Great New Gadgets For Your Model Railroad (104) 

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Check the pinned comment and the description, for more on that and don’t be afraid to order from the DCCConcepts.com web store. I order a lot from England and shipping usually is less than from a dealer I order from only 60 miles away!

Like I said previously I am planning a video on Kadee delayed uncoupling. I have installed both electromagnets and permanent magnets all over the Piedmont Southern. I consider this a necessity since with a double deck layout it is difficult except for the Jolly Green Giant to reach a lot of the upper deck locations. And on the lower deck the upper deck tends to get in the way. I only use the electromagnets on the mainline at passenger stations and yards to prevent unexpected uncoupling should a permanent magnet be used. I have found the Bachmann magnets to do a great job and are relatively inexpensive compared to many others. I foresee a two part video with one on delayed uncoupling and how to get the most reliable results. The second will deal with installing the permanent and electromagnets. Right now my list of video topics is over 100 so we’re good to go for at least s year!

Good deal. I already have my local dealer ordering me another meter too for the other half of my layout.

@@TheDCCGuy got mine off of ebay through an authorized dealer. 67 bucks, free shipping and a discount for ordering two.

Hi John, welcome to the channel. There are a lot of things I didn’t mention, I have ti save some things for the big in-depth review that will come along with my October DCC Corner review. Plus I have never found the flashlight feature on throttles all that useful. I can count on 1 finger the number of times I have used it on my Digitrax throttles. Keep watching for more new videos, and don’t forget there are 103 others on my channel that you can binge watch sometime.

Hi John, me I am becoming 52 this Oktober, 10th and I am train Enthusiast since age of 5...my name is Ingo from Lübeck in northern Germany...early pensioned railway worker.

Not to my knowledge. Also I recommend a whole house surge protector as lighting strikes, even if only nearby and not a direct hit, can do real damage to modern electronics. I had one installed on my outside main breaker box when we redid the kitchen and have been happier ever since.

Alexander, thanks for that tip. I’ll be working with a Digikeijs soon and maybe a Piko system. All depends on wha they have in the closet in Wisconsin to send me.

I agree they are pricey but many folks I know do not like using cell phones yet want a single throttle they can use everywhere. In my area we have many layouts that until COVID were operated on a regular basis. If folks have a throttle like the UWT-100 then it takes the financial burden off the layout owner of having several additional throttles on hand for folks to use. Or folks don’t have to purchase a Digitrax throttle, NCE throttle, MRC throttle, etc. so consider the difference in price between having to buy three throttles vs one universal throttle. I also think the price will come down once TCS is back open and into full production mode-they are still in COVID lockdown.

@@TheDCCGuy You really did not address the question about the Raspberry Pi solution. Most layout visitors have the proper WiFi device in their possession so that cost 0-40 is negligible additionally a lot have older cells, or other android devices the have been replaced with newer models.

Gi en your description I have no idea what this cheap meter is, does, or how it works so it is impossible for me to comment. Send me a link and I’ll take a look and see if I can answer your question.

Lerne Englisch und du kannst den Ausführungen von Larry hervorragend folgen. Hi Larry, this guy wanted a german translation of your great video, I told him he should learn english to understand your very well explination of what you talked about of.

Thanks for letting me know that, I’ll get it fixed ASAP-Larry

It requires a normally open push button and if you hit the button before the countdown is complete it immediately turns the timer and relay off. The 3 terminals are for a common and a normally open and normally closed connection just like on any normal relay, that’s all it is. So you can use it to turn something that is normally on off and vice versa. These positions are marked on the device. If you look at the various ebay seller pages most have an image that shows these connections. For the Kadee electromagnet you would want it normally off so that when the button is pushed the relay switches and turns the electromagnet on. I already have a future video planned on installing Kadee electromagnets and will include wiring one of these with it. Of course I now have over 100 future topics to choose from!

That one is different from the ones I have which have 2 in and 2 out. Check the spec sheet where you bought yours as they should have a diagram showing the connections.

Some systems such as MRC depend on a ground wire in the main network bus. Some systems such as Digitrax and NCE require a ground wire between the command station and boosters and some other components. This called a floating round. I do not recommend actually grounding the system to a pipe or the house electrical ground. Both Digitrax and NCE cover this in their manuals.

Bill there are options for that. You need a wifi interface for your DCC system. Both Digitrax and MRC make one for their systems as do some other companies. There is a third party making one for NCE. Once plugged into your DCC system a wifi throttle including your smart phone, can log on to your interface and act as a throttle. The other option is to use DecoderPro on a computer connected to your DCC system to connect your phone via a wireless wifi router. This works well also but requires a computer interface and wireless router.

