To maintain a large layout like we do at NVMR, you have to run a lot of cabling to power our Digital Command Control (DCC) system which allows us to run as many trains as we do on the track. We also need a lot of cabling to control all the signals, turnouts and switches. We have included some pictures here to give you an idea!
One of the big initiatives going on now at the club is to update the signals infrastructure to be on its own Layout Command Control (LCC) bus (and off of the Loconet). The purpose of LCC standard is to take the load off the DCC bus with respect to signaling, turnout routing, and other non-locomotive related controls. LCC also offers bi-directional access to the system–something for which DCC was never really designed. The overall result will be a more reliable layout control at NVMR!
Color coding is important as well – our LCC bus is purple to differentiate it from other CAT5 cables running around the layout. Blue is used for general wiring, while orange is used for ethernet.
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