DCC Power
DCC power may seem very complex, but armed with the proper knowledge, you'll soon understand what makes model trains operate with DCC power.
Are you looking for information about power supplies?
1 Overview of DCC Power
2 Polarity Does Not Control Direction
2.1 Converting DCC signal to DC Voltage on the Decoder
2.2 Speed Control
3 Reverse Sections
4 Standards
5 Digital Multimeter Notes
5.1 Nyquist Theorem
5.2 Aliasing
5.3 Measurements
6.1 Square Waves and Fournier Series
Overview of DCC Power
The Digital Command Control Waveform
Oscilloscope trace of a Digital Ccomand Control waveform as seen on the track.
Digital Command Control uses a high frequency digital waveform to provide power and transmit data. One of the main differences between Command Control systems is that DCC, unlike previous Command Control systems, puts a 100% digital signal on the rails and derives both power and information from the same digital signal. The digital data is not superimposed on a DC or AC waveform, nor does it use high frequency signals in addition to the power applied to the track. Since the rails are alternately energized or held to zero, there are no issues with polarity. The digital information is encoded in the time domain, not by amplitude.
Since the signal is digital, the DCC waveform is a square wave. A square wave is the sum of a number of sine waves, each with their own frequency and amplitude. There is a primary frequency, called the fundamental, and a number of harmonics, which are multiples of the fundamental frequency. Mathematically, when summed together a square wave is created. Harmonics are the reason that heavy gauge wires are required with DCC: Harmonics can carry a lot of current, but they do no work.
The voltage on each rail alternates from positive voltage (High or ON) to 0 volts (OFF). The booster Energizes Rail A for a period of time while holding Rail B to 0 volts. Then it connects Rail A to 0V and energizes Rail B for a period of time. The On/Off cycle of the track is controlled by the command station's data signal.
Digital does not have the concept of "negative". Digital systems only work with positive signals. A negative voltage would be considered a "Zero or Undefined Value". In DCC the presence of only positive voltages on the rails is important: The decoder employs a diode to pick off the digital signal from the track. Physically re-orienting the locomotive has no effect on the decoder. With a negative voltage on one rail, the decoder would not see the digital data if the data detection diode was connected to that rail. Using one diode is a much simpler and more cost effective method of detecting the presence of data on the rails.
On an oscilloscope the track voltage appears to indicate the presence of a plus/minus signal, but it really isn't. It "sees" a negative voltage when the booster flips the rails, and the common point is energized.
Mathematically the DCC signal would be written as (for example): (0+j14) or (0-j14), where the 0 is time on the X axis, the j operator indicates a voltage on the Y axis. These values show 14V at 90° and 14V at 270° on the oscilloscope display.
Measuring this with a DMM set for direct current voltage results in the equation which sums the two values: (0+j14) + (0-j14) which reduces to j14 - j14 = 0 DC Volts. Time is not important to this calculation as it measures instantaneous values.
Since the signal changes at a very high frequency, a typical Digital MultiMeter (DMM) cannot read the electrical values accurately. They do not sample at a high enough frequency to calculate the value accurately, as they are typically designed to measure AC in the 50-60 Hertz range. The instantaneous voltages it samples result in an erroneous value. Also, digital multimeters are designed to calculate and display the RMS value of a pure sine wave.
Using a DCV function will not give accurate readings either, due to the changing nature of the signal. It will see an average of zero volts. There are meters available that will accurately measure DCC signal, such as the RRampMeter, which was designed specifically for measuring DCC voltages and currents.
RRampmeter, for measuring voltages and currents on a model railroad.
A booster takes DC power from the power supply, and the DCC command information from the Command station, and creates a digital waveform, which is applied as track power. The length of time that the voltage changes provides a method for encoding data. DCC uses a binary encoding system. To represent a one, the time is short (nominally 58µs for a half cycle). A zero is represented by a longer period (nominally 100µs for a half cycle).
The succession of zeros and ones (binary code) contained in the track power signal are the commands being sent to the layout. DCC decoders mounted in model locomotives and accessories then receive this digital information, interpret it, and perform commands such as moving, turning on lights, throwing switches, or making sounds.
