DCC Loco Conversions - 13 - Dublo - Stay Alive ?

Discussion in 'DCC Control' started by Jim Freight, Apr 23, 2022.

  1. Jim Freight

    Jim Freight Full Member

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    Whilst planning ahead the next articles it occurred to me that some Dublo enthusiasts may want to run a DCC fitted loco on original Dublo track.

    My layout is built with Peco Code 100 Streamline and is wired for DCC using a power bus and droppers. Every section of track is connected to the bus via droppers in true belt and braces fashion.

    However others prefer to run their Dublo on original track and very much on the tinplate 3 rail track, the 2 rail Dublo track was it appears not very popular and short lived due to it appearing close to the demise of the company.

    So far, I have found that with high or good quality decoders e.g. Lenz or Digitrax with my track system and wiring I have not needed to use stay alive parts for running steam outline Dublo locomotives.

    This will be subject to review as I move through converting my fleet of Dublo locomotives, especially the diesels with tyres.

    If however you intend to use your DCC fitted locos on original 3 rail track you are very likely to need stay alive components fitted as steel rails are poor electrical conductors compared to nickel-sliver alloy rails. Also the rail sections are short requiring many more mechanical joints per yard (or metre) compared with lengths of Peco flexible track for which I only trust fishplates for track alignment.

    I re-discovered the following video on YouTube where the use of Dublo locos on 3 rail track with stay alive has been used so effectively that the owner did not require any under the board wiring, he is obviously tech savvy as will become apparent as you play the video.

    This will require additional components though, along with the significant costs associated with stay alive systems.

    Here is a lnk to his video :-




    Meanwhile please bear in mind that my choice of decoders is targeted at running on track wired for DCC as stated above.


    Discussion always :welcome:

    Jim

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    Last edited: Feb 24, 2024
  2. Jim Freight

    Jim Freight Full Member

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    Update: So far (January 2023) the only Dublo and Wrenn locos I have converted that have required fitting a stay alive supported decoder to obtain acceptable, or in fact any usable control is the Bo-Bo (Class 20) due to the unstable mounting of the bogies, in particular the unpowered bogie and the low total weight of this plastic bodied loco.

    Despite the Dublo and Wrenn assemblies being different they were both bad runners without stay alive, and if any of the wheel treads have damaged plating e.g. patches of pitting or flaking, they must be replaced.

    The Bo-Bo (Class 20) conversion will be written up shortly.

    Jim :)
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2023
  3. Echidna

    Echidna Full Member

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    Hello All,

    1 /there is always the option of using either Alan Gibson or Ultrascale wheels, with stepped axles, to overcome the wheel pick up problem.

    2 / and / or using pick up skates, located between the bogie wheels, to collect power directly. Although I have not done this, there was an article in either Railway Modeller or ( Airfix ) Scale Trains, to this effect for the Mainline O3 diesel shunter, using, as I recall, a T shaped skate ( which an American supplier made and advertised for years ) . With a touch of black paint, almost invisible, yet effective. ( O Gauge outside third rail used a similar system ).

    Best wishes and regards to all, Echidna
     
  4. Jim Freight

    Jim Freight Full Member

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    Hi, thanks for the reply, replacement wheels would certainly be an option to overcome defective wheel tread plating, but unfortunately this would not solve the bogie instability problem and my system is 2 rail, however this would certainly benefit 3 rail users of Dublo Bo-Bo locos, but perhaps they are just better off using a 3 rail chassis to start with.

    The use of more wheels picking up from both ends of the non-driving axles and the centre plunger pickup is probably why the 3 rail versions worked and the 2 rail version was poor.

    Jim :)
     
    Echidna likes this.

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