

Almost any transformer rated at 18v and 10 amps can provide the AC input into a NCE DCC 10 amp system.  For safety you should have circuit breakers on the input and output of the transformer.  If you build your own you'll need to add the breakers.  If you use Lionel or MTH transformers I believe the breakers were designed in to get a UL rating.  On the DCC track output side I use a DCC Specialties "smart" PSX digital breaker for each power district.

Ed Rappe

>> So if the Lionel Bricks will work would the Z-4000 also work as a power source, or any old ZW?

Any power source will work as long as it provides enough volts and amps per the NCE information on the NCE web site.  You could use a car battery if you wanted.  Ed L.

Since it looks like my layout will be hybrid because of my large number of 3-rail locomotives, the DCC implementation will be able to support 2-rail or 3-rail engines -- just not at the same time.

Two solutions: Battery power with Stanton radio control.