I am planning to make one of those wheel cleaners to run spinning wheels over a cleaning cloth on a rail....but I just want to use it on the shop bench with a DC power pack.
Is it safe to put a DCC decoder-equipped loco to run on DC? I know vice versa works for non-decoder locos using the DCC controller, but I hesitate to put a Tsunami or something on a rail that might cook it.
If I understand your question - basically, can you use DC power to turn the engine's wheels while cleaning them - the answer is....well, it depends. Some decoders are either set-up at the factory or can have a CV adjusted to allow the decoder to pass thru DC signals to allow the engine to run on DC. For example, several Bachmann engines come with decoders that will allow you to run the engine on DC or DCC without any modifications.
If the decoder doesn't allow dual-mode operations, or isn't set to recognize DC, putting it on track with DC shouldn't hurt it, it will just sit there and do nothing.
Gerome wrote:yeah....maybe I will just run power leads around the corner to the work area.
If it is a dual mode decoder, and most are now days, then you can clean the wheels on DC with no problem. I use DC on all my dual mode locos when they need the wheels cleaned.
Early Atlas decoder equipped engines had either a switch or a plug that needed to be placed in the proper position to transition from DCC to DC. They would require to be switched prior to being run on DC then back again to run on DCC.
Bill
Gerome, your tender should have power pickups that will feed the decoder. So, you can leave the tender off the cloth, drape the cloth across the tracks and under your engine, and lightly hold the engine while you apply track power. The tender will supply the power to run the engine while you clean the drivers with the cloth across the tracks. So, you should be able to find a space to do that on the layout? If not...
..all the newest decoders, as far as I know, have dual mode capability (check and verify with the manual or with the manufacturer), except, as others have said, you may have to "enable" that feature by programming CV 29 (at least, that is true for the QSI decoders). The value is "38".