That’s unfortunate. Funny electrical noises should be investigated immediately. NCE never built that capability into their systems because of the risks of running analog engines on DCC.
Make me suspect the title of this thread.
Martin Myers
Nothing misleading about the title. He bought a Digitrax system and it didn’t work.
Actually NCE DID used to have the capability to run an analog loco. You had to build your own throttle and it connected to the serial port on the front of the command station. That feature was taken out several firmware revisions ago.
I test run DC locos using address 00 onmy Digitrax equipment - haven’t damaged anything yet but I also just run it back and forth a few times on my test track to make sure it works. NEVER leave an analog loco sit on the DCC track without having it moving.
–Randy
Too bad about the fried loco.
I did not ask before, but assuming you did some research into your initial selection of DCC system, what were the features that led you to choose Digitrax in the first place?
The ability to run a DC loco on Digitrax is one such feature that NCE does not offer. I can’t say it was a critical feature for me when I chose Digitrax, but it has been a feature that I do use periodically and found to be quite useful.
Bottom line is that both Digitrax and NCE make superb systems, but they are not identical. There may well be other features that were important in your initial selection that will not be fulfilled by the NCE system?
I always test run any new loco’s I purchase and any loco’s given to me for decoder instalations on 00 first just to make sure they actually do run. Running a loco without a decoder on a Digitrax system will not hurt it, I have a Atlas GP40 that had around 40 hours on it before I actually put a decoder in it. It was mostly run for 4 to 8 hours non stop at train shows.
Ditto!!!
The cross-overs work!!! omg I’m happy again (after frying my loco). I have the cross-over turnouts connected to one port on the DS64s now!!
Man these PECO switch machines are quiet, I thought they would be louder. I have the PL10W for digital and they are smooth as butter.
Now I’m off to figure out how to re-program the switch IDs…
I have a digitrax system with a Locobuffer USB. I have my DS-64’s powered up using the Aux inputs. I have a 14 gauge 12-volt bus around the layout that I use to power lights as well as the DS-64’s.
The 12-volt bus is powered by a very old (1994) computer power supply. If you do decide to use a computer power supply remember that the power supply requires a load in order to work properly. a 10 ohm 10-20 watt resistor on the 5 volt line will do just fine (The resistor will get warm!). I currently have 6 DS-64’s and 12 tortoises (not attached to the DS-64’s) powered off of this bus wire with no problems what-so-ever.