Weathering by using pigments is a great way to add depth and realism to your model. The process is easy to apply and...
Cart 0 Product Products (empty)
No products
Free shipping! Shipping
£ 0.00 Total
Product successfully added to your shopping cart
Quantity
Total
There are 0 items in your cart. There is 1 item in your cart.
Total products (tax incl.)
Total shipping (tax excl.) Free shipping!
Total (tax incl.)
Search Tips
Tips categories
Latest Tips
-
How do I weather a model using pigments?Read more -
Can I create working overhead electrification for my layout?Read moreIt is possible to create overhead electrification for a model railway layout. This typically involves installing...
-
How do I wire up my first model railway layout?Read moreIf you’re new to model railways, one of the more daunting parts of the hobby can be figuring out how to wire up your...
-
What colour primer should I use when painting red?Read moreThe main thing to remember about primers is that the brighter the primer, the brighter the topcoat. So if you want...
-
What is OO9?Read moreOO9 is 4mm to the foot scale (that is OO or 1/76) but using 9mm track gauge (the same size as N gauge). This is...
What is meant by start voltage?
The term 'Start Voltage' is used in model railways to describe how much voltage is needed to get a locomotive moving from a standing start.
When starting a train using an analogue controller, its start voltage isn't very important as we simply keep turning the throttle until movement is achieved. But when using DCC, we don't control the train, its decoder does, and that makes a difference.
We have all experienced the gratification of a model locomotive starting smoothly and quietly from a station platform, conscientious of its passengers' comfort and the expectation of realism from the layout's operator and viewers. The flip-side of that situation is that stubborn loco (we all have one) that refuses to budge until virtually at full power, at which time it lurches into life like an Alton Tower's rollercoaster!
Although there isn't much we can do to help with your stubborn loco's attitude problem, the decoder in your DCC-operated model does need a rough indication of what kind of locomotive it's dealing with. As such, decoders can be programmed to deliver a specific amount of voltage to the model's motor to get the wheels moving and is known as the start voltage.
Posted in: Power and control
Click here to receive the tips weekly in your mailbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Related products
Single Track Controller with Plug in Transformer
Price: £ 65.00Gaugemaster Combi Controller - Plug in TransformerThis unit is sold without a...
Ruby Series 6fn Pro DCC Decoder 8 Pin
Price: £ 37.50Ruby Series 6 functions Pro DCC Decoder 8 Pin The DCC94 is a large 8 pin...
Ruby Series 2fn Small DCC Decoder 8 Pin
Price: £ 27.95Ruby Series 2 functions Small DCC Decoder 8 pin The DCC92 is a 8 pin decoder...
Related posts
-
Can a "DCC ready" train be used on analogue?Yes, you can use a DCC ready train on your analogue layout. DCC ready just means that the train has been factory... - Is it difficult to fit a DCC decoder in to a DCC ready engine?In theory, it should be easy as the whole idea of being DCC Ready is to simplify the process. The first time I did...
- What is 7/0.2 wire?7/02 wire is a wire made of 7 strands of 0.2mm wire. Stranded wire has the advantage of being flexible while solid...
- Is an N Gauge controller compatible with OO Gauge?Yes, an N Gauge controller is compatible with OO gauge trains. You may have to change the power clip to the track...
- Is stranded wire better than solid wire?In my experience, stranded wire is preferable over solid wire. Stranded wire is more flexible than solid core wire,...