Getting started with DCC: A Beginner's Guide 

This is a beginner's guide, and a good one at that. One year ago when i started, it was this video i found and i started to learn about the different types of controllers, and dcc. Thank you Sam, you are a legend.

Well this blew my brain apart, scared me away from DCC, I'm sticking with DC

Congratulations on 26K subscribers Sam. Great demo on DC verses DCC. I have DCC so already knew the basics but you explained it for others in a fantastic way to understand, well done.

I'm not into this hobby but as an IT professional I was just curious how they achieved individual control without radio signals, and this video was perfect at explaining. Thank you for the content!

I'm an electrician and got to say, this is a really accurate and no faff explanation! Thanks 👍

If anyone is confused. The dc part in DCC has nothing to do with DC power. DC is short for "Direct Current". (As in the electrons in a wire only go in one direction to transmit power. Rather than alternating their direction (Which is what AC power does *(Alternating* current))) DCC stands for *"Digital Command* Control". As you send *commands* via *digital* signals to *control* your trains. And as Sam says, it actually uses a type of AC power.

Sam - you are the best on the internet. So impressive your range of knowledge and how much effort you put into your channel!

Sam it's not always easy to explain things and the more complex the subject the harder it gets, I have to say that you certainly have the knack of making things easy to understand while not being too heavy going, well done.

Thank you. This is the kind of video I've been after to explain DCC. Absolutely cracking.

Awesome vid Sam. I've been trying to get into DCC for ages. This is really helpful. :D

Hey, nice job! Best and simplest explanation yet. I'm just getting started and was not sure what way to go. I was leaning towards DCC, after watching your video, I'm going to go the DCC route. Very helpful Thank you!

Excellent stuff Sam. Electronics is my background, but DCC is new to me. You explained it very well - thank you!

I’ve started to watch stuff on eBay now! Another good video and I have to say your audio is excellent - very clear.

Very helpful! I've always been confused about DCC and whether it's worth it. Thanks mate😊

I'm hoping to make a DCC layout sometime. This is by far the best explanation on what and how it works. How to set up and how to use it. It's all fantastic. Thank you Sam :)

Fantastic job covering the basics of DCC, and your presentation method was very effective and digestible. Great video!

Perfect timing Sam as I'm back in the Hobby again after a year break. :)

A very nice explanation of DC vs DCC Sam really good job! I wish your video was around to explain the elink/Railmaster system back when I got mine. Spent ages working it out myself. I got mine as part of the Western Master set because the whole set only cost about 15 pounds more than buying the controller and software separately. 120 quid approx for the whole set here in Australia was a steal. Brand new with a cosmetically damaged box (Sticky tape pulled off and took some of the picture with it) Keep up the great work!

This, this and this! Spent way too long for looking for more than "you connect this wire here and that wire there..." type videos. This is spectacular and much appreciated.

Really good informative video, perfect for anyone getting started with DCC. PS congratulations on reaching 26,000 subscribers Al.

This is my kind of science lesson! 😂 Great video Sam! Congratulations on 26,000 Subs!

The Hornby Select and the Bachmann EZ-command are both excellent and good value for what they are intended for - learning about and running your first DCC layout. I learned all the basics with them and not at all complicated. Quite happy with my TTs sound loco's on my select even though the number of functions is limited. I then progressed to more expensive controllers and to changing CV values and the like. I have known people jump straight in with expensive DCC kit and then get bogged down, complaining its all too complicated and they are going back to DC! I found the opposite. Having started with simple DCC stuff - all that DC hassle with isolating track and the like seems way complicated to me!

Great guide video. Good audio quality, clear, concise and to the point. Thank you.

Hey Sam, great intro to DCC. I’m very familiar with control electronics but new to rail modelling, and I had a host of questions most of which you answered here. Thanks a lot, this has been _really_ helpful 😃

Thanks Sam, that was an interesting little tutorial. Great work.

