Looking at engines at walthers and I see for engines there are “DC only” “DCC equipped” and “DCC ready”
I know that the DCC models cant run on my old DC layout but what about the engines that say they are DCC ready, what does that Mean? Does it mean they have everything all ready to go except a decoder?
I want to jump into DCC some point but when the financial situation settles down for me, so for now its just old DC units for me. Companies are doing away with DC are they?
DCC ready means that there is dummy plug to allow the locomotive operate in DC only. In order to convert the loco to DCC, you need to unplug the dummy plug and plug in the decoder. It’s that simple.
Any locomotive can be converted to DCC as long as:
The motor is isolated from the frame
The locomotive runs smooth in DC
The motor does not exceed the amps that the decoder is rated for
Many DCC decoders, in fact most modern decoders are dual mode and will run on DCC and DC. But as Jeff points out the performance on DC will not be as good as if they were straight DC locos. DC compatibility is a feature that can be disabled in the decoder for DCC users that do not want to ever use the loco on DC.
I keep listening to Running Bear and I might learn something. I have every intent of borrowing his Bachmann system to use while I get my layout set up. Then I will get a Digitrax Zephyr Xtra. I have used his Zephyr and I like it.
Although your questions seem to have been answered I will answer them again:
“DC ONLY” means it will run on DC only and has no decoder in it. Chances are the motor is not isolated from the frame either and would have to be done to convert to DCC.This Loco you can operate only on DC.
“DCC READY” means it is ready to CONVERT to DCC, usually by a plug connector for a decoder in it that has a jumper plug in it to operate on DC only. I say USUALLY because some will still require you to hard wire {solder} a decoder in. It also means the motor is isolated from the frame already. You can operate this loco on DC only.
“DCC Equiped” Means the motor is isolated and a decoder has been installed. While some say you can operate on a DC layout with less than desirable results. I would stick to running it ONLY on A DCC layout.
ANY of the first two above, with varying degrees, can be converted to DCC. It is not impossible to convert any DC operating loco to DCC IF you know what you are doing, or pay someone to do it.
The third {DCC equiped} is already “there”. Now there are varying degrees to that too. SOme are DCC equiped only for speed, lighting, and direction, and are generally low cost to buy. Others are DCC equiped for sound as well and have advanced features like BEMF, and are high in cost to buy, and have a variety of sounds such as bel
DC: Forwards, Backwards, all based on current level in track. Can be run on DCC layouts on address 00.
DCC Ready: DC locomotive, but has provisions for modeler installed DCC Decoder.
DCC: Has computer chip inside which can decipher individually addressed commands. Can control functions like sound and lights. Can be run on DC layout, but functions cant be accessed.
One word of MAJOR CAUTION: AS you convert to DCC, some DCC controllers will operate ONE DC loco as well as the DCC locos. I would suggest you change ALL locos over to DCC only and only operate that way. If you have to operate locos that are some DC only and some DCC only, you are bound to make a mistake somewhere along the way and fry something. I got rid of my DC only locos when I went DCC even though My Bachmann EZ COmmand DCC system will run a DC loco on adress 10. That way I have NO confusion and all I run is DCC. I am not adept at converting,nor will I pay someone a higher price to convert the DC locos to DCC than I paid for the loco to begin with. Not worth it.
ANOTHER WORD OF CAUTION: Some people try to slowly change their layouts from DC to DCC and leave sections that are DC only and sections that are DCC only. Unless you have a switch to control which is which at any given time, you will again surely make a mistake and fry something. You can get away with it if you have, say, two separte loops that DO NOT MEET together and run one as DC and one as DCC, but again I CAUTION YOU: you can make a mistake and fry something.
I did this without retiring my DC locos entirely They sit on display in the office during the year and run on my wifes holiday layout in December which is regular DC
You can use a DPDT switch to use a DCC and a DC power pack to power your track. Connect the track bus to the switch in the “common” position. Wire the power packs to the other poles, so when one is lined to the rails, the other won’t be. This way, you can switch between inputs. It’s helpful to use an “ON-OFF-ON” configuration.
Previous cautions are well founded though. Make sure you don’t have any DCC locos on your track when you put DC power to it, or fry something you will. Supposedly, decoders labeled “dual mode” will work on DC power, but I’m skeptical. At any rate, they’ll all move at the speed appropriate to the voltage output of the DC pack, not independently like on a DCC layout.
So in one sentence you say I’m wrong and then the next one you say I’m right. LOLOL. [*-)]
Just to be VERY CLEAR. Some systems you can run a DC locomotive and some you can’t which makes the original comment NOT TRUE. It really doesn’t get much clearer then that.[bday]
Except you threw out a blanket “it’s not true” statement, indicating that running a non-decodered engine on address was was not possible. Period. With no qualifications or clarifications.
The original comment IS true, the only caveat that needs to be added is “if your DCC command system supports that feature. Some newer systems don’t support this anymore.”
You first unqualified “no that’s not true” comment implied that it was not true for ANY system. Which is actually more wrong than the original comment.