[Tom999999]

I'm new to DCC, so I'm sure I'll have lots of dumb questions, but here's my first one: I programmed a second loco today, and wow, neat, I can run two trains at once! But I'm puzzled - both locos are always 'on'. Without separate power districts, when I turn on the power both locos are 'activated', ie. for instance they all make the grumbling diesel sound. It seems with my NCE you can't really 'turn off' a locomotive? If I'm running one train, I really don't want all the locomotives in the yard to be rumbling and hissing. Are power districts a must or am I missing something?
- Tom

 

[nrscroller]

HI
You should be able to shut that one down, I have digitrax and I can shut one down and park it.
Bill

 

[MichaelE]

Mine are always shut down when I plug in the power supply.

Make sure you shut them down before unplugging. F1 is usually the button to initiate startup and shutdown, but I have a TRIX locomotive that uses F2.

Check the decoder manual that came with your locomotive, or if you added it yourself, the instructions that it came with.

 

[gregc]

try "8" to toggle sound

 

[DonR]

Tom

A DCC equipped loco is ALWAYS ON when sitting
on a 'live' track. That must be, so the decoder can
receive commands.

However, our guys have described to you how to turn off
the Sound. Unfortunately, some sound decoders reactivate
after a 'power off' event. The only way to avoid that
situation is to establish a spur with a 'power off' switch.
A power routing turnout can also offer a parking spot
for your out of service loco.

Don

 

[flyboy2610]

Your NCE system can 'turn off' a locomotive, at least as far as sound and lights go. The commands to do so depend on the particular decoder in the locomotive. As DonR suggested, a siding to which the power can be turned off will be the only way to really turn a locomotive completely off.

 

[J.Albert1949]

On my layout, some switches are set to "non-power-routing" so the branches from those switches are always "live".

Other switches are set to "power-routing" so engines parked in those sidings will have power cut off when the switch is lined against them. Some of the switches I use (Kato powered #4) can't be set any other way.

I find this very convenient, particularly when it's time to "program on the main".

 

[Shdwdrgn]

With the Soundtraxx decoder I have, there is a CV you can set so that the sound automatically turns off after a number of seconds of the loco sitting idle. It still makes its sounds as you run around the track but then turns off the sounds automatically when not in use. You would probably still get sound from them for the first few seconds when you turn on power to the track.