The video I've been looking for! For a numpty like me, this is a perfect video for my brain!

Nice overview. I picked up quite a bit of info (I learned a lot). Your efforts are producing genuine value. Keep up the good works. Thanks for sharing...

A fine introduction. Good examples of running issues. Some relevant electrical principles. Product discussion. Thank you. I can see that I made the right decision to stick with DC for my small and simple layout, but now I can see many advantages of DCC.

Thanks Sam, I'm just getting into this DCC stuff, and you made it very clear (except for the maths) clicking subscribe now:)

No one said there would be math! Lol

A very clear and helpful guide to DCC. I am considering building a brand new layout and rolling stock from scratch, 40 yrs from my last, so it has to be DCC going forward. Cheers

An easy to follow session Sam, and ideal for the beginner...I have tried DCC but as I'm operating continual circuit running, it just wasn't worth the extra expense and hassle . One of the other issues you mention for DC operation, was the loss of power when the loco gets too far from the controller, and that's something I must attend to on my layout which is about 15' square....Thanks as always....Regards...Bob

Very educational video, Sam the science teacher! :)

Now this has definitely opened my mind, but at the moment I will stick with DC

Sam this is brilliant! A great tutorial to encourage anybody to try DCC. Great job, thank you.

Fantastic video sam. Very informative and well explained. I'm used to old school controllers n basics but this gives me a great insight n confidence to move fwd. Many Thanks..love your channel and all the content.

2:53 One for the Best Bits reel!

Hi Sam! Which kind of Controller do I need when I want to run DCC Sound locos?

I haven't been into model trains for some decades now and I'm just trying to get back in to it. BOY have we come a long way since back in my day!

Finally, clear introduction to DCC. Thank you!

50:50 on dc v dcc And 100% would like weathering services

Thanks so much sam This really helped with DCC Many thanks, Zain XD

Excellent. I am planning dcc layout and this vid has been the easiest one I have seen for explanation, Thank you.

Excellent video, love your accent, very helpful in explaining the ins and outs of DC and DCC. Cheers back at you!

Hi Sam haven’t been here for long time but I’m back Oh and this is Joand so

DCC has been around since 1991, so it's been around for quite a while now. I couldn't recommend the Select. It doesn't work with some US manufactured controllers. Its functions are very limited. Most importantly it can't reset decoders back to their default settings. The standard Hornby decoder has a low stall current and three important CVs aren't supported. You can buy decoders with a better spec. for less. The eLink software seems to be a bit glitchy and looks a bit complicated to set up. I use the Roco/Fleischmann Z21. Only takes a couple of minutes to set up. Takes more time getting out of the box than getting it running. :-) From what I've seen, the interface for the Z21 is much easier to use than the eLink. You can have up to ten smartphones or tablets connected. Don't have to buy a separate licence for each either. The app. is free. Yes, the Z21 is more expensive than the Hornby DCC controllers, but I think the extra cost is worth it. After all, you expect to be using it for years. A cheaper option is the white z21 (small z) which you often find split from sets. It's fine for H0 and 00, but I'd recommend the black Z21 for smaller gauges as the voltage output is adjustable.

Excellent video. Coming back into the hobby after some decades away and this was very helpful. You have another subscriber to your channel.

Great video. I am a Ham radio guy who has had to learn about series and parallel circuits until it does my nut 😂 It makes perfect sense now after your brill description. Thanks so much Sam yet again for a fab video. I have dc and dcc partially built so everything you put up on RU-vid helps so much 👍

WAIT THAT'S REAL LIFE SPENCER

You should be a university lecturer Sam. Very concise and to the point. Many thanks.

Hi Sam, that shot of the shunter dragging the poor steam engine wad hilarious! The dc track voltage drop point was well made. BobUK.

Thank you Sam for that supper video ,it was very informative and very Helpfull as i have been thinking about now using DCC on my layout .

