It’s now time for power and sound. I have read a whole bunch of stuff on power, sound, DCC, track power, battery power. I have made some decisions, but I need some very pointed guidance, maybe even a flow chart.
My wants are:
I will be going with track power.
I want sound in my PA PB’s.
I will eventually run more than one train, on more than one track.
I want speed, direction control.
I don’t want to be tethered.
I have only about a 100+’ of track at the moment.
So my shopping list should include:
Power source - I think I like the Mean Well line, just don’t know which one to get. I have dedicated power at the site on a 15amp circuit - is this OK. Plus I have 2 water pumps running on this line.
DCC - I like the NCE line, just don’t know which one.
If someone would have the time and patience to lay out a diagram, flow chart of what I should buy and how to connect it, I would be soooooo appreciative. I’ve seen many diagrams on power connections, but none of them speak to me, it needs to be dumbed down for me. i am too busy at work to get to a book store to buy some of the books I’ve seen, and I’m too impatient, I want to buy now.
I don’t want to sound like I can’t make a decision, I just want to make informed decisions, and not bad expensive decisions; expensive is OK, just not bad expensive. 
I will hold no one responsible for any input and opinions on what I should buy.
Shelley,
Can’t help you on anything except sound. (I run batt/rc).
Phoenix sound is my sound of choice. I have a Px in my PA’s.
You can hear clips on their website.
Since you mentioned Meanwell, I would either email Greg Elmassian, or visit his webpage, there is a wealth of information on his website! As far as what you stated in your post you could go with either Phoenix sound, and then you are locked into Airwire for a transmitter T-9000, and control system, which is more expensive than what I would recommend. I would go with QSI/G-wire, you will have to wait on the release of the Titan decoder which is supposed to be released in June sometime. I use all QSI/G-wire and it works with track power, and or battery if you would choose to go that way in the future. I have used the QSI for 3+ years now and like the ease of installatiion especially in Aristo engines it is just plug and go. You could also get the NCE Procab garden wire throttle also which is a little less than the T-9000. Check out my website on Livestream, and or my you tube videos to see and hear the QSI at work. Regal
http://www.livestream.com/crazytrainguyschannel/
http://www.youtube.com/7485jerry
Here’s Greg’s website link
How many locos do you own today? If the number is small I’d forget about track power and start with battery. You’ll probably end up there someday anyway. Most of us have.
What Jon said.
If you go with battery and RC I agree with Jon and Ric, but would still go QSI/G-wire even if you can find the older ones. The new Titan who knows when it will be out for sure, and for me I don’t need quadraphonic sound from my decoder, what I have going in the old system works great for me. And the new one will come at a substantially raised price I’m sure. Regal
You battery R/C fans need to be careful here.
Lest you incur the wrath of the DCC thought police. 
What Jon said, but I don’t care how many locos you have.
Except his first want:
My wants are:
I will be going with track power.
Thanks for the replies. Still marching on.
Jon, Can I run my USA PA PB’s with battery? I only have these engines. Battery seems to be a little more limiting than track power, or is this just my perception.
Jerry I have been to Greg’s site, yes very informative.
Shelley, now that you have asked the question…
You can run anything with battery power. For how long just depends what your expectations and wants are.
They are big locos with plenty of room for on board power source.
Even if you flattened the on board batteries after many hours of running, there are very simple ways of extending run times with EXTRA plug in batteries carried in a trail car.
You can even have on board R/C speed control and sound triggers using a simple constant voltage on the track, supplemented with on board battery back up.
Such a system would allow you to travel to any layout and run unimpeded without having to worry about lack of track power. Let alone a specific track based control system.
I would respectfully suggest you investigate all power options before committing to one in particular.
Tony thanks for your response. I most definitely will be looking into all the options. I know battery is right for some and track power for others. For me, there is no right or wrong it just has to be right for me. So another few days of reading and googling.
Hi Shelly, have you had the opportunity to run a train on battery power? I can connect you with several guys within 20 minutes of your home. Let me know if you want a test run.
Don Sweet
RCS of NE
Don,
No I have never seen battery power at work. I would love to see how it works. I will be running them on Thursday at someone else’s house on a powered track.
I did not know that there were people that close to me running g scale.
If you could arrange a test run I would be most appreciative.
Thanks.
On the NCE system, which is the system of choice for me (and my rationale is on my site), get the 10 amp radio one, don’t waste your time on the 5 amp system.
Since you will go track power, you can also run your lighted cars with no modifications, but many will take a fair amount of power, like the USA Trains 80’ streamliners. 10 amps is not a lot when you consider 2 or 3 trains running at the same time and lighted cars and smoke units and maybe a smoking caboose.
I’ve recommended the Meanwell because it is reasonably priced, and easily available. I use an 11 amp, 27 volt one which allows me to extract the maximum potential from the NCE system.
Regards, Greg
p.s. re: DCC thought police, I never come into a beginners battery power thread and recommend track power… so guys, check yourself out before casting the first stone…
DCC thought police? Hey Greg, I didn’t even know that it was aimed at you. 
It wasn’t HJ.
I was actually giving those really keen battery fans who poke their collective noses into a DCC thread, a bit of friendly advice.
If some respondents wish to see themselves as being of one particular “bent”, so be it.
All you you battery guys need to stick to a battery thread. This thread is about DCC. Later RJD
R.J. DeBerg said:What he said
All you you battery guys need to stick to a battery thread. This thread is about DCC. Later RJD
An outside, objective opinion if I may. I think some cross over conversation can be a good thing, IF all parties involved will keep it cordial, conversational and informational. We all have our beliefs and convictions about what is best, unfortunately it is only BEST for US.
DCC for me is still black box technology. QSI/Train Engineer/Revolution/etc are the height of my electronic basic understanding. I don’t think I will ever go to DCC, but it does not stop me from reading the threads to get educated. Until I got involved here and on the other forums, I was not aware that DCC existed. It is always good to KNOW what your options are.
I admit I am guilty of not reading the FAQs here so I don’t know if one on the subject of the variations in power/control options is there, but if not, it might be a good thing for a group consisting of some member of each faction to develop one. Keeping is strictly informational with out the conviction of each groups beliefs.
I’ll go back to sleep now :).
Bob C.