Hey this may be a dumb question but hey I want to know regardless. Its been a while since I been on the forums… I have a Geep 38 Norfolk DC engine and I just bought a Geep 38-2 DCC with sound by Athearn. Wanted to know can these be consist together or is that virtually impossible??? I wanted to run a 25 car string of hoppers which I know I can’t do with just one Geep.
Thanks,
Regg
Are these going to be run on DC or DCC? If DCC what kind of system? Some DCC systems will run a DC loco on address 00, others won’t. They’ll burn out the motor. The Digitrax Zephyr is one of those systems that can run a DC loco. The DC loco can even be put in a consist with DCC units but there will of course be no way to speed match the DC unit.
Not a dumb question!
I run DC and have several locomotives equipped with DCC. They work fine with the rest of my DC engines in DC…but, as I’ve come to understand, don’t try running a DC loco in DCC…unless you want to risk toasting a motor. And…if you set up your layout accordingly, you can use DC or DCC…either/or, but not together.
Mark H
Hi,
I don’t have my own layout right now as I want to run on the clubs layout which is Digitrax. Not sure if it is the Zephyr but the club layout is pretty big… I know that I won’t be able to speed match but was running if I could run them coupled to each other or would I risk burning out the motor in the DC cab. I know that I can switch the DCC engine to DC mode but then I won’t have the sounds, light sequences, etc and what fun is that and the purpose?
I’d put a decoder in the DC engine. A basic decoder will only cost you about $15. If price isn’t a problem, think about putting sound in.
If you appreciate the sounds and lights, like I do, then you will want to go with DCC on your own layout when you start it, so installing a decoder now will put you one step closer to your dream.
The sounds will work to some extent on DC, but in a very limited mode. In DC mode, your sound equipped engine won’t start moving until the throttle is set to nearly 7 volts - what is required for the sound to function. That is the main reason why sound and non-sound engines won’t run together on DC.
As for running your DC engine on DCC, you “can” do it - but understand you are accepting the potential risk of damaging your motor. Not saying you WILL, but the risk is definitely there.
Many manufacturers (Atlas for one) are adding a small resistor to the circuit board in their DC engines to prevent you from running your DC engine on a DCC system. The DCC system sees this small resistance as a short, preventing you from running the engine. If a manufacturer is purposely doing this, you have to know that it is a high potential concern.
Mark.
By the way, there is a DCC forum here also. Sometimes happens to new people.
I use to use a MRC2000 DCC controller to do this. The #1 throttle could control a DC loco. I would run a DCC loco pulling a train. Using the #1 throttle, I would come up behind the train with a DC loco to become a pusher. Worked quite well by watching coupler slack. Stop at the top of a hill and manually uncouple.
Rich
I use the Digitraxx Zephyr - yes, you can run most DC units on that by using address “00”. One detail not mentioned yet is that many DC motors will emit a “hum” noise when operated on the DCC system. Some don’t but many of mine do. I am in the midst of a transition period. At this time I have my newly revised mainlines set up for DCC but still use a DC power pack on my older line that is now my “branch line”. The two lines do not connect yet. The connection will be installed after I change the branch to DCC. I am still in the learning phase of DCC, but I am totally hooked - not just for the sounds but for the ability for one operator to control several trains from one controller.
I would run the loco onto a siding and turn off that siding to prevent the motor from being damaged. The motor will be ok when the loco is moving but the commutator can overheat when the loco is sitting still with the DCC signal still on the track. I did temperature measurements a few years ago and could see the difference.
Below is a link about this issue. Everyone, store the link and use it to explain this issue.
http://members.shaw.ca/sask.rail/dcc/DCC-waveforms/DCC_waveforms.html
Rich
I will admit just a year ago I had no DCC engines and only two DC engines as I just got back in the hobby and here’s where I am now:
Kato Metra F40PH-DCC with two decoders for all the light functions…
Athearn Amtrak P42-DCC
Bachmann Norfolk Southern GP38-2 DCC-no sound which i didn’t know (thought DCC automatically meant sound) found out the hard way it doesnt…Lol
Amtrak Pepsi Can 40 dash 8 GE-DC
Bachmann Spectrum Great Western GP30-DC
Life Like Proto B&O SD40-2 x 2 and matching SW2-all DC
Athearn Santa Fe Blue Box SD40-2 -DC
Brand new Athearn CSX Dash 9-44
and just brought Athearn Genesis Heritage Katy (missouri kansas texas) SD70ac-e…in DCC with Tsunami Sound for only $164 at Trainfest in Milwaukee, WI…I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS ENGINE AND PAINT SCHEME! Can’t wait to this weekend to run it at the club
Considering this post, I think the best answer to your original question is to add a decoder to the DC powered GP38. Then running them together will be easy. The cost of DCC systems has gotten so low and with your roster it is almost a foregone conclusion to move in that direction.