If you have a mixed fleet of DC and DCC locos, you need this versatile and brilliant setup! I did this following Mike’s schematic and it’s brilliant! Thank you Mike!

Wow another awesome how to video Mike. I learned another wiring of a switch to change a layout from DC to DCC.

Thanks Mike. Always helps when you make it so easy to understand. Nice job.

Thanks a bunch Mr. Mike you thoroughly go thru what you help Describe in your Videos like teacher & student) you remind me of teacher I had in Grade school that didn't yell out the Lesson your Videos are enjoyable to watch and for an ole pup like me I learned allot I may have to go over it again sometimes it takes me a few trips around the Barn to learn & pick-up the concept but it makes watching your Video all over again that much greater.. I can only hope to meet ya'll sometime and shake your Hand for helping me.. Please Keep putting out those Great Videos.. AKA

Really great info Mike! And you explained it very well. Was very easy to follow and understand. Thanks!

Thanks for this vid Mike! I've been trying to find one with this information for about a year. As you know I have over 60 dc loco compared to 5 dcc so this is very helpful! Thanks Steve,

Great video mike very informative helps alot on older locos without dcc that way you don’t have to go unhooking systems all the time just keep it all hooked up and switch between dc and dcc with the flip of a switch that’s great

Love this video. I am getting back into the hobby after decades and I have a lot of old DC engines that belonged to my father and grandfather. I want to run those engines but also be able to run newer DCC engines as well. This gives me a good idea how to tackle that. Thank you!

Awesome Video, This is my plan for my layout as I don't have enough money to have someone to convert all of my locos to DCC and still have to have a way to run them safely until I'm able to get them converted. Thanks for the awesome video & demos.

My layout I had set up I had used this method. I had some old DC locos and did not want to abandon them yet. This video is old but it was just recommended.

Thanks for your video. I am currently entering the world of model trains ( haven't played with trains in over 20 years ). I am currently changing my layout from DC to DCC. Your explanation of the switches and the Auto Switch is of great help. Now I am that much more confident that I can take my layout to greater heights. I will be using a NCE Power Cab, so that information regarding how to divert from main line track to program track using the NCE system, priceless!

Thank you for making this video. I am planning to get into the hobby, and though I plan to eventually run DCC, to get started on a budget I'll likely start my layout as DC. This video is exactly what I needed to see. I'll simply wire a 3-position DPDT switch in the layout for expansion to DCC in the future. Thanks again!

DC and DCC in my layout. Cool. Fun hours with my DCC locomotives. Digital control.

Very clear explanation, just what I needed!

Thank-you Mike, this was a great explanation. I see that you bring your negative and positive leads to the switch. In my case, i have two DC power packs and selector switches, and my negative leads are pluged together. I think i will have too remove remove a DC power pack and re wire everything. Thank you so much ....... Michel

Thanks for the info Mike, I intend on getting Nce power cab. I will look into the auto switch as I am considering running DC and dcc on my small layout at first.

Thank you Mike for a very nice video. That realy helps when you have some old locos still waiting to get converted to dcc.

Nice video. This is much simpler than I thought it would be.

Very well explained video. Many thanks

TKS MR. FIFER FOR THE AUTO CHANGE U MAKE EVERYTHING SIMPLE.

Excellent! Thank you! My next step is using a dual controller so that one train goes "West" and the inner train goes "East".

Just what I was looking for, thanks.

I have 3 seperate DC controllers running 3 tracks and I have been able to change over to Dcc whenever I wish by using relays and a switch which operates the relays changing the tracks from DC to DCC. I used 14 pin relays and used the normally open contacts fo DC and normally closed contacts for Dcc. There are 3 relays and they all operate from one switch for DC and Dcc. Works very well as you can never have DC and DCC on at the same time.

Great video. This is what we are looking to do on our own home layout is run both DC and DCC on the same tracks without having to unconnect one power source and then rehook the system back up

hi Mike.. lots of great info.. thanks for sharing... vinny

This will be of great help to me as I get ready to wire my layout for running both DC and DCC systems. Thanks.

Very informative. Thank you!

As always thank you Mike.

simple but affective love it thanks

Great information Mike. Never thought about doing the dcc/cd thing but makes a lot of sense. Doubles my options on what to run. The good part of the about it is that the wiring is simple.....

GREAT info Mike!! Thanks for sharing. I run a Power Cab and am going to add this to my list of things to do. I don't need DC right now but I do like the idea of having a on/off switch for the layout and a program track.. Thanks again…

thank you so much for this video. i have Many DC locomotives, & a handful of DCC, & last night in bed i was thinking of doin' this very thing, just wasn't sure how.

