I just gor a Digitrax DCC system and I was wondering if it was possible to use it for HO and N scale layouts at the same time and how I would do that. I know I could use it for either but I wanted to use it for both at the same time or do I have to buy a separate system?

-- Lynn Geise (lgeise@screaminet.com), March 11, 2003

Answers

Lynn,

I use a single Digitrax system to run my HO and G scale simultaneously. There are a few ways you can accomplish this. I do it this way. 1. Make sure ALL your locomotives have a unique address. Example: Do not have a 51 on both your HO and N. Otherwise a wreck will surely result!

2. Since HO and G are very different and G uses much more power, I use separate boosters for my G and HO. The HO boosters are set to HO and the G boosters are set to O/G. There is also an N setting on Digitrax boosters, so you can do exactly the same thing.

If you wanted to run everything off a single booster (assuming you have just a couple of locomotives), you can use the circuit in section 10-12 of my page http://www.WiringForDCC.com/block.htm. Put several of these circuits in series with ONE lead from your booster going to your N-scale layout. This will drop the voltage to your N-scale layout. Three sets of these simple and cheap circuits will drop your HO voltage down 2.1 volts. You can buy 3amp, 50V diodes from companies like Mouser and Digikey.

-- Allan Gartner (bigboy@WiringForDCC.com), March 12, 2003.