Charlie-glad to see you have time away from videotaping to drop by. Congratulations on your 100 videos, I just went over 104 with this one but decided to celebrate when I reach 5000 subscribers sometime next month. Now as for the timer, maybe I don’t understand your question and also I don’t think Kadee makes a solenoid point motor. I was using it with a Kadee electromagnet for uncoupling. I’m not sure why you would want to use it with a DS64 unless for automating uncoupling and I doubt that would work given the need to see when the couplers are centered over the electromagnet. I just put a pushbutton switch in the fascia in front of the electromagnet or on one of my control panels if in a yard area. That way the train or yard crew can push the button and do their uncoupling. On a UK layout I could see using these to control home signals so the arm goes up or down for go and after 30 seconds or so returns to the stop position. You could use an optical sensor between the rails to trigger the DS64 and have it switch the timer circuit on but you’d need some kind of lockout to prevent it giving a go when another train is approaching. Maybe I misunderstood your question. I am planning videos on installing these timers and the Kadee electromagnets in the future as well as programming DS64s. By the way, I left a message for you on your photography website but never heard back, have you abandoned that? Take care-Larry

Sorry Larry, What I meant was a Kadee electromagnet uncoupler. What I thought might be possible was to use train controller to stop the loco and wagon over the top of the electromagnet, pause, uncouple and then drive off. Therefore, I could write a sequence in which the loco would pull into a siding, drop its wagons and drive off. I would also want to do it manually, using a push switch but I wondered if it would be possible to do it automatically and utilising a DS64 to trigger the relay? Regards Charlie.

Ok, so as I mentioned you could automate it but the problem is coming up with a proper trigger for the DS64. You could set it up with an optical sensor between the rails that activates the DS64, which itself would turn on the timer and electromagnet. The cars rolling over the sensor would do the job of triggering the sensor and then all you need do is set the timer long enough to allow the loco to position the cars and pull forward uncoupling it. The trick would be getting the timing long enough to do all this. Good luck with it-Larry

Thanks Larry, it sounds like I have set myself an interesting challenge.

Should make a good video, go for it!

That is a really good question. So far I have not had time to even look at the Digitrax tutorials or manual on the DT602D. I personally think wifi is the wave of the future and will be integrated with many new DCC command stations-the European manufacturers seem to be leading the way on that. I expect it to also be important for LCC in the future. The new TCS command station which will hit the market hopefully in 2021 is supposed to include both. The proprietary networks will be with us for some time to come to maintain backward compatibility. Also currently there is no way I have seen to include programming capabilities like on the DT400, 500, 600 series throttles unless or until LCC makes it possible. For now throttles like the UWT-100 are great for those who want a universal throttle they can use on different layouts instead of a cell phone, and I can’t begin to tell you how many times folks have asked me why no one makes one. The technology is cutting edge and the new in-throttle consisting is special and I will be doing a video just on its features if there is enough interest. It also is the most comfortable throttle I have ever used, and I’ve tried almost all over the last 25 years. I can do everything with my left hand (and I am right handed) and keep my right hand completely free for button pushing and other duties on the layout. I never was a very good salesman (shoe dept at Montgomery Ward in college) as I always feel uncomfortable telling other folks how to spend their money. All I can say is I would buy one if I didn’t already have this one.

@@TheDCCGuy Thanks for the very thoughtful reply. I ended up ordering the DT602D as I do not currently have a throttle and my club is Digitrax. If the TCS throttle was closer in price, it would have been a very difficult choice. I am definitely interested in seeing where all these new options take us in a few years.

@@TheDCCGuy I have two of the UWTs from the initial production run (pre-order) and they are amazing. They work flawlessly with Digitrax, and I've heard reports of the same with NCE which I'll try out post-COVID. They put a lot of thought into the ergonomics and making it easy to use with different command stations. I agree about the future of DCC throttles being WiFi, Digitrax and NCE are way behind the times. I don't see any reason why a future DT602W couldn't support LocoNet over TCP that includes programming as well as WiThrottle and LCC for non-programming operation on other layouts. AFAIK, the WiThrottle protocol itself has no provision for programming.

Kadee makes their own kit.

They offer similar capabilities. The readout on the Alpha Meter has an extra digit and they are adjusted to allow for internal power consumption so you get a “0” readout for amps with no load on the track. More importantly it is designed for installation in the fascia and has a very nice brushed aluminum faceplate and the screw terminals for easy installation, whereas the RRampmeter seems designed mainly for handheld use around the layout, although it can be fascia mounted. The Apha Meter runs about $64 whereas the RRAmpmeter varies from a bare bones unit at $60 to $110 with all the features.

The DCC Guy Okay, thanks. And this would get installed between the Command Station and the circuit breaker(s), correct?

@@rwilson8 Absolutely correct :-) ^RB DCCconcepts

The problem in finding a replacement would be knowing the part specs, especially the max resistance. It could be a 1K, 10K, or 100K etc. see if you can find that on the exterior. Yes, these are great for dropping the DC voltage down to what you need. Just be sure to pay attention to the ratings here too. It is a pretty versatile device and I got 10 for $6-7 and that was with free shipping!

Thanks. Let me talk to they guy who fixes my trains.

I will do a comparison since you asked for it. I also will have a 2 part series starting on Monday on installing a DCC System and use the Alpha Meter in that setup so stay tuned!

I would be very interested in that as wel, thanks

A link is in the description for the video.

Takes about a week, but if you are looking for the Alpha Meter Iron Planet Hobbies in Missouri sells them, although he is having trouble keeping them in stock. I get quite a lot of orders from England and it usually takes less time and costs less for shipping than it does to get stuff from my Walthers dealer just 60 miles away in Greeneville, SC!