Thanks, Mike! I run all DC at this point, acquired a pair of Broadway Limited Locos, and while they run on DC - they don't run well. I have too many locos to convert to DCC, so this may be an option! Thanks again - informative as always!!

Thanks for that Mike, it worked a treat! only problem was half of my locos all started moving! Must remember to remove them or change cv29! ha ha!

Your channel is very helpful. I recently got into model railroading. I run HO, but the principles are the same as for N.

I am sticking with DCC but I just posted the question for other people to get the info regarding the complexity when you get further in re other decoders. Thanks Mike

Thank you for your information. I have a system running on DC and am thinking of purchasing a DCC layout, as my rolling stock is all DC I need to know if my old stock can be used on the DCC and it appears that I can. So let's watch this space. Thanks again.

Very informative and very helpful and very interesting to

I'm glad this got bought up because I m starting to have problems getting decoders so I might run some DC loco

awesome as always

Mike - Many thanks for de-mystifying the issue of DC/DCC combined layouts. I am currently developing a DC (Tri-ang) & DCC (Hornby Zero One) OO Gauge layout. Your suggestion of a DPDT switch will (I think) allow safe integration of both systems, allowing for the fact that both systems are "very old technology" - namely 1960's/1970's. Michael (from Oz)

Great video, thaks.

I figure this out a few years ago after using DC and Atlas Selectors, Connectors, and all sorts of toggle switches. I did this method and rewired it to accept the Atlas Selectors, Connectors, and toggle switches for both/either power sources. I really expands the flexibility of running your trains, but anybody else that wants to run on your layout. I'm running HO Scale.

Great info!

Outstanding help and assistance with a prevailing question. I really enjoy the logical presentation, with language a starter can follow! I've just received my first DCC locomotive. and didn't want to picture a mess of wire(s) without capability to run and operate _\+

Very good…Thanks

Thanks! just want I needed for my show layout

Great informative Video Mike. I have a DC layout wired with multi blocks for 2 train operation with 2 power packs and selctor switches to select between power packs in each block. Can I use my existing DC wiring for DCC with this DPDT switch or do I have to add any additiomal wiring for feeding the dcc side.

AWSOME, as good today as the day it was published! I have a well established DC layout. This will let me ease into DCC instead of a giant leap.

This is helpful, as running a DC loco on a DCC system as #0000 seems A) not to give you very good control over the DC locomotive, and B) seems to introduce some unpredictable performance issues on the DCC system.

Well done.

Mike, I have NCE power cab. I used a dpdt center off toggle, however from the NCE side I connected one of the Atias power routing switches that allow me to direct input to the mainline or to an isolated siding I used for my "programming track." This is a simple manual approach and worked very well for me. I DID NOT ATTEMPT TO RUN DC When doing any DCC function.

Mike, Great video as always. I would like to suggest a couple of topics for future videos. These may not have quite the general market that you are aiming for, but wanted to throw them out anyway. First, I would like to see something on wiring multiple boosters into a layout. I assume it just involves isolating the sections of track and running the control network between the boosters. But no one ever gets quite that far in their explanation of wiring layouts and a video covering that would be helpful. The second video is even more niche oriented. We do large modular layouts and for the DCC operations, we use wireless throttles. But for DC operations, we are relegated to the stationary control unit. I have heard of folks putting a decoder in front of the track bus and supplying DC to the track via the output of the decoder. This would allow the operation of the DC track through the use of wireless throttles from the DCC system. I know that is not an issue for the normal layout, but for larger layouts, it would really help to be able to have the engineer be mobile. And, of course, it would eliminate the need for the DC controller. Thanks, Terry

Great video Mike, my layout is currently a block DC system with two cabs wired through a single pole switch much like this. Only difference is I have the common wiring not passing through the switch and wired directly to the track in blocks. Would I be able to run DC and DCC separately but on the same layout by just replacing one of my two cabs with a DCC system? Trying not to replace all my existing wiring if possible. Thanks Steve

Awesome!

I knew it this thank you

Originally I built a control panel for two cabs as designed by Lynn Westcott. I believe i can connect the NCE power cab to the second cab and then throw the mini spdtco toggles when I want to use DCC. The DC throttle would be turned off in this situation and turnouts powered by a separate different power supply. I hope this is okay and I don’t have to run a whole new separate bus wire.

Great video for TOTAL switch over. However, I am back into HO after 35 years and have set up a nice DC pike for my grandson as I have lots of motive power for DC and have set up HIS part of the pike in DC. For me, I am putting together a DCC pike (we have 5' X 17' area to use) that overlaps and intertwines with his (DC) system. My question: What 'switch' do I need to add to keep us apart so he can do DC while I do DCC instead of being just one or the other (DC vs DCC)? Wow, just noticed that these other comments are years old. Hope you are still well and healthy for both you and your family. thanks, Dean

Does the dc controller take the power from the dcc power pack or does the dc controller have to have its power pack?

