I enjoy your videos. Just getting started and you bought a lot of things from all electronics. Well they are no longer in business. Who is your go to now?????
Larry Another great video I have 9 of the ten listed but Number 1 solder iron is not very good found yours on amazon $104.00 will order soon The other one is Hemostats never had them but always was interested in them Have a great Holiday Weekend
Another good one Larry ta! On another note re dcc ing old triangs with smoke generators The answer was just to bypass the chip and put the live direct .However in solving that problem and running the 5 engines puffing smoke it set of my state of the art smoke alarms. An interesting excersize with dissapointment at the end 🙄
Great video on tooling. I find your advice valuable in tool selection. I do have tools I always tend to use and do have a lot of ‘nice to have’ but having all the tools I have I still could have more. Rgds Stewart
There is a wire stripper that will handle 32AWG from Klein Tools. You can find it online. 32AWG will strip the fine speaker wires on the Tsunami 2 decoders. I have one and it has made my decoder installs a lot easier.
Hi Larry, interesting video.. a product that I don't think you mentioned was cleaning vinegar. I saw this stuff on the grocery store shelf the other day and while looking at it, a shopper - unknown to me, said that this stuff is like a miracle cleaner. I'm quite familiar with vinegar itself being a really good cleanser on glass and such surfaces and that vinegar is a weak form of acid (hence its cleaning properties) and I highly doubt it's an contribution to arcing on the rails. Just asking about the evaporation properties of vinegar.. apparently although vinegar is a great cleaner, it would need to be wiped off.. hence the reason it would be best to apply to a lint free cloth before wiping the dirty rails.
It's always good to have information in multiple places. Another good video, Larry. By the way how about a video showing how you have your tools and workshop organized?
I've actually had very good results with $5 meters from Harbor Freight. You do need to buy better probe wires though as the ones included don't last long. In the chaos of setting up a large modular layout at train shows it's nice to have a meter that you can have several of and don't have to worry about losing one. Be careful when you try a new type of meter. We had a problem with a more expensive meter that didn't properly measure voltage on DCC. It showed about half of the actual voltage. Apparently it didn't respond correctly to the 7KHz square wave.
Most hobby and less expensive (cheap) meters are made for use with 50-60 Hz electricity found in homes, businesses, etc. which is why they don’t accurately measure DCC voltages. For that you need a meter designed to measure the true voltages using a RMS circuit and algorithm.
Good video Larry and I really enjoy the channel and the content you have. I was wondering if you could do a video on programming a consist with the NCE power cab. I'm new to the hobby and really enjoy it. I know there are other videos out there but I like the way you explain things. Love the channel
What people consider "essential" varies based on their skill level and their definition of essential. For me, an essential tool is one that without which my work would be substandard (in my eyes). So since I am a terrible carpenter I have no essential tools since ALL my work is substandard anyway. Now I'm a pretty good painter so I consider my 10/0 paintbrush essential. For general all-around usefulness I consider my Dremel tool essential for cutting rail, grinding, polishing, drilling, etc. Oh, and as an older person I would definitely be lost without my head-mounted flashlight for working under the layout!
IIRC, A few months ago you did a series on buck & boost boards I tried to go back to find them and couldn’t. I need to figure out a system to go from my 1.6 inch scale ride on 24 V (2 12v batteries in series) locomotives down to voltage is appropriate for LEDs and sound systems
Larry, I’m going to start my first HO scale layout and my Dad passed away I inherited his DC trains. Is there away to wire the track in both DC and DCC?
What kind suitcase connectors do you use for the 14 gauge zip wire? I have a big supply of that wire on hand but it's too large for my red Scotchlok suitcase connectors? I will have a bus wire run of about 30 feet.
I use rosin core solder and that is usually enough for wiring decoders, circuit boards and other small jobs. However with big jobs that require more heat it is possible to burn off most of the flux while getting the work hot enough so for those jobs I prefer to add a dab of paste rosin flux.
@@TheDCCGuy I see the T18-D08 is the finest chisel tip they have. Wasn’t sure if you were already using a conical tip. I’m an N scaler and I’m looking to install a sugar cube speaker in my Kato GS-4. I recently acquired the Hakko 888D which came with a T18-D16 chisel but I’m thinking i may need something smaller.
Hi Larry. I enjoy your videos. I have a question that I believe you can help me with. Thanks in advance for reading this. I have been looking into how a DCC PROGRAMMER sends programming commands to a DECODER in SERVICE MODE. I've read a number of conflicting statement. One indicated that the address must be between 112 to 127. Another wrote the address must be between 1 and 127. I understand this to mean a SHORT ADDRESS. But your earlier video on this subject, as well as other sources, state that SERVICE MODE does not require an address. In the DCC packet, is there an address, even if it is a broadcast 0? If a broadcast address is not used then must the DECODER have a SHORT ADDRESS value assigned to receive the CV program instructions? Yeah, I'm confused by the conflicting information and I haven't been certain how to sort this one out. Thanks again for reading this.
