Track & Electrical/DCC
 | It's the track and electrical side of your layout that makes or breaks how well it performs. If not done properly, your layout may look great, yet run poorly or not at all. We give you the expert know-how to plan and execute your layout's trackwork wiring so it works right under all conditions - allowing you to freely run trains without giving the wiring another thought. These how-to video shorts cover lesser-known expert wiring and DCC tricks to save you time and solve tough problems in economical and practical ways. It's important you understand the whys of these techniques as well, so we include several concepts in our discussions, where we ask our expert to explain very technical details in easy-to-understand layman's terms. We make sure to include detailed demonstrations and step-by-step decoder how-tos (like installing and programming) in this topic area. Like all our how-to videos, we get the camera up close to show you clearly each step as the expert performs it. We want you to see every detail of the step and not miss a thing, so you can precisely duplicate the steps for yourself, exactly like the expert does it. |
 | Track & electrical/DCC video short topics |
 | Laying flex track with latex caulk (DVD: Vol 2 - ch. 7)If you want to learn a quick and easy method for laying flex track, then laying track with latex caulk is for you. This how-to segment covers the entire latex caulk track laying process step-by-step, showing you how to get smooth flowing track every time. (hints/tips, 1-2-3) |
 | Manual doorbolt turnout control (Download now or DVD: Vol 1 - ch. 6)How would you like to build manual turnout controls from commonly available materials for less than $4 each? These EasyThrow turnout controls even have that turn-pull-turn action like a real switchstand. Covers all the materials, construction steps, installation and turnout control mechanism tuning. (hints/tips, 1-2-3) |
 | DCC bus wiring basics (Chapter 2a - DVD 3)Joe Fugate covers many DCC wiring best practices in this how-to video. If you want to make sure you wire your layout so it's reliable and easy to debug, then you will find the many practical hints and tips in this segment to be worth their weight in gold. (hints/tips) |
 | DCC booster basics (Chapter 2b - DVD 3)With DCC, adequately powering your track via your layout power bus can make or break your layout's DCC performance and your ability to debug issues. This video segment discusses all the issues you need to consider while planning the foundational booster and power district side of your DCC layout wiring. (concepts, hints/tips) |
 | All about DCC friendly turnouts (Chapter 2c - DVD 3)Dispel the confusion over DCC friendly turnouts and finally understand what your options really are for handling turnouts with DCC. Covers both live frog and dead frog options, plus Joe Fugate shows how to alter a non-DCC friendly turnout to make it compliant. (concepts, hints/tips) |
 | DCC programming track hints and tips (Chapter 3a - DVD 3)If you don't locate and wire your layout's programming track properly, a loco improperly bridging the programming track gaps could accidentally burn out your DCC command station circuits. Learn how to make your programming track foolproof and ready to do "blast mode" programming of modern decoders. (hints/tips) |
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 | DCC short management, part 1 (Chapter 4a - DVD 3)The nemesis on DCC layouts is getting a short. Learn how to permanently end the cry of "who shorted the layout?" and to make it possible to "shortproof" power districts so the rest of the trains in the district keep running even if another train happens to cause a short. (concepts) |
 | DCC short management, part 2 (Chapter 4b - DVD 3)In part 2 of DCC layout short management, Joe Fugate explains step-by-step how to install inexpensive short management to shortproof your layout so only the train causing the short quits running, and all the other trains keep running, even in the same booster power district. (1-2-3) |
 | Using DecoderPro to program DCC loco decoders (Chapter 3b - DVD 3)If you want to take your loco decoder programming to the next level of ease and convenience, you need to consider the free open source program DecoderPro. Joe Fugate shows you step-by-step how to download and install DecoderPro, and how to get it working with any of the major DCC systems. (1-2-3) |
 | Programming DCC diesel loco lashups (Chapter 5 - DVD 3)If your DCC layout is set in the diesel era, then running multi-unit loco lashups will be common operating procedure. Joe Fugate discusses in depth how to create DCC loco consists that run well together and allow you to have full access to the functions of your consisted locos. (1-2-3) |
 | EasyDCC computer interface cable (Download now or DVD: Vol 3 - bonus feature)Expert model railroader Joe Fugate demonstrates, step-by-step, how to build a computer interface cable for the EasyDCC system. Joe covers building the cable as well as testing it with the EasyDCC system to make sure the cable works properly. (hints/tips, 1-2-3) |
9.7 - 4 votes |
William F. Pareso
Hello Joe,Are there any sample clips for the Decoder Pro section of video # 3?
Regards,
W.F.Pareso