I have nothing put together yet. I’m going with the Bachmann E-Z command DCC control panel, e-z track on a 4X8 table. I’m adapting the Madison (WI) Central to be a steel town instead of quarry. I have Walthers rolling mill as the main bldg. I want to run an Amtrak (not DCC) on an outer track. I have a #6 LH crossover to connect the two rail systems. My main issue will be wiring. Space between track feeders? Making control panel for turn-outs? Anxious to get started.
Don’t do that. You should never have DC and DCC on the same layout at the same time. There are ways of isolating the two, but one mistake and some very expensive equipment will be toast.
Either decide to run DC or DCC. Some will wire things so their layout can safely be DC or DCC, but not both, but these are sometimes transitional layouts or the user has a lot invested in DC equipment and doesn’t want to convert.
With no layout and no accumulation of legacy equipment, you’re free to choose either DC or DCC. Enjoy your choice!
And [#welcome]
As a new member, your posts will be moderated so you may not see them for a while after posting. Patience is a virtue.
Welcome to the forum. I’m glad you are asking questions BEFORE beginning to build your layout. You just might avoid a lot of the mistakes we made when building our layouts.
You state that you want to power the layout using DCC yet retain an Amtrak loco (still DC powered). Although the Bachmann and a few other DCC systems allow running one DC loco, I think the better approach would be to convert your DC loco to DCC. There are lots of YouTube videos demonstrating the conversion process or a LHS can do this for you if you’re not ready to try it yourself. The more you run with DCC, the less satisfied you’ll be with your DC loco. DCC just offers so much more operating potential and realism. Contrary to the opinions of the “Old Heads,” I’ve always found that DCC makes more of a difference on a small layout than a large layout.
The Bachmann E-Z Command DCC system is rather limited and you might just end up replacing it anyway. This could have been a decently expandable starter system but Bachmann failed to include any mention of its Walkaound Companion throttle in the E-Z Command manual so few users knew it was even available. Since sales of the Walkaround Companion were so poor (again, no marketing), Bachmann discontinued producing it which effectively doomed the E-Z Command system. Oddly enough, Bachmann still sells the Walkaround Companion Connector Panel for creating a throttle bus for the Walkaround Companion throttle. Bachmann also warns against trying to connect two E-Z Command systems together for multiple throttles.
Instead, I would consider stepping up to at least the NCE Power Cab, the Digitrax Zephyr Express, or the MRC Prodigy Express. All of these systems offer far more features than the Bachmann E-Z Command system and all are expandable.
As far as wiring a 4’ by 8’ layout, I would create a power bus using 16 gauge paired wire in a “+” shape. Fe
[#welcome]
I totally agree with Mr. Beasley! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPERATE DC AND DCC SIMULTANEOUSLY ON YOUR LAYOUT!!!
I run dual mode, DC or DCC one or the other but never at the same time. The wheels shorting the two systems at isolating gaps will be fatal.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Buy once, cry once. I’d go with either the Powercab or a Digitrax Zephyr and skip DC all together.
Yes it can be an expensive hobby. That means you sometimes have to wait to get what you want, or you have to find a way to make more money. It’s you first post and we don’t know you. You could be 14 with you whole life ahead of you or you could be 74, disabled and making more money isn’t really going to happen.
Hello All,
I agree with the rest of the responders to NOT mix DC and DCC on the same track plan.
If you have to run both systems on the same pike they need to be completely separate track plans.
You can run a DC locomotive on a DCC system. This is accomplished by what is known as zero bit stretching.
If you do decide to run a DC locomotive on a DCC system you will need to remove the DC locomotive when not running.
The Bachmann EZ Command system along with its incompatible bigger brother Dynamis System is a dead-end system.
I use the Dynamis System and it is maxed out at 5 amps after adding the Pro Box and larger booster. You can add two more throttles but that’s it.
To add a programming track I had to use the NCE Auto SW. For the reversing wye section, I added an MRC AD520.
With most other DCC systems these functions are included in the command station/booster.
For turnout control, there are many ways to go about it depending on the type of turnout motors.
