running DC on a DCC wired layout question???

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

I have a dcc wired layout and a friend wants to run his dc loco’s on my layout. Can I use a dc power pack to run his loco’s? I will not have any dcc loco’s on the track at the time.

If not, I have read where you can run one dc loco on a dcc wired layout by assigning it to address 00. Is that assigning the cab to that address?

Thanks,

Bart

2

may or may not be of help but i heard that running a dc loco on a dcc layout will fry your loco but im not positive if thats correct

3

If you totally electrically disconnect your command station from the layout, and then hook your transformer where the command station used to connect to the tracks, I think you should be okay.

Some DCC systems (but definitely not NCE) will allow you to run one DC loco on address zero. The instructions that came with your DCC system should address this mode of operation. How well the DC loco runs on address zero apparently a matter of opinion as I’ve heard both positives and negatives.

4

I do have the power cab from NCE. Thanks for the information.

I can disconnect the command station electrically fairly easily, so i will try attaching the dc power pack to the terminal strip and see what happens.

Thanks

Bart

5

Hi,

The previous posters were on the right track, and may I add…

While disconnecting the command station and running the DC loco with ONLY a powerpack attached, you will be fine. However, if this becomes a “routine”, be very careful in not taking shortcuts. It won’t take much to give you a very expensive mistake.

Mobilman44

6

The best way to run your friend’s engines would be to disconnect the DCC system then connect a DC pack and run them. Unless you also have block wiring, you will only have one block- the whole layout.

As far as running them on address 00. DC engines can be damaged using this method. Coreless motors should definitely not ever be placed on a DCC track unless there is a high frequency decoder installed. Do NOT leave them sitting on powered track. This causes the most heat when cogging at idle. You would still need a DCC system that supports running an analog engine. Of the current systems, Digitrax, Lenz, and Bachmann Easy DCC will do it. Some older systems will do it too.

Martin Myers

7

Thanks for the fast responses… my friend hasn’t seen his trains run for awhile. I knew saving that power pack would come in handy.

This is probalby a one time deal, so I will be careful to do it right… no shortcuts.

Thanks again

Bart