DC-Car
DC04 - Decoder with automatic distance controls for Faller Car system and Mader magnet Truck

DCCar/DC Car © Claus Ilchmann

The DC04 decoder is the successor of the DC02 and combines the following functions in one unit:

• Distance control
• DCC addresses 1-9999
• Programmable CVs
• Monitoring of battery charge
• Ability to control
  • Blue lights and head lights by sensors
  • Turn signals, blue lights, head lights, speed, etc. with a DCC controller using Infra-red transmitters.
  • Turn signals, blue lights, head lights, speed, etc. without a DCC controller using function modules.
• Stopping by magnets in the roadway.
• Switch that distance control on or off using a DCC Dcontroller e.g. if the ‘rolling highway’ is to be used.
• The action of infra-red stops can be switched off using a DCC controller. Thus it is possible that a fire engine can pass an infra-red stop at a red traffic light.
• New features with the DC04:
  • 4 blue lights
  • Blue lights can be changed to double flashing
  • The flashing times of the blue lights are selectable (CV values)
  • 4 light outputs (lights 1,2 and 3 are separately controllable, light 4 is operated together with light 3)
• Further functions will follow...

There are two versions of the DC04 decoder:

• with the infra-red receiver and potential transformer on a single circuit board
  Part number DC04-SI
• with the infra-red receiver and potential transformer on separate circuit boards
  Part number DC04-IFR-SPW

The advantage of the DCCar of decoder is that after installation you do not need to change your layout. You can still use your existing magnetic stop coils.
The existing stop coils can still be used!
However it is better if you use the infra-red stop modules ST8DCC/ST8REL instead of magnetic stop coils. These units give a gentler deceleration than is possible with the stop coils.

The small DC04 decoder fits also into nearly all N scale vehicles and HO scale cars.

The distance control does not need additional control,external control, programs etc.!
The distance to the preceding transmitter is independently regulated by each vehicle. The system functions using a coded infra-red signal, so that there is (nearly) no interference from sunlight, neon lamps etc.. The distance control needs a reciever to be mounted underneath the front bumper on either side and back two transmitters at the back. The decoder inside the vehicle automatically controls driving and stopping. Brake lights are also operated automatically. That is all you need for traffic to move and queue automatically. The vehicles can also be controlled using a DCC controller.

Traffic in moving queues without rear end collisions is now possible. The slowest vehicle determines the speed of the following ones, almost without any stop and go effect. The following vehicle adapts its speed of the preceeding vehicle. After a few seconds it accelerates again. If it catches up with the preceeding vehicle again, it adjusts its speed. As soon as the road ahead is clear it accelerates slowly back to its original speed.

Imagine, a vehicle is held by a level crossing at a stop and the following car brakes (stop light goes on for a few seconds ) and stops a short distance behind it, the next vehicle likewise etc.. Now a queue is waiting at the crossing. If the stop is released, all the cars drive off in turn. That is just like real traffic. You only need a magnetic stop coil or an infra-red stop where the first vehicle is to be stopped!

Using the decoder with a DCCcontroller:

• All decoder parameters can be adjusted using programmable CVs.
  You need a DCC controller which has ‘Programming on Main’ capabilities. You cannot program DC-Car decoders on a programming track output. Most modellers already know about CVs from their locomotive decoders.

Monitoring battery charge:

• Battery voltage is tested at regular intervals.
  If the voltage becomes lower than 0.9 V per cell with NIC batteries, the vehicle indicates this by flashing the head and brake lights. With 3.6V LIPO Akkus the threshold is 3.0 V.
  The motor speed is automatically set to maximum, so that the vehicle keeps moving.
  If you do not like this monitoring, it can be switched off.

Turning on vehicles with the DC-CAR decoders:

• You can change the behavior of the vehicle after switching on using CV69:
  1. CV69 = 0:
  The vehicle is stationary and waits for a driving instruction from a DCC controller or function module.
  2. CV69 = 1-28:
  The vehicle drives off using the speed step specified in CV69 (1-28)
  3. CV69 = 100:
  The vehicle is stationary and waits for a driving instruction from a DCC controller.
  The brake lights flash twice when the vehicle is turned on.

