Hi all, I have two questions. (1) I have a DCC digital E-Z commnder system by Bachmann and want to use some DCC equipped turnouts on my HO scale train. Do I need the E-Z comand turnout and accessory controller? (2) How can I wire 4 different terminals to my system as the digital commander has only one socket on the back to plug in one terminal? I don’t know how to get current to the other three. Thanks so very much for your time. John 2003
I’m not too familiar with the Bachmann system, but I’ll try to help nonetheless (hopefully it’ll at least steer you in the right direction). Since I’m not too familiar, I may have missed something that is particular about the EZ-DCC system, or otherwise assumed something that the system cannot do.
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I think that you will need to get a stationary decoder (like one of these from Digitrax) to attach to the motor on the TO,aws well as the Turnout/Accessory Controller. I have not been able to find any specifics about the turnout & accessory controller (from digging through the Bachmann site, nor looking for vendors who carry the Bachmann E-Z Command system). However, it appears that you will only need to purchase one Turnout and Accessory controller to control up to it’s maximum number of turnouts (since the E-Z Command system can remember 10 addresses, I’m going to assume that the Turnout and Accessory controller can do the same). Pretty much you would need to wire a stationary decoder to the Turnout motor, then use the Turnout and Accessory Controller to dial in the stationary decoder’s address, and then press whichever button would switch the points for the route that you want to use.
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Like I said above, I think you only need one (1) Turnout & Accessory Controller to run a given number of stationary decoders. As for getting power to the decoders, you’d hook them to the DCC/Track power bus. IE - wire in a pair of heavy guage wires (18-14ga seems to be the de facto standard…). Then either use 3M Suticase Connectors (those blue things that crimp onto the wires) to splice the power bus to the track feeders (which are usually 20 ga. wire) or to the stationary decoder’s power leads.
John,
First off: [#welcome] to the forum! Good to have you aboard! [:)]
I used the E-Z Command for over a year but converted to the NCE Power Cab earlier this year - before Bachmann started bringing out all the accessories. I’m not sure if I can really help you out with your question much but will throw in some food for thought.
Since the Bachmann E-Z Command is only rated with a total output of 1-amp, you should keep in mind that this obviously limits the number of locomotives that you can run on your layout. (I was able to run up to 3 newer locomotives with mine.)
Along with that, any turnouts that you power with your E-Z Command is going to diminish that total output even more. (I’m not entirely sure how much a turnout motor draws to open and close the point. It may be pretty minimal.) You also don’t have an LCD screen to monitor which way your turnouts are faced.
The idea of running your turnouts through your throttle is a pretty cool idea but not always the most practical. John, I would encourage you to stick with having the turnout controls (either toggle or momentary switches) on the side of your benchwork (if you have one) and power them with an old power pack that’s just collecting dust on the shelf. That way you aren’t limiting your “active” roster just to power your turnouts.
Just my [2c] worth…
Tom
Just did some more digging on the Turnout & Accessory Controller. It DOES have an LCD Display that (apparently) shows the TO position (Bachmann is really sketchy on the details), although that 1Amp limit is going to be a big hurdle to get over… perhaps that other command station adds to the total amperage that the E-Z Command system has available?