You’re digging into deeper territory than I ever wanted to go however I think the following may be what you are looking for: Once a Digital Decoder has exited service mode, it will only re-enter operations mode upon receipt of a valid operations mode packet that is not identical to a service mode packet. This is to ensure that the decoder does not start executing service mode instruction packets as operations mode packets (Service Mode instruction packets have a short address in the range of 112 to 127 decimal.) If you really want to get into the nitty gritty of service mode programming you can download a pdf of the NMRA standard on this topic at: www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/standards/sandrp/pdf/S-9.2.3_2012_07.pdf I hope this helps-Larry
@@TheDCCGuy Thank you for taking time to respond. I continued to dig last night and found dccwiki.com/Decoder_Programming . The wiki is also had helpful info and included, "Operations Mode = Addressed. Service Mode = Global. Operations Mode sends programming instructions to a specified address. Service Mode does not use an address, therefore its instructions are acted on globally by all decoders. Service mode can be used accidentally, programming every decoder on the layout." Thank you for your kind response.
I enjoy your videos. Just getting started and you bought a lot of things from all electronics. Well they are no longer in business. Who is your go to now?????
Good flux is a must have.
Thanks Larry, a good pair of Tin Snips are also great for Modelling. Trust that you are keeping well, best Wishes.
Larry, been soldering for 45 years. Just bought a while ago a TS100. Really good small iron. Very easy to use.
Great video Larry . Tools are very important, the right tool for the right job
Larry Another great video I have 9 of the ten listed but Number 1 solder iron is not very good found yours on amazon $104.00 will order soon The other one is Hemostats never had them but always was interested in them Have a great Holiday Weekend
I have found that hot glue for crafts makes a great insulator.
Always helpfully guiding us in the right direction......... Thanks, Larry.
Excellent video Larry. This is great information for all of us that enjoy model railroading. Well done.
Another great video, thank you!
Great one, good information, timely, Thanks Larry!
HELLO LARRY ITS IS RANDY AND I LIKE U VIDEO IS COOL THANKS LARRY FRIENDS RANDY
Another good one Larry ta! On another note re dcc ing old triangs with smoke generators The answer was just to bypass the chip and put the live direct .However in solving that problem and running the 5 engines puffing smoke it set of my state of the art smoke alarms. An interesting excersize with dissapointment at the end 🙄
Very informative .
another god one Larry thanks
Awesome video!
Great video on tooling. I find your advice valuable in tool selection. I do have tools I always tend to use and do have a lot of ‘nice to have’ but having all the tools I have I still could have more. Rgds Stewart
Larry great video, I have a similar soldering station, does make soldering easy
There is a wire stripper that will handle 32AWG from Klein Tools. You can find it online. 32AWG will strip the fine speaker wires on the Tsunami 2 decoders. I have one and it has made my decoder installs a lot easier.
Thanks for the tip, I’ll look them up!
Nice one, Larry, very informative and you answered my question about the Audtek type cable how to remember which is + \ -!
Hi Larry, interesting video.. a product that I don't think you mentioned was cleaning vinegar. I saw this stuff on the grocery store shelf the other day and while looking at it, a shopper - unknown to me, said that this stuff is like a miracle cleaner.
I'm quite familiar with vinegar itself being a really good cleanser on glass and such surfaces and that vinegar is a weak form of acid (hence its cleaning properties) and I highly doubt it's an contribution to arcing on the rails.
Just asking about the evaporation properties of vinegar.. apparently although vinegar is a great cleaner, it would need to be wiped off.. hence the reason it would be best to apply to a lint free cloth before wiping the dirty rails.
Let me know how it works.👍
It's always good to have information in multiple places. Another good video, Larry. By the way how about a video showing how you have your tools and workshop organized?
Believe me, you don’t want to see that mess!
@@TheDCCGuy Sounds like my workshop!
Thanks very helpful thank you.
I've actually had very good results with $5 meters from Harbor Freight. You do need to buy better probe wires though as the ones included don't last long. In the chaos of setting up a large modular layout at train shows it's nice to have a meter that you can have several of and don't have to worry about losing one. Be careful when you try a new type of meter. We had a problem with a more expensive meter that didn't properly measure voltage on DCC. It showed about half of the actual voltage. Apparently it didn't respond correctly to the 7KHz square wave.
Most hobby and less expensive (cheap) meters are made for use with 50-60 Hz electricity found in homes, businesses, etc. which is why they don’t accurately measure DCC voltages. For that you need a meter designed to measure the true voltages using a RMS circuit and algorithm.
