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--- glossary:glossary_d [2015/01/09 03:13] – [DC] slight wording change Wayne
+++ glossary:glossary_d [2019/08/16 06:08] – Improve explanation beyond "traditional". Acemason
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 ===== DC =====
-Direct Current. DC is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by sources such as batteries a model train set controller or a dynamo on your bicycle. Typical DC voltage values used on model train layouts are 12V (motive power), 5V (logic circuits such as those used by CBus) and 2-3V (Light-Emmitting Diode ([[glossary:glossary_l#led|LED]]) illumination).
+Direct Current. DC is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by sources such as batteries, a model train set controller or a dynamo on your bicycle. Typical DC voltage values used on model train layouts are 12V (locomotives and Printed Circuit Boards ([[glossary:glossary_p&#PCB|PCB]])), 5V ([[glossary:glossary_s&#Servo|servo]]s and logic circuits such as those used by [[glossary:glossary_c&#CBus|CBus]]) and 2-3V (Light-Emmitting Diode ([[glossary:glossary_l#led|LED]]) illumination).
 More information about DC: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_current|Wikipedia - DC]]
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-DC or direct current, usually from a 12v supply, is the traditional method of controlling and powering model locomotives by varying the voltage supplied to the track.
+The traditional method of controlling and powering model locomotives is by gradually varying the ("analogue") voltage supplied to the track, usually from a 12v DC ("Direct Current") supply, with the motor in the locomotive simply connected to the track via the wheels. This method has become known as DC or Analogue Control to distinguish it from Digital Command Control (DCC).     \\ To have more than one working locomotive on a layout usually requires some form of track sectioning which provides, as a by-product, a means of locating trains, help finding track and wiring faults and some interlocking against collisions.     \\ State-of-the-art digital electronic and IT techniques are applicable in DC Control too.     \\ Some reasons you might use DC/analogue control rather than DCC, especially for a small, personal layout:
+  * You already have a DC/analogue controlled layout and/or a lot of non-DCC locos.
+  * You enjoy/understand electronics and
+    * don't want to pay someone else to provide circuitry
+    * want to avoid the complexity of fault-finding in DCC.
+    * are attracted by the challenge of making a model railway perform well.
+  * The DCC learning curve looks daunting.
+  * The potential lack of freedom with DCC. There will be a procedure prescribed for most things that you want to do.
+  * The potential extra cost of DCC hardware, software and support.
 ===== DCC =====
 Digital Command Control. DCC systems allow you to simulate prototypical train operation on your model railroad. With DCC you can operate multiple locomotives independently at the same time on the same section of track without a computer and without blocking or other complex wiring schemes. DCC systems use digital data packets to communicate commands to decoders that control locomotives and turnouts on the railroad.     \\ What will it do for me and my railroad?     \\ Simply put, DCC will let you "run your trains, not your track." DCC gives you the freedom to bring your railroad to life! With DCC you have truly prototypical operation at your fingertips.     \\ Why use a digital system rather than an analoge system?     \\ Because digital technology gives extremely reliable operation and the technology is almost infinitely extendable without causing backward compatibility problems (analoge systems are inherently more restrictive). Also, digital systems make wiring simple and easy to install. Because a digital system encodes information sent from the command station to the decoder as numbers grouped into packets, new types of packets can be added to a digital system to send more information thus extending the existing system without causing backward compatibility problems.
+===== Debounce =====
+Most mechanical switches and relays have springy contacts that can bounce when thrown. This will deliver multiple pulses to the electronics and play havoc when a circuit or software only wants to see one pulse or step in the signal. The classic cure is to add a delay of several 10s of Milliseconds after the first step so repeats can be ignored. The delay length can vary according to known switch parameters. Nowadays that is most easily done in the software and is typically called Debounce delay.
+For hard-wired logic in CMOS, TTL etc, with no software, the usual method of trapping bounces is to add a bistable between the switch and main input.
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-Digitrax is a sullpier of DCC systems located in Norcross, Georgia (just outside Atlanta).  They supply a full range of command stations, decoders and accessories.     \\ For their website see [[http://www.digitrax.com/|Digitrax]]
+Digitrax is a supplier of DCC systems located in Norcross, Georgia (just outside Atlanta).  They supply a full range of command stations, decoders and accessories.     \\ For their website see [[http://www.digitrax.com/|Digitrax]]
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 The DIODE is an electronic component that allows the passage of current in only one direction.     \\ [[:glossary:diode|Main article]]
+===== Dirty PSU =====
+"Dirty" PSU is BBC Engineer speak for a good, regulated and clean power supply that has a dirty job to do.....supplying relays, servos etc.\\
+ If the feed wires from PSU to load are of sufficient length to have a bit of impedance and supply several loads, then the dirt caused by one load can cross to other loads. This would usually be positive & negative sharp spikes superimposed on the dc. If the PSU is inadequate and feeds clean and dirty loads then the effects can also cause Pic ( or other microprocessor ) "brown-outs" which may force a re-boot or even more subtle disturbances to your previously happy data digits.\\
+ The separation of the digital low current circuitry with a separate "clean" PSU is one of the classic precautions to be observed ( as you and we all are frequently reminded on the MERG forum! )