Many thanks, have just come across this video and a superb guide. I'm 54 and looking to retire in 5 years, I've still got my original analogue train sets from when I was 8, they are in superb condition. Over the last few years have purchased several 125's, 225's and a couple of locomotives from Ebay. I was wondering how I used these with the new Digital and your video explained it really well. Many thanks

I’m new to the hobby and am going to take the DCC route. Thank you for the amazing content! 🖤😈

This was tremendously helpful Sam. Thank you!

Very informative. Just getting into model railroading. Stay Safe & God Bless!!

Very well explained and a good pace. Thanks, Ronn

Great video Sam. I have just finished building quite a large DC layout, but with new DCC ready locos and have installed a bus wire under the board, and droppers to the rails at periodic intervals. So, I think I am ready to convert to DCC and I am planning to buy a Gaugemaster Prodigy controller and then will get the chips added to my locos. I can’t wait.

Very good video, clear and concise, good camera angles. Best part,,, no crap, or, any music. Hallelujah

Very interesting and well explained.Thank you. I have just discovered your channel and am enjoying it immensly.

Coming late to the party but this is an excellent explanation of the electrical side of DCC vs DC. Much appreciated!

Many thanks Sam this has been a great help to a DCC virgin 👍

Brilliantly helpful, thankyou for making this 👍👍

Good video on the differences between DDc and DC.

well that gave me a better idea of what is happening to my trains. Being a novice and new to DCC i have decided to stick to my DC trains. Maybe better with DCC but a little complicated if you have say 2x DC and 2x DCC. Thanks for explaining what happens when building tracks. Much appreciated.

Great videos. Clear advice, picture and sound.

The old 1979 Hornby Zero One DCC system used 18 Volts AC in the track. I bought Zero One DDC system in 1980 and the first thing I noticed was that on the giant layout I had at the time, the speeds of the locos was consistent anywhere on the layout, unlike when it was running on a DC system (Triang Hornby RP14 and 3 x circuit controllers). I've been using Hornby's Zero One DCC system ever since.

Sam I have not been watching your channel for a while I've just came back amazing

Thanks Sam a really helpful video. I have a Select controller but will move to an elink

It is really good & understandable.drew me towards DCC

Thanks Sam. Very helpful

Hey Sam, hi from British Columbia. Thanks a bunch for sharing your knowledge with us, very well done! I'm an old Brit, 72, retired (I think!), got out the old Hornby 00 DC layout which I got shipped out here in 1983 and have spent many winters being a kid again! Got some real gems, Hornby Mallard, Scotsman, Calledonian, Lord of the Isles, GW Paniers, some Limas, and a bunch more. Over the years I've picked up several N American locos, Alleghenny, Challenger, Mallets. Thing is they're all DC and I've been toying with the idea of going DCC but switching everything over would be super expensive and maybe not do-able with many of the 40+ year old locos... Having just listened to your vid I've pretty well decided that I'd be way better off to start from scratch and build a separate DCC layout. Many thanks for helping me make this decision. Subd. P.S... Is Hornby still in England or have they gone to China?

Thanks Sam, very informative.

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Thank you Sam, this will help me

Awesome Sam! Maybe someday I’ll get a DCC! Congratulations 26K subscribes!🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉

Excellent video, thanks!

I found this really interesting and helpful.....thanks for sharing.....😀😀😀

Superb overview, some ways reminds me of my old Zero 1, but a lot more refined.

