Compare ERR to DCC

Excellent video! Thanks

Thanks @Darrell.  Great video.  Just to clarify, are you using Tsunami or Blunami?  If truly using Tsunami as your title states, what DCC system are you using for control?

Are you running DC for track power or are you using AC and converting it in the loco?

vr

Ron

@Ron045 posted:

Thanks @Darrell.  Great video.  Just to clarify, are you using Tsunami or Blunami?  If truly using Tsunami as your title states, what DCC system are you using for control?

Are you running DC for track power or are you using AC and converting it in the loco?

vr

Ron

I'm using Tsunami2 4400's decoders, still waiting for a Blunami with the right sound set to be released to try. All I can find so far are EMD ones and my LTS was out of stock so I went with the 4400.

I found a 8 amp Digitraxx Duplex starter set for just under $500 and jumped on it, that was a great deal!

It came with the command station/Booster, Radio transceiver, and wireless controller that has two throttle knobs!

For power I have a 180W DC power supply from Amazon that I got for less than $30.

I made a switch panel to select which power goes to the track.

I'm thinking about a video showing my set up that explains what/why I did it that way.

As a Legacy/DCS user, this was an interesting video. I feel like I need to actually sit down and look into DCC for real.

Am I understanding correctly that you run DCC or regular three rail TMCC/Legacy? I didn't know that was possible.

Still waiting on my LHS too.  Try Yankeedabbler.com.  They have them all at the best price.  With shipping and coupon code bnsf6951 the price was around $196 to my door.

Ron

@BillYo414 posted:

As a Legacy/DCS user, this was an interesting video. I feel like I need to actually sit down and look into DCC for real.

Am I understanding correctly that you run DCC or regular three rail TMCC/Legacy? I didn't know that was possible.

Go one extra step and convert an engine to Blunami Deadrail.  Then you won't have to mess with a DCC system or modify your AC track that is set up to run Legacy and DCS.

You can keep your Lionel and MTH stuff as is and just dip your toe in the pool to see if you like it.

Ron

Yeah, I just recieved a Blunami 4408 today from yankeedabbler.com. I ordered it 3 weeks ago, so they just came in last week. I got the EMD version. New toy to play with.

Bobby

@BillYo414 posted:

As a Legacy/DCS user, this was an interesting video. I feel like I need to actually sit down and look into DCC for real.

Am I understanding correctly that you run DCC or regular three rail TMCC/Legacy? I didn't know that was possible.

As Ron points out with Blunami you can use battery power or simply a full wave bridge to convert track power to DC to power the Blunami. Control is with an app. No DCC equipment required. At this point in time you need an Apple device to run the app but an android app is in the works.
Non Bluetooth DCC won’t run concurrently with TMCC or DCS on the same track but Bluetooth Blunami DCC will.

Pete

@BillYo414 posted:

As a Legacy/DCS user, this was an interesting video. I feel like I need to actually sit down and look into DCC for real.

Am I understanding correctly that you run DCC or regular three rail TMCC/Legacy? I didn't know that was possible.

I use the switches to choose either DCC to the tracks or AC, DCS, Legacy to the tracks. You can not have the DCC signal on the track at the same time as the other command control systems, they interfere with each other and the DCC signal can cause damage to TMCC controlled electro couplers. In the video my 2 loops are isolated from each other at the cross over switches so Legacy was connected to the inside track and the Digitrax DCC was connected to the outside track.

I have an old Lionel RS3 that I have been considering as a candidate for the conversion @Ron045 @Norton It is currently destined to become a dummy unit and I was thinking I could try what you describe along the way. Much like letting go of a gas stove or gasoline car, it feels weird to unplug the transformer haha but I can see numerous benefits if this system can give you the power to program your own sounds and features.

@Darrell that is an interesting idea. I wouldn't mind having the ability to tinker with DCC at the flip of a switch.

@BillYo414 posted:

I have an old Lionel RS3 that I have been considering as a candidate for the conversion...

How old?  Make sure it has DC motors.

@BillYo414 posted:

I have an old Lionel RS3 that I have been considering as a candidate for the conversion @Ron045 @Norton It is currently destined to become a dummy unit and I was thinking I could try what you describe along the way. Much like letting go of a gas stove or gasoline car, it feels weird to unplug the transformer haha but I can see numerous benefits if this system can give you the power to program your own sounds and features.

@Darrell that is an interesting idea. I wouldn't mind having the ability to tinker with DCC at the flip of a switch.

If you go with a battery you can unplug the transformer.  If you go with a rectifier or better yet rectifier with a $4 buck board you keep the transformer and you can run your Blunami engine at the same time as your other command engines.

Blunami is the game changer that finally allows DCC to run with TMCC/Legacy and DCS. No switches needed.

Go back and reread this thread. Its all there.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/blunami-3-rail-ac

Pete

Keep in mind that battery powered wireless Blunami is compatible with track powered TMCC simultaneously, but Blunami powered by track DCC (non-wireless) is not.

@BillYo414 posted:

@Darrell that is an interesting idea. I wouldn't mind having the ability to tinker with DCC at the flip of a switch.

When I started my testing, Blunami wasn't yet released. What led me to DCC was when I starting looking into layout control and integration with a computer. I wanted to display my track plan with realtime tracking of locomotives on the layout, with proper and realistic signal operation. This can be done with DCC but the degree of difficulty goes up considerable when trying to use DCS and/or Legacy control systems. The fact that you can not purchase these systems at this time, combine with the lack of upgrade parts/kits also prompted me to start looking elsewhere. Adding a switch to my test layout was easy to do. When I build my big (to me) layout, probably this fall, it will be DCC for the primary control and DCS will be the add-on system. Will keep DCS just for the Silver Bullet, or it might just get it's own small layout. The rest of my 30 loco's will most likely get converted to DCC. I will base my system on JMRI which I already have running under LinuxMint on an old cast off dell computer.

If the plan was to run everything at the same time, Blunami is the way to make that happen, but then again, I really like having a hardware remote in my hand over a cell phone. But with DCC you can use a remote, cell phone, or the computer to run your trains - in any combination or all of them at once. My DCC command station can use up to 100 throttles at once, not that I would ever need that many!

If Soundtraxx does a 10A Blunami card/assembly, that will be even more of a game changer ...

What motors are you running that need 10 amps!? Most can motor loco's never need more than 3.

As I posted previously in another thread, the measured stall current of the Mabuchi RS365SH is over 1.5 amps at 6 volts, I'm sure it would be closer to 3 amps at full throttle with 12 volts if Ohm's law hasn't been repealed.  If you have two of those motors, you could easily hit 6 amps if you stalled both of them.  The more commonly used RS385SH has 50% more torque, so I suspect it also has higher stall currents, I didn't test one of those.  You should rate any electronics to handle the stall currents, as that's the worst case scenario.

I defer to john.