Independent UK guide · N, OO, HO and O
Automate your DCC model railway
Step-by-step guides to DCC on a model railway — decoders and CVs, command stations, detection, signalling, points and computer control — for N, OO, HO and O gauge alike.
24 guides11 topicsEvery guide sourced and dated
New to DCC? Start here
All DCC basicsBrowse by topic
All topicsTools and reference
- CV calculatorLong addresses (CV17/CV18), CV29 bit by bit, speed tables and momentum.
- Decoder plugsNEM 651, NEM 652, Next18, 21MTC, PluX and more.
- Software comparedJMRI, iTrain, Rocrail, TrainController, Traintastic…
- Wiring diagramsTrack bus, districts, reverse loops, detection.
- GlossaryThe jargon, in plain English.
- FAQCommon questions, straight answers.
Newest guides
All new guides- Points & accessories How to wire a DCC reverse loop with an auto reverser Isolate a reversing loop with gaps in both rails and let an automatic reverser swap its polarity as trains pass, so there is no short circuit and no …
- Wiring & power How to wire a DCC track bus and feeders Run a heavy pair of bus wires under the baseboard with regular droppers to the rails, so every part of the layout gets full power and shorts are dete…
- DCC basics What is DCC? A plain-English guide to Digital Command Control Understand how Digital Command Control sends power and instructions down the same two rails, what a decoder and a command station do, and how DCC dif…
- Wiring & power How to troubleshoot DCC stalling and short circuits Track down why locos stall, stutter or trip the booster, working from track and wheels through wiring to decoder settings.
- Decoders & CVs How to speed match DCC locomotives Adjust start, mid and top speeds (and trims) so different locos run at the same speed for the same throttle setting – essential for double-heading an…
- Wiring & power How to set up DCC power districts with boosters Split your layout into electrically separate power districts, each with its own booster, so you can run more trains and a short in one area doesn't s…
How every guide works
- At a glance Time, difficulty (green, amber or red) and rough cost.
- What you’ll need Parts and tools listed before you start.
- Numbered steps With wiring diagrams where they help — jump to any step, or print the lot.
- Warnings Where a mistake could damage a decoder, a power supply or you.
- Sources and a checked date Manufacturers’ manuals, NMRA standards and project documentation.
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