Basic DCC Wiring for Your Model Railroad: A Beginner's Guide to Decoders, DCC Systems, and Layout Wiring

This book is an essential starting point for anyone wanting to consider Digital Command Control (DCC) for their model train layout of any scale. A better title for it would be "Basic DCC for Your Model Railroad". It provides "exceptionally integration knowledge" on all of the DCC Components and Component Features offered by various manufacturers plus the author's experience and "watch outs" on the installation and operation of the various components.The reviews that state the information contained in this book is available for free on the Internet are inaccurate because the "Author's Integrated DCC Perspective" contained in this book is not available on the Internet; however, each DCC System and DCC Component manufacturer offers "free" information on the devices they sell. Wikipedia has a "very basic" page on DCC plus the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) has established DCC Standards and Recommended Practices; see their site. Additionally, the author is an Electrical Engineer who currently designs Electronic Circuits for Eagle Test Systems; most of the "Internet Free DCC Information" that I have read is very (very) basic, has errors, and the authors do not provide their credentials."Basic DCC Wiring for Your Model Railroad" starts with an overview of DCC followed by a logical progression of DCC system planning for a model train layout; it includes individual chapters on DCC "Track Wiring", "Boosters and Power Districts", "Turnouts and Reversing Sections", "Cab Bus Wiring", "Decoder Installation and Programing", and "Converting an Existing Layout to DCC". Mike Polsgrove outlines DCC features offered for each type of DCC Component but does not endorse any specific manufacturer's components.An appendix is included that lists the nineteen (19) "DCC System and Component Manufacturers" with both their street and internet addresses that were in business at time of the book's publishing; all are still in business.This integrated DCC information in this book enables anyone to plan, design, and install DCC on their model railroad. It provides all the information you need to "Plan" your DCC system. By "Plan" I mean what "DCC Components and Component Features" you want for your specific layout. You will need to gather and summarize the "Features" offered by the various DCC System and Component Manufacturers to complete your "DCC Layout Design" and enable you to purchase both your DCC System and DCC Components. A second appendix included in this book and entitled "Tools for a DCC Workshop" along with the "Wiring" information provided throughout the book plus the DCC Component Manufacturer's installation requirements of the DCC components you purchase will provide you all the information you need to install DCC.

A little Insite into my hobby.

Older book on dcc, but still some good info

Quite beyond a beginner to DCC modeling, as I am after a 65 year layoff. Yeah, I am that old.

Recently I decided to introduce 'grandboys' to "grandpas" train hobby first practiced 61 years ago. Modern day model railroading is not your fathers Oldsmobile. It is a whole different world for which only the very basics of soldering and 'set building' are useful now. I've used parts and pieces of 7 different books including, especially, Basic DCC Wiring For Your Model Railroad. The illustrations are excellent -- large, and clear -- and very helpful for tasks requiring skills. Several different subjects are covered, perhaps not in the detail which may be eventually required; but also included are resources and reference that should lead to the buying of additional guides in this series. Having everything in one place would require a tome of several hundred pages and wouldn't cover everything. DCC is really fun and the possibilities with it are endless. But reference guides, construction/implementation care, patience and money are going to be necessary. Polsgrove has another book: DCC Projects and Applications that gives an excellent glimpse at what can be done. I'd recommend buying that one and Don Fiehmann's "The DCC Guide, How To Select And Use Your Command Control system. Having understood these, a novice or returnee is off to a flying start.

Very helpful

The book arrived on time and in good condition. It is a good introduction to implementing DCC for your model railroad. As with many technical books the vendors continue to introduce new and improved modules almost constantly so you are well advised to read the book with your web browser open so you can check for revisions and updates as you go along. Even with this caveat I am well pleased with this book.

I would not recommend this book for someone already very familiar with DC wiring of model railroads. You can find out everything you need to know about the basics of DCC freely on the internet if you have a good foundation. This book sticks to the basics.However, for someone (like me) with limited knowledge of DC wiring, having just done a basic layout with unitrack, this is great. It's hardly exhaustive, but covers the basics well enough for me to actually understand what's being talked about on the internet. I really appreciated that Polsgrove *did* talk about specific brands in spots. I was leery of buying this because I didn't want to get something that only spoke in generalities. That alone bought it a star or two from me and made me feel that while basic, this book was worth the cost vs time spent trying to find freebie guides on the internet.