DCC Commander tips and tricks
DCC Commander is an application that allows you to communicate with your DCC-EX command station to control trains, accessories, and other DCC connected items. The application supports both iOS (Apple) and Android devices. DCC Commander supports both direct DCC-EX and JMRI WiThrottle connectivity.
The next step is the initial configuration of DCC Commander
This post assumes that you have built a DCC-EX command station and installed the firmware. If you have not completed those steps then please do so. The most challenging process of DCC-EX, assembling the DCC-EX command station, is now complete. Now it’s time to have some fun: verify your DCC-EX command station is fully functional and run some model trains.
The DCC-EX command station has two power supplies. One for the track power (the larger 12 volt supply) and one for the Mega power (the smaller 9 volt supply). It’s recommended to plug the AC adaptors of both of those power supplies into a single surge protector with multiple outlets. This will allow you to power on the DCC-EX command station with the flip of a single switch on the surge protector.
With all of the power connections complete you can now power on the DCC-EX command station via the switch on the surge protector.
The next step is Installing DCC Commander (iOS or Android) on your mobile device to use as a DCC throttle and actually run your model trains.
This article assumes that you’ve assembled a DCC-EX command station in a well-defined manner as detailed in this article. The DCC-EX firmware is a set of instructions that tell the Mega how to generate the DCC timing and signals to control your model railroad layout. The easiest method to install the firmware on the DCC-EX hardware is to use the DCC-EX Installer. If you experience any issues with firmware installation and you are not using the well-defined DCC-EX then review the full DCC-EX Installer documentation to find settings that will support your specific needs.
The WiFi SSID and password are the same you use to connect any wireless device to your network.
The next step is to attach your DCC-EX to your model railroad layout, verify your DCC-EX command station is fully functional, and start running trains!
DCC stands for Digital Command Control. It’s a standard used in model railroading that allows multiple locomotives to be independently controlled on the same section of track. National Model Railroad Association developed and maintains the DCC standards used by most manufacturers. For many hobbyists, DCC is the model railroad equivalent of moving from an old analog telephone system to a modern digital network. It transformed layouts from “control the track” to “control each locomotive individually.”
DCC Commander is a mobile control center for Digital Command Control (DCC) model railroads, allowing operators to control locomotives, turnouts, routes, and layout functions from their iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Features include:
Building a DCC-EX command station is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to get started with DCC. If you’re comfortable with basic electronics or have built an Arduino project before, you’ll find the process straightforward. For a deeper dive into DCC-EX, including build-versus-buy considerations and the many available hardware options, visit the DCC-EX website.
If you’d rather skip the research, build a DCC-EX command station using a proven set of parts and get your model trains running, this guide is for you. The following sections describe a simple DCC-EX command station configuration that has become the “standard” DIY DCC-EX build because the parts are inexpensive, widely available, and well supported. You’ll find a complete parts list along with easy-to-follow assembly instructions.
If you’d rather skip assembling your own DCC-EX command station then you can purchase a pre-assembled unit directly from the DCC-EX group or one of their resellers.
This guide assumes you’re comfortable with basic electronics or you’ve assembled simple Arduino projects before but have never built a DCC command station. No soldering is required. You’ll only need a screwdriver, wire stripper and about 30 minutes. Genuine Arduino or compatible Mega 2560 boards both work fine.
All assembly steps below are set apart as bullet-items for easy distinction between “wordy-words” and the steps required to assemble the DCC-EX. So, if you already have a good general understanding of assembling a DCC-EX then just look for the bullet-items and supported images.
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Notes: Genuine Arduino Mega 2560 boards and compatible clones both work well. The 9V power supply powers the Arduino and the electronics. The 12V supply powers the trains. They intentionally remain electrically separate as you will see below when you connect the Mega 2560 and the motor shield. Here is an image of all the parts you will need.
Gather the Mega 2560 Microcontroller board and the Motor Shield board. The Mega 2560 is the brains behind the entire DCC-EX command station. It generates the timing and signals required for DCC to control your layout. The motor shield is the brawn behind the DCC-EX command station. It generates the necessary power (voltage and current) and transfers the DCC signal to your layout to control your trains.
The motor shield plugs directly into the Mega 2560 and sits on top of it.
Aligning the Vin/VCC pin is the single most important step in the build. If the Vin/VCC pin is inserted into the Mega header, the Arduino and motor shield power supplies become connected together, which can damage the hardware.
Here’s an up-close image of the motor shield’s Vin/VCC pin slightly bent out so it does not sit in the female header of the Mega 2560 board. You can cut-off that extending pin if you prefer.
Two jumper wires are required to connect the Mega’s serial port to the ESP8266 WiFi module. TX1 transmits data from the Mega to the WiFi shield, while RX1 receives data back from the WiFi shield. This allows the Mega to communicate with a wireless throttle, such as DCC Commander, via a WiFi network connection.
The left-most and right-most pins are referenced when holding the Mega 2560 board such that the USB port is pointing upwards and the WiFi shield pointing towards you (also, see arrows on image below)
Jumper wires connected to the Mega 2560 and WiFi shield:
The assembled DCC-EX command station:
Assemble a power plug to be used for easily plugging in the power supply for the layout to control your DCC trains and accessories.
You will need wires to connect the output of the motor shield to your layout to control trains and accessories.
Congratulations! Your DCC-EX hardware is built and ready to use. It should look something like this:
Before applying power, confirm each item below:
A quick test to verify everything is looking good. After applying power, if you feel any heat from any of the boards or see any visible smoke then disconnect power immediately and review the checklist again. If you saw smoke then you’ll likely have to replace the part that smoked – extremely rare though!
The next step is installing the DCC-EX firmware. Once that’s done, you’ll be ready to connect your command station to your layout and begin running trains.