Very informative video, I've owned an e-link controller for a bit now and never knew you could change the locomotive addresses on it! I've always plugged in my older DCC select unit for that. Railmaster does have its advantages when it works. For me, my laptop runs it smoothly however railmaster glitches way too much and they can run off (as your Earl of Saint Germans did in one of your recent reviews) Keep up the good work! All the best, William

Very good tutorial. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your detailed information. It's exactly what I was looking for. I have a bachmann layout that I purchased several years ago, it has a track voltage of 16 VAC, I couldn't figure out how my train was running on AC while I knew that it has a DC motor. The train has an RC Circuit in that it's got a NP Capacitor across each rail mounted to the locomotive frame. The locomotive is hardwired and has no DCC Card, therefore it is not addressable. You've ironed out alot of questions about the the use of DCC and AC powered DC motor combinations. Best Regards,

For the UK version you showed here seems simple user to get you up and running pretty quick. I like the other add on option of hooking it to a computer which is pretty neat. I wish something like this is easy to use in the USA but I am still looking around as of yet. I have a number of older stuff non-DCC but want to covert it to DCC with the chips and buy a DCC system to control it all. Neat set up so far what I have seen yet.

Well, an interesting video I can recommand for those who wants to have an oveview of what DCC can do. I already knows lots of things explained here becaus I had bought DCC systems by the past and used them on my N trains before switching to OO, but it is always a good thing to look back at basics from time to time, anb I can recommand your video for that. When I deciced to drop N and choose OO instead some monthes ago, I had also decided first to go full DC but, after having counted the number of wires required for my 4 points station with 2 passing loops and a freight track to switch on and off for realism of operations, I had seen that DCC, anyway, was not as expensive as you might think first when you take into account all the possibilities, and the greatest ease of use. Anyway, I had bet on the wrong horse by using an NCE throttle, based on pure personnal considerations, and I will buy instead a Digitrax system. Meanwhile, for a bery basic but evolutive system, I can also recommand the Gaugemaster Prodigy Express. I have the original model branded MRC bought straight from the USA via Walthers, and it is a good basic system I keep for programming, test and elementary operation on some of my layout projects. In short, goos presentation, thanks for the good job done !

very nicely explained Sam!!

Very interesting and informative Sam. And 26,000 subscribers per today you have.

Good boy Sammy! Keep up gods work my man!

I love that scene with the pug wheels spinning, looks like she's trying to escape the clutches of the gronk!

Excellent explanation and review Sam. Id definitely recommend the Gaugemaster Express dcc controller unit. From D Rails this is £138 and is a better unit than Hornby's Elite at nearly double the price. It has a 2amp output so theoretically capable of running 10 locos. You have full cv programming that you dont get with the Hornby Select at nearly the same price. The Express doesnt run dcc points or signals out of the box but most people power these separately from the controller.

Superb video mate. Thank you.

wow...a wee bit over my head, but i get the jist of it. I dont plan on having an ultra big layout, maybe 3 trains running at once. That simple dcc PP and decoders look about right for me. Thanx for the explanation, i'm saving this vid for reference.

I have used maerklin digital system whith a pc and it was a bit fiddley due to i had to use a interface between the pc and the lay out. I could not use a usb conection but the older 232 zero modem conector on the pc. Thanks for this great tutorial video. Keep up the good work 👍👍👍🇸🇪

Thanks that is a really helpful video. Like Mark below, I am restarting the hobby. I think that I will stick with DC for now. All my locos and 3 controllers are all DC.

Hey Sam, happy new year firstly! And also with the DCC controller (hornby select), does it come like the hornby DC controller so with a plug to the wall socket and then the one to that track piece? Or are there other things I need to fiddle around with.. and with DCC must the track be in a loop to function?

Really good introduction to DCC.

Brilliant video.. I've got a select and 4 dcc trains numbered 1 to 4. Can I run them all simultaneously on my track???

This helped me a lot!

Many thanks Sam I will try Hornby again and see if they will reply this time. Ian

This is very helpful to those people brand new to the hobby

Thanks so much for including the math and calculations - I’d always wondered about this - I never got too far into model engines coz it suddenly went over-my-head when I was an enthusiastic sprog. Good to get this overview. The one thing I didn’t get was why track resistance is a factor in a DC track but not in a DCC track. Is this due to the difference between resistance and impedance? DC vs A.C.?

Nice tutorial on dcc congratulations on your subs ratings really good.