Common Rail Wiring:
A wiring system in which one side of all the track
power supplies are connected. The common rail concept simplified block
wiring in conventional DC systems, but is not recommended for DCC wiring.
(see Direct Home Wiring).
Compatibility:
the ability of equipment made by various DCC companies to
operate together on the same layout. DCC compatibility extends to decoders
and boosters but not to throttles, command stations, system architecture and
advanced features that are not DCC related.
Configuration Register(CV29):
this special CV controls several different
decoder characteristics including:
1. Whether the decoder uses 14 speed step mode or advanced 28/128
speed step mode
2. Whether or not the decoder will automatically convert to DC operation
when no DCC signal is present
3. In the case of Digitrax FX decoders, the normal direction of locomo-
tive travel
4. Whether the decoder uses loadable speed tables and
5. Whether the decoder uses the 2 digit address or the 4 digit address.
Configuration Variables (CVs):
these are special storage locations or
“pigeonholes” in your decoders. By programming values into various CVs, you
can control each decoder’s performance characteristics. CVs store information
like the decoder’s address, start voltage, mid-point voltage, loadable speed
tables and many more. Once you have programmed these characteristics, the
decoders “remember” them until you change them again.
Conformance Seal:
issued by the NMRA after a product has passed the “tests”
established and administered by NMRA volunteers to “prove” that a particular
product follows exactly to the letter the Standards and RPs set up by the
NMRA that pertain to that product. Conformance seals do not insure interoper-
ability, the quality of the products or any type of warranty on the product. Only
product manufacturers provide warranties on the equipment they sell.
Consisting:
linking more than one locomotive together to be controlled by a
single throttle and or address. Also called multiple unit operation, MU’ing,
multiple unit lash ups, etc.
Constant Brightness Lighting:
because DCC runs with constant track voltage,
locomotive lights stay on even when the loco is not moving, just like the pro-
totype.
Conventional Loco:
A locomotive operating on a DCC layout without a DCC
decoder installed. Also called an Analog Loco.
116