A stationary decoder can also be attached to the rails at a fixed spot, to allow control of switches and lights. If you are considering connecting a stationary decoder to the rails, please read: Avoid connecting stationary decoders to rails.
Polarity Does Not Control Direction
Because the polarity of the DC power doesn't change with the voltage changes used to encode the commands, the polarity of the track does not control the direction of the train. The decoder receives the DCC data from the command station and controls the rotation and direction thereof of the locomotive's motor.
Converting DCC signal to DC Voltage on the Decoder
Diode Matrix routes incoming digital pulses to provide a smooth DC voltage
In order for the motor to use the DCC power, the power must be converted to Direct Current. To do this, decoders use a Diode Matrix (see image). A diode matrix routes the digital signal to provide a DC signal to power the decoder. A diode matrix simply consists of 4 diodes (a diode is a device that lets electricity flow in only one direction) connected in a specific way. In this example, when Rail A is energized the current will flow through one pair of diodes, returning to the booster via Rail B, until Rail B becomes positive and the other pair of diodes conduct.
There will be an additional diode in the matrix circuit (not shown) which provides the digital signal to the microcontroller's input.
Without the diode matrix, only the pulses on one rail would be used for power, which would result in lower voltages available to drive the motor and operate the microcontroller and its peripheral circuits. While the voltage on one rail may be enough for the digital circuit, it would vary in average levels, and may cause the microcontroller to reset at times. The matrix allows current to flow from either rail without causing a short circuit.
You can also use a diode matrix connected between the track and your DMM to measure the DCC voltage on the track using the AC range.
Remember: You typically lose 0.7V (700 millivolts) through a diode. Factor a loss of 1.4V due to the two diodes completing the matrix circuit.
When used for rectification (converting an AC voltage to DC) this circuit is usually called a bridge rectifier.
Okay, so we've explained how we get DC, but if we applied this directly to the motor, it would go in one direction really fast. To account for this, the output of the diode matrix does not connect directly to the motor.
In between the DC power source (the matrix) and the motor is a series of transistors. Since transistors function as a valve, where a small current can be used to control a large one, they can be switched rapidly on and off, making control of a motor or other device possible. With a special arrrangement of power transistors (ones that are meant to control large amounts of power), the decoder can make the train go in either direction.
Remember, because there is full voltage on the rails at all times, there is also full voltage available at the power transistors at all times. If the transistors are turned on to pass all the available voltage, the loco will go at full speed. Unlike an analog DC train system, transistors are designed to pass full voltage, or no voltage, much like a fan switch. You either have full power, or no power. To control the speed, the decoder turns on and off the transistors hundreds, or thousands of times per second. This is like setting your ceiling fan to high, but to control the speed, you are constantly turning on and off the switch several times a second to maintain the speed you want of the fan blades. Please see High-Frequency Decoders for more details regarding the speed at which decoders control the transistors.
The reason this works in both our model trains, and our fan, is that the the transistors are turned on and off hundreds, or thousands, of times per second - so fast that the motor can't respond instantaneously to each pulse. The motor has so much mass to it (including flywheels, or blades) that a single pulse can't budge it. But, a whole lot of pulses can make it go. Since there is full power to the wheels, and ultimately to the engine, this helps the locomotive run so much better on DCC than with DC analog.
Reverse Sections
Main article: Reverse sections
Although the electrical polarity on the rail does not control the direction of the loco, you still have to deal with reverse sections on your layout. The phase of the rails is important in DCC. If the track turns around back onto itself, the right rail will come in contact with the left rail which will cause a short circuit; the same as placing a metal object across the rails.
If the rails are out of phase across a gap, there is a potential difference between them, which can be measured. Should a metal wheel bridge that gap, current can flow from the energized section into the unenergized section, causing a short circuit. An auto reverser will maintain the correct phase relationships between a reversing loop and the approach track.
The DCC protocol is the subject of two standards published by the NMRA: S-9.1 specifies the electrical standard, and S-9.2 specifies the communications standard. Several recommended practices documents are also made available.