Thank you for the video! I get the concept of double pole/double throw switches, but have questions about two lines. I am going to be using Peco code 100 track. I will have two parallel tracks, both with double pole / double throw switches with center off, both with a dc and a dcc controller. I also know that there needs to be a siding where a dc loco can go and I can throw a switch to deaden the track, though I am not sure how to insulate the siding from the rest of the line and if there needs to be leads going also to the insulated siding through the switch, though I think that is how it works. But how do I connect the two branchlines so I can shut off one controller and control both tracks with the other? Do I need additional leads the the other track from one of the dc controllers controlled with an on/off switch? Can I use the Peco electrofrog turnouts? how would I connect them so that the power from one controller doesn't go through to the other track? Thanks for the video, and Thanks in advance for the advice!

Very useful & something I've been concerned about handling efficiently. Haven't built yet, and the longer I wait, the more I learn, and the more mistakes I avoid making. When running in DC mode, do the DCC locos need to be physically removed from the tracks (and vice versa)? Planning on having an engine yard and not all locos are converted. Maybe that's why reference to isolating track sections was mentioned. Using the Kato pak with their swtches - will these be deactivated when throwing the switch to operate in DCC mode? Another addition to my collection of how-to's. Thanks, Mike. Jeff

This works very well! I had this setup on my old layout. Let me ask this though. What do you do with insulated sidings? Do you just hook the terminal that the feeder wires are connected to, to the center terminal of the DPDT switch?

Nice

Great video! I am converting to scale. I will be building a hollow door layout. I do like switching as well. What do you prefer I use to start? DC or dcc or dcc ready incase I want both?

Mike, I understand that and think it is great. But...how do you connect two or more power packs from DC into the selector swtch??

Clearly stated and greatly appreciated. On NCS's website describing the Autoswitch, it seems we cannot use the Autoswitch with their Smart Booster SB5 rather than with the Power Cab panel to set this up. Any news, an update, or some sage advice about this would be appreciated?

Thank you Mike. however I'm not sure how that works with track block system? But off to a good start. Thanks.

Cool

This is what I thought of doing

Mike thanks for the video, I had dc back in the 70’s I started dc n gauge back up. My question is I have a reversing loop with toggle switches, I want to make it a auto reversing loop with the digitrac ar1, can I leave my toggle switches in place, and still use the ar1 for the Dcc engines? I want to switch between dc and Dcc the way you did in this video, but I’m not sure about the toggles switches how that will effect dcc, thanks

And this should work if you want to run o gauge conventional locomotives or something like lionel legacy?

Great video and advice. What is the switch called? I'd like to use this idea on my layout. Thank you

Hi, i was just wondering what is the simplest way to run multiple DC trains on a layout is! I was thinking like a layout where there would be a mainline with a train running on it, and then i could have a shunter i could use to shunt with in a yard connected to that mainline.

I use NCE Power Cab. I have a oval with a single switch with a spur for the programming track. I put the decoder in the engine then set the engine on the program track with the switch set to the siding. My main track an sidings are powered except I have the program track with insulators during program mode. After the programming is done on the engine NCE returns the power back to the mainline for running. I would like to some time upgrade to the next level up on the NCE system. I do like how you have your layout done on DC an DCC. I would like to do that on my board too.

can you use dcc and dc at the same time on the same track?

Thanks for the info Mike. I have a two track DC dual controller. How would I wire that up please? Do I need 2 switches ?

great video you use a 5 amp mini switch,is there any chance to use a full size switch with a different rating like 10 or 15 amp

I have D/C and want to do what you have shown, both D/C and DCC. Now, I have many blocks on my layout wired for two cabs, do I just leave the blocks sections on, and still use the block wiring for the two cabs?

Very straight forward, but, on a garden railway you need to use 'boosters' on DCC to enhance the signal and power due to the distances involved. One DPDT switch doesn't seem enough? More switches would lead to errors, How do we deal with that issue? AJonTrack, UK.

Hello Mike, I want to use the method that you have explained in your video to use DCC with a DPDT for my DC layout. My question is: I have a reversing loop on my DC layout. Does the wiring that I have done in DC "mode" is compatible with the DCC "mode" or do I have some additionnal wiring to do ? Thks Dany

Mike I have a question, If you have your bus connected to dcc and then use a switch to convert to DC and your turnouts are controlled by accessory decoders DS64 for example that are getting their power from the track bus what would happen to the accessory decoders safety wise? Good video Colin

Can you use a DPDT switch to change DCC from a main line and a programming track. Great video. thanks you.