Very helpful video Larry
Nick Australia
Good video Larry and I really enjoy the channel and the content you have. I was wondering if you could do a video on programming a consist with the NCE power cab. I'm new to the hobby and really enjoy it. I know there are other videos out there but I like the way you explain things. Love the channel
What people consider "essential" varies based on their skill level and their definition of essential. For me, an essential tool is one that without which my work would be substandard (in my eyes). So since I am a terrible carpenter I have no essential tools since ALL my work is substandard anyway. Now I'm a pretty good painter so I consider my 10/0 paintbrush essential. For general all-around usefulness I consider my Dremel tool essential for cutting rail, grinding, polishing, drilling, etc. Oh, and as an older person I would definitely be lost without my head-mounted flashlight for working under the layout!
IIRC, A few months ago you did a series on buck & boost boards I tried to go back to find them and couldn’t. I need to figure out a system to go from my 1.6 inch scale ride on 24 V (2 12v batteries in series) locomotives down to voltage is appropriate for LEDs and sound systems
Try video 120.
Larry, I’m going to start my first HO scale layout and my Dad passed away I inherited his DC trains. Is there away to wire the track in both DC and DCC?
#1 Dremel Tool
What kind suitcase connectors do you use for the 14 gauge zip wire? I have a big supply of that wire on hand but it's too large for my red Scotchlok suitcase connectors? I will have a bus wire run of about 30 feet.
I use the red #905 all the time. Have you split the cable apart to create 2 individual wires at the point where you need to install the connector?
Yes I have sir. Is 905 the part number from 3M?
Yes 905 is the part number on the 3M box.
Well I was wrong (again). I rechecked the wire and the connector and it turns out it DOES fit into the connector with a bit of pressure.
Yes it does take a bit more effort as the insulation is a bit thicker than on individual wires.
An excellent video. Do you use solid or rosin core solder for DCC decoder wiring?
I use rosin core solder and that is usually enough for wiring decoders, circuit boards and other small jobs. However with big jobs that require more heat it is possible to burn off most of the flux while getting the work hot enough so for those jobs I prefer to add a dab of paste rosin flux.
@@TheDCCGuy Thank you
Hi Larry, do you know the Hakko part #’s for those tips? thanks, td
I think I still have the packages, I’ll dig them out tomorrow.
The fine point I commonly use appears to be a T18-D08. However I have been looking at ordering T18-B and T18-BL tips which seem to have finer points.
@@TheDCCGuy I see the T18-D08 is the finest chisel tip they have. Wasn’t sure if you were already using a conical tip.
I’m an N scaler and I’m looking to install a sugar cube speaker in my Kato GS-4. I recently acquired the Hakko 888D which came with a T18-D16 chisel but I’m thinking i may need something smaller.
Hi Larry. I enjoy your videos. I have a question that I believe you can help me with. Thanks in advance for reading this. I have been looking into how a DCC PROGRAMMER sends programming commands to a DECODER in SERVICE MODE. I've read a number of conflicting statement. One indicated that the address must be between 112 to 127. Another wrote the address must be between 1 and 127. I understand this to mean a SHORT ADDRESS. But your earlier video on this subject, as well as other sources, state that SERVICE MODE does not require an address. In the DCC packet, is there an address, even if it is a broadcast 0? If a broadcast address is not used then must the DECODER have a SHORT ADDRESS value assigned to receive the CV program instructions? Yeah, I'm confused by the conflicting information and I haven't been certain how to sort this one out. Thanks again for reading this.
You’re digging into deeper territory than I ever wanted to go however I think the following may be what you are looking for:
Once a Digital Decoder has exited service mode, it will only re-enter operations mode upon receipt of a valid operations mode packet that is not identical to a service mode packet. This is to ensure that the decoder does not start executing service mode instruction packets as operations mode packets (Service Mode instruction packets have a short address in the range of 112 to 127 decimal.)
If you really want to get into the nitty gritty of service mode programming you can download a pdf of the NMRA standard on this topic at:
www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/standards/sandrp/pdf/S-9.2.3_2012_07.pdf
I hope this helps-Larry
@@TheDCCGuy Thank you for taking time to respond. I continued to dig last night and found dccwiki.com/Decoder_Programming . The wiki is also had helpful info and included, "Operations Mode = Addressed.
Service Mode = Global.
Operations Mode sends programming instructions to a specified address.
Service Mode does not use an address, therefore its instructions are acted on globally by all decoders. Service mode can be used accidentally, programming every decoder on the layout." Thank you for your kind response.
no links are listed????
They’re up there now.
Why do Americans drop the "L" in a Solder joint?