Driving with DCCar decoders:

• Stops at a magnetic stop coil
  The brakelight is switched on for a few seconds.
  The car stops as abruptly as the original Faller vehicle.
• Stops at an infra-red stop (function module ST8DCC/ST8REL)
  The stop light is switched on for a few seconds.
  The car brakes slowly and stops after approx. 5 cm on (depending upon speed).
• Starting from a stop
  The car starts slowly and accelerates to its previous speed
• Driving with the automatic braking system
  As soon as the rear vehicle (V2) gets less than approx. 15-20 cm (less on curves) from the vehicle in front (V1) the braking control becomes active and slows the vehicle (V2) - switching the brake lights on for a few seconds. V2 adapts its speed to the preceding vehicle (V1) maintains this, as long as V1 is ahead of it. When the braking control recognises that V1 is no longer there, then V2 accelerates again back to its set speed.
• Stopping with the automatic braking system
  If V1 is waiting at a stop section, then V2 brakes and stops 4-5cm behind V1. The brake lights are switched on for some seconds. If V3 now drives up behind V2, it will also stop. A queue of traffic forms, using only one stop section. All the vehicles wait until V1 drives off again. As soon as the distance from V1 to V2 becomes more than the range of the braking system V2 starts off again. The vehicles start of smoothly, not jerkily. Thus the layout's road traffic behaves realistically.

Driving with a DCC controller:

• All functions of the decoder can be operated using a DCC controller. Using Infra Red transmitters, which are connected with the track connection of the DCC controller, you can drive the vehicles. You can set the speed of each individual vehicle in 28 stages, operate direction indicators, hazard indicators and flashing blue lights. You can use the Faller ‘rolling highway’ by simply switching the automatic braking function off before driving onto the railway wagons. After driving onto the wagon you turn it back on again.
• The instructions in detail:
  Speed in 28 steps
  F0 = light
  F1 = left turn signal
  F2 = right turn signal
  F1+F2 = hazard flashing
  F3 = distance control on/off
  F4 = ignore magnetic stop sections
  F5 = blue light
  F6 = front warning lights
  F7 = light 2
  F8 = light 3 & 4

Headlight sensor:

• By attaching a photo-sensitive sensor (LDR) to the decoder the headlights can be operated depending on the available light. e.g. Headlight turns on when entering a tunnel and off when the vehicle comes out.

Sensor for stopping a bus:

• A second reed switch or hall effect switch can be attached to the decoder.
  The first time the vehicle passes over a magnet it starts to brake and indicates right.
  With the first magnet the retaining mechanism is activated.
  At the second magnet the bus stops for a preset time.
  Optionally light 2 can be turned on whilst the bus is stationary.
  After this time the bus flashes left and drives off again.
  The exact operational sequence CVs used can be found here

Sensor for fire engine control:

• A second reed switch or hall effect switch can be attached to the decoder.
  The first time thatthe vehicle passes over a magnet the fire engine accelerates to full speed and turns on its headlights, blue lights and front flashing lights.
  At the second magnet the fire-engine stops for a preset time and turns off the headlights and front flashing lights. With the second magnet the fire-brigade continues for an adjustable time, constitutes the Frontblitzer and the headlights. Optionally light 2 can be turned on whilst stationary.
  After this time the fire engine turns off the blue lights, flashes left and drives off again.
  The exact operational sequence CVs used can be found here

DC04 decoder documentation can be found here

For more information or suggestion for new decoders or functions, please email: modelleisenbahn.de

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Disclaimer:
This page has been translated, with permission, from a page on Claus Ilchmann’s web site.
The original page, in German, is located here.
This translation is provided with no guarantee of accuracy or liability for errors.
Should you decide to use the DC-Car system then you should check that the functionality meets your needs by reference to the manufacturer’s web site.