The main types of turnout motors are solenoid (Atlas, PECO), slow-motion Tortise type, and servo.
Each requires a specific type of activation.
For solenoid type, a Capacitive Discharge Unit is recommended especially for PECO units.
Once the type of turnout motor is used then you can plan your control pannel.
Welcome, keep the questions coming and…
Hope this helps.
The only risk to your plans to run one DC locomotive is accidentally setting the crossover turnouts connecting the two layouts. That risks the DC locomotive running across onto DCC powered track. DCC current can fairly quickly overheat a DC only motor. There is also a risk to the DCC locomotives unless you wire up a section of transition track longer than your longest locomotive. Shorting the DC to DCC with a locomotive (or even an unpowered metal wheeled car) is potentially very expensive.
You require an “airlock” concept electrically isolated and controllable transition track between the two crossover turnouts allowing you to create a dead track section where a locomotive can wait unpowered while you switch power sources to the DC section of the layout or, conversely, change power to the DCC to become DC for the required time. You can’t risk a metal wheel connecting DCC powered track to DC powered track even momentarily. Remember that locomotives pick up power from all drivers and so even the shortest wheelbase will connect the DCC powerpack to the DC powerpack as it crosses the isolated rail joiners. Boom.
On the other hand, the only reason to connect the two layouts is to facilitate DCC locomotives crossing over to the DC circuit. I think you’ll find this is not a useful option. Just don’t connect the two layouts until you fit a dual mode decoder into the DC locomotive. There’s really no reason to run DC and DCC on one layout. It sounds feasible but in practice it just gets frustrating. On DC power any DCC locomotive will not move at all until track voltage exceeds around 6v. By then your DC locomotive is moving at a fair clip.
You could wire up a switch that automatically kills the DC power if the turnout is thrown connecting the two “layouts”. Fit isolating joiners between the two turnouts forming the crossover. You’ll still need a way to feed DCC power to the DC only circuit which then risks the accidental powering of the DC loc
Some years ago our club toasted a NCE five amp booster trying to run DC and DCC. The DC throttles could handle 2.5 amps.
We had a layout with 14 blocks going from DC to DCC and tried it. Couple guys gabbing and a loco crossed.
Never again.
Rich
Thank you MisterBeasley. I’ve decided to run DCC only on the first 4X8 layout. Eventually, I hope to have another 4X8 connected with a 2X10 making a U-shape with a 2 foot walkway. I didn’t share enough info on first post so here goes. I’ve been buying trains, track and bldgs for 17 years so I have almost equal amounts of legacy and E-Z. Once I saw the digital stuff I changed my plan. The other 4X8 will be all DC with the old track so my plan is to make it “look” like they’re connected. I’ve read that a beginner shouldn’t take on a huge layout so as to not get discouraged so I will concentrate on the first 4X8 and run two tracks all DCC. I have 4 locos that are DCC so I’m good for awhile. Thanks again for your info and I look forward go sharing photos someday.
I do what Mel does, DC or DCC, never both at the same time.
Install a decoder in the Amtrak.
Mike.
Ya if your Amtrak engine was made in this century it probably has a DCC eight-pin receptacle on the light board. Unplug the DC “dummy” plug, and plug in a DCC decoder. A good non-sound decoder can be had for around $20-25.
Running DC or DCC alternatively on the same layout is feasible but still prone to causing damage by making an error.
Having both DC and DCC active on the same layout at the same time is just so prone to error causing significant damage it should not be attempted.
If you really don’t want to put a decoder into your DC equipment then just leave out the track connection for the time being. Add the crossover later when you’re convinced DCC is better.
There really is no good reason to have your two layouts connected. The DC locomotive won’t run on the DCC side (unless you invest in a DCC system that allows one DC locomotive to run under DCC power) and you won’t want to run your DCC locomotives in DC mode once you experience DCC, it’s that much more fun.
Yes, it is good general practice to choose either DC or DCC. Choose a side of the road and stick with it… otherwise…
“Squish Like Grape”
-Kevin