Looking into doing this on my layout, wondering about use of DCC Circuit Breakers. I use NCE EB1 and DCC Specialties as well. Is there any issues passing DC current through these DCC Circuit breakers?

Nice idea...but what if I have accessory decoders that use track power? Will they get damaged if I switch the system to DC?

Wouldn't disconnecting the output side of the power packs cause a problem? Do I need some type of load for the pack not connected to the track?

thank you so very much .as always you are a great help,once again thank you

Mike - I don't have the need for a switch like this. I run my 30 x 12 dogbone layout with two MRC Command 2000's hooked to my two main lines and run both my DC and DCC locos concurrently without any problems.

I have a mrc prodigy express 2 dcc system it’s has a hookup for a programming track or it has a hookup for programming on the main does it matter which of those I wire the toggle switch to?

A couple of years ago I swapped all my HO scale equipment (all locomotives were DC only), straight across for another persons N scale equipment and have since built an N scale layout. My N scale layout is set up for DC. I aquired a lot of N scale locomotives. However, I can only get some of them to run (3 out of 9 engines). The person I swapped with says that some of them are only DC and some of them may either be DCC ready or might even be DCC equippted. He has stated that he got them from another person. The siituation is that some of them run on DC, some of them won't run at all on DC, and some of them will try to move but will not actually move, or they will only move intermitttantly when power from the power pack controller is applied. The problem I have is that I have no historical information on each of these locomotives (such as the original box they came in, what company made them, what type of engine they are, whether they are an SD-40, an EMD SD70A, etc. ). All of the equiment was just thrown haphazardly into a couple of cardboard boxes. Out of 13 switches (turnouts), only 6 were able to be salvaged as they had been haphazardly pried up from a previous layout and had been totally ruined for reuse. So I have no idea if they are either straight DC, DCC Ready, or actually DCC eqippted. I am in the mood for upgrading my layout to work on both DC and DCC. But without knowing what each type of locomotive I have is, or without any previous historical information for each of those locomotive engines, I have no idea if each of them is either DC only, DCC ready, or already DCC equippted. I have tried using the decal number on each of the engines to try and find out that information. Out of all of those engine numbers I only found one that gives me that information and it came back that it is an SD-40. There are a couple of HO scale model Railroadling clubs in my area, but each s in a diferent location and town as they are located either 50 to 100 miles (one-way), from where I live. and the nearest Model Railroading shop (located 50 miles away), has a sign in the door that says - "This shop will be closed untill further notice". So I have to assume that this shop (just like all the others of which have been in the general area in the past 15 years), has once again gone under and closed down due to lack of both business and monetary revenue. So therefore I have no one to consult with for either repair,s upgrading, or information. Without that information or lack of guidence I am at a standstill and in a quandry. Any ideas of how to cure my problems so that I might be able to upgrade To DCC ? ? ? Please advise. Anyway, thanks for a great informational and instructional video. As usual, you were at your best.

I understand the concept BUT when you switch to DC do you have to remove all the locomotives that are DCC only from the payout? The reverse s d you have to remove the DC locomotives when in DCC mode?

I'm just starting out with N scale just purchased a ready made layout but want to make it bigger, but the power pack is old and needs to be replaced, any ideas on a DC power pack? I have the Digital Zephyr Xtra 3.0 Starter Set

So if I use the Bachmanns DCC transformer with n scale track, I can use multiple trains at once or what? And if I have that setup with the Bachmanns DCC transformer, do I have to use ONLY DCC or can I also use DC with that setup?

This may be a dumb question but would you need power for both the dcc (digitrax) and dc transformer (mrc tranformer)? I am assuming yes as both have power cords. I s this correct.

love the videos here my question i want to change over to dcc do i have to change over my remote switchtrack or can i leave them power by dc?

Do you use 12 V DC or Varible DC when hooking wire from track to power pack?

Hi Mike, Question for you: When running a "DCC Only" system, you would run ONE buss wire pair which would typically power your track and locomotives as well as all your turnouts (in the case of using Kato Unitrack). However, when you add the DC component to your layout, which runs VARIABLE DC power to your track, when your power pack is at "0" (no movement to your locomotives) won't that kill your turnout control? Is it recommended to isolate your turnouts to their own separate "Constant DC" power buss? Thanks in advance for your recommendations!

Mike, Can you leave the DCC Engines on the track when you switch to DC with damage to them?

when system is wired like this for both... dont you have to take your DCC trains off the tracks when you switch it to DC? the extra voltage fries decoders doesnt it? and same vice versa. if you have it on DCC,, the old dc trains sitting in the way wont go anywheere

How would you apply this across multiple tracks? I have a separate DC controller for each track on my layout, so would I need to wire three of these switches, one to each track?

I have NCE powercab. How would I add the NCE Smart Booster to the switch?