Bachmann DCC system to Atlas Track

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have a quick question or two. I have the bachmann Dcc system with the E-Z track. It’s awful to work with, getting a lot of derailments. It also takes up to much room on the layout. So my question is. Is it possible to switch over to the atlas track, now that I have the DCC system. I’m concern that the connection from my Dcc comtroller will not hook into the atlas track. Or will I have to buy another wire connection to make it work. I’ve seen Dcc trains ran on atlas track, but not sure how it’s done. I want to keep it as reasonable in price as I can. Thanks for any help, new to the hobby.

2

You can run DCC with any track. It’s just a matter of the power going thru a conductive material (as any conductive rail) across a load and back to complete an electrical circuit.

There are two options connecting the wire to the rail. One, you can purchase special rail joiners with the wire already attached to it for atlas track and connect it to the wires of the DCC system or learn to solder and solder the wires directly to the track…chuck

3

You can use the Bachmann DCC system with ANY type HO or N scale track.

4

nryans,

Yes, it is possible. I’ve been running DCC on my Code 83 Atlas track layout with only 2 wires for the past 3+ years. Atlas makes a terminal track that you can connect the wire cable coming from your E-Z Command to the track directly. That would be the easiest route to go. (Your E-Z Command should come with several cables with different terminals at the other end.)

The other way would be to use the rail joiners that have the wires already soldered to the bottom of them. Connect the wired rail joiners onto the end of a piece of track then connect your track together. However, you’ll need some sort of interface (like a slide switch) as a go between between the cable coming from you E-Z Command and the wired rail joiners.

Tom

5

Cut the track connector off and solder the 2 wires to the 2 rails. If your building a layout of any size, you’ll be running buss wires and adding soldered drop feeders anyhow.(but that’s another question)