Digital Multimeter Notes
For additional information about Digital Multimeters, see Wiring Tools
Trying to measure the DCC voltage on your track will introduce new problems and additional confusion. First problem is, they are designed for 60Hz. Outside of that frequency, the results get interesting, as the sample rate is not fast enough for signals such as the DCC waveform. Which introduces a huge amount of error and uncertainty.
Digital multimeters display the voltage as the Root Mean Square (RMS) value. Additional signal processing is done to calculate that value, which is then presented to you. Some manufacturers, such as Fluke, have a True RMS feature, which is really accurate compared to other brands, and especially compared to really cheap DMMs. Better DMMs (such as those by Fluke and other quality instrument makers) use additional calculations to arrive at the RMS value. Cheaper DMMs will use simpler, lower cost circuits to determine the voltage. Then there are the calibration standards used at the factory as a reference to calibrate the DMM.
Nyquist Theorem
For an analog signal to be accurately digitized, it must be sampled at a rate at least twice that of the highest frequency present. In other words, the highest frequency should only be no more than half the sampling frequency for accurate sampling and digitization.
The maximum signal frequency is called the Nyquist Frequency, and the rule is the Nyquist theorem.
Aliasing
When a signal is sampled too slowly (there are frequency components above the Nyquist frequency) the resulting digitized waveform is distorted. This distortion is called aliasing. It results from the mixing (or beating) between the signal frequency (in this case, the DCC signal frequency) and the sampling frequency. Low frequency harmonics are recorded instead of the actual signal.
In general, the sampling frequency should be more than twice the highest frequency to be measured. A value of 5 times would be a good choice. Many analog to digital conversion circuits also contain an anti-aliasing filter to eliminate any signal frequencies above the Nyquist frequency.
A cheap DMM may only sample at 120 or 180 Hertz, as it is designed for a 60 Hz Sine Wave. A better one may use 300 or 360Hz for more accurate measurements. But it may have a filter to cut off any signals above 70Hz. The DCC signals are 8 to 10 KiloHertz. Sampling will result in a lot of aliasing, making your readings inaccurate and misleading. The DCC signal is a square wave, so getting an accurate measurement becomes a problem.
DCC waveform, note the voltages shown. This is for HO, the peak is 14.8V, and peak to peak is 29.2V. A DMM or voltmeter cannot measure accurately a signal like this.
If you were to use an oscilloscope to measure the line voltage in your house (nominally 120 V AC (RMS)) you would see that the sine wave measures about 340V peak to peak. One half cycle peaks at approximately 170V. The RMS value, which is displayed by measuring instruments, is 70.7% of the peak value. In this case, 120VAC. You should see a nice, pure sine wave, unless you have a lot of distortion, caused by harmonics. A common source of harmonic distortion is a switching power supply.
The same scope would display your DCC waveform as a square wave. It would accurately display the peak to peak value of the waveform. A square wave is actually the sum of sine waves at multiple frequencies, called harmonics. As more frequencies enter the equation, the waveform becomes more square in shape. The frequencies are harmonics of the fundamental frequency. You can calculate a sine wave and plot the result on graph paper, and as harmonics are added, the waveform becomes more and more distorted, until it forms a square wave. (This is how your kids burn out the tweeters in your stereo's speakers.)
One solution is to use a rectifier circuit between the track and the DMM and measure the DC output of the rectifier. For more accurate results, you should characterize how the combination of DMM and rectifier works with high frequency complex waveform. Another solution is the RRampmeter mentioned above.
DCC Tutorial (Power) - The tutorial version of this document.
Power supply - Details, requirements, and recommendations for power supplies.
Root Mean Square - Root Mean Square or RMS, additional information (lots of math).
DCC Ammeter: What you need to build an ammeter that can measure DCC current. Plus other electronics projects for DCC.
Square Waves and Fournier Series
Fournier Series on wikipedia All about how you can create square waves from a sine wave and its harmonics.
Retrieved from "https://dccwiki.com/w/index.php?title=DCC_Power&oldid=16232"