Hello:
I have a fairly big collection of DC locos but would like to tip toe into DCC without having to throw out my DC locos or have to switch between one platform and the other. There is a DCC controller that says you can do just that, no. 10 on the list of 10 buttons.
Is it safe to do so? Can I use both a DCC loco and a DC loco without problems?
Thanks.
Right out of the MR forums.
The forum will not allow me to make it a hyper link.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/224993.aspx
Read the below article.
http://members.shaw.ca/sask.rail/dcc/DCC-waveforms/DCC_waveforms.html
Rich
Don’t do it. Just convert all your DC locos to DCC or just stay DC.
I did this some years ago with an old MRC 2000. Very basic system.
I knew the limitations. Just parked the DC loco on a siding.
I could run one loco as a pusher. Worked quite well actually. The MRC 2K had five throttles. The #1 throttle was for DC or DCC.
Rich
Digitrax is I believe the only DCC system that allows running a DC loco on its DCC systems using the address of 0. It is called zero stretching and most DC locos will run on it. It is not recommended running DC locos for any length of time and you cannot let a DC loco sit idle on DCC powered track with the power on. The motor makes a sound called singing and will get very warm and the loco will creep along on its own. You can even MU them to decoder equiped locos but their performance will not be the same as they are not speed matchable. You can run them occasionally for short periods until you get around to installing decoders.
The Bachmann EZ Command will allow using number 10 but that system cannot do much else. Some have found that out too late.
Rich
Some DCC systems(like Digitrax) allow ‘Zero Stretching’ of the signal. This allows one to run a DC locomotive on a DCC layout. The problem is that it causes the DC engine to ‘buzz’ when stopped, as it is basically reversing the direction constantly. This can cause the motor to overheat.
The other issue is related to clubs. Zero Stretching can tie up the DCC bandwidth and throittle response can suffer across the layout when a DC engine and DCC engines are used at the same time. In your case(home layout), it should be no problem.
The Digitrax DCS51, Zephyr Xtra can be had for around $175 from Internet dealers. Myself, I found that a lot of my DC engines were not worth upgrading to DCC and have become ‘Wall Flowers’ in a display case. Once you have run a nice DCC/Sound engine, you will not turn back!
Jim
The Lenz DCC system also allows you to run a DC engine as “Engine Zero.” But, it’s not terribly satisfactory. In fact, I would only use it to test an engine and verify that it moves in both directions.
My experience has been that the engine does buzz rather loudly, and even at full throttle it will only maintain about half the speed it’s actually capable of. Auto-reverse systems, one of the nice features of DCC, will not work on a DC engine.
How many engines are you talking about converting, and how well do they run on DC? If an engine doesn’t run well on DC, it will be even worse on DCC. You can buy bulk-packs of budget decoders for about $15 each, maybe less.
I was hooked on DCC from the start. I put my old DC power pack on a shelf and never connected it to the track again. You may feel the same way.
Again, I’ve got to agree. After building a small roster of DCC-equipped diesels, I fell in love not just with the siren song of DCC Sound, but at the same time with the beauty of Steam. I quickly found that my non-sound engines could be found gathering dust in the roundhouse while my sound locomotives were having all the fun. So, I’ve been upgrading DCC engines to sound decoders this time around.
this sounds like a perfect place to try one of the bachman DCC starter sets. Loop of track and a loco and controller for not much money. I’m not sure if any of these sets come with sound though.
Thanks to all of you who provided helpful feedback. [:D]
I gather that the best approach is NOT to mix the two.
Out of curiosity, if I put a DC loco on a DCC layout without trying to use a DC function, the DC loco does not move, as it appears from the answers, but does doing this hurt the loco at all?
What about the other way around, putting a DCC loco on a DC layout? What happens. Does this hurt the DCC loco?
I ask these questions because on a Marklin digital layout, you can run an analogue loco, but without any control and at a lower speed than it would otherwise. Once you pout it on, it takes off and the only way to stop it is to shut off the power.
I strongly recommend against running your DC locos from a DCC throttle / system. You’ll almost certainly end up damaging them.
I am still in the process of switching over. My solution was that I retain the DC throttles, and added the DCC. With just a bit of thouht, I have set up the wiring so that I can toggle between the two systems. There also is a fail-safe that makes it impossible for both to be connected to the rails at the same time. This means of course that at any given time I can only run the DCC locos OR the DC locos. Not an issue to me because the sound quality of the sound systems that everybody else seems to be in love with, must become much better before it has any appeal to me.
Thank you. This is a useful suggestion. :-).
Leaving a DC engine sitting on DCC powered track can damage the engine. You will hear a pronounced buzz. That’s because DCC is AC and the motor will be trying to spin alternately in both directions thousands of times a second. This causes the motor to heat up and can eventually overheat. Many motors can take the abuse. Some can’t. Trouble is no one knows how to tell which ones can’t take it.
Sounds like you are thinking of the Bachmann DCC controller. (That address 10 thing gives it away). If you can get one for less than $50 you probably haven’t overspent for what is an extremely limited DCC system. More than $50 you overpaid.
Martin Myers
I remember reading that someone bought an audio jack from radio shack, and then had plugs attached to the DCC system, and DC power. He simply plugged in the system he wanted to use.
I have thought about DC vs DCC. I will upgrade all of my locomotives when I go DCC.
Everyone, put the below link in Favorites. Take a look. Put this link in any future messages to someone who wants to run a DC loco on zero bit. A picture is worth a thousand words.
I did the same measuremnts with a Scope.
[url]http://members.shaw.ca/sask.rail/dcc/DCC-waveforms/DCC_waveforms.html[/url]
Rich
Where do you find a Bachmann controller for $50.00, on the moon? 
The best I have seen it on sale is $120…
Sorry, Rich, but that is Greek to me 
Most decoders are set up for dual mode operation. Which means the decoder works normally on DCC, but it will also run on a DC layout without problems. Early decoders were set up to run on only DCC. If you buy a used loco the anolog (DC) function may have been turned off by a previous owner so it will only run on DCC. You will need a DCC system to turn the anolog function back on.
Ebay. I have seen them more than once. They are very old school.
Rich
Not at all. You must have read too fast. The complete explanation is there. There are examples, not opinions.
Rich