NCE Powercab, and Bachmann switchs.

[Tjsingle]

Hey,

I recently bought a NCE system and I Have bachman Ez track switchs, and I was wondering can use a dc power pack to operate the switchs? or do I have to get switchs with decoders?

tjsingle

[tstage]

Tommy,

Yes, you can use DC to operate your Bachmann turnout controls.  However, they will have their own designated bus since it's DC.

OTOH, if you wanted to operate them via your DCC system, you'd then need a stationary decoder for each turnout and they would be powered through your DCC power bus.

Tom

[Tjsingle]

Thanks For the quick response, I'm starting to rewire my layout and I'm just curious.

Cheers

Tjsingle

[gandydancer19]

TJ, just a small comment. (Curiosity is a good thing by the way.)

Just because you have a DCC system to control your locos doesn't mean that you have to control everything from it. There are quite a few layouts around that still use standard DC for controlling the turnouts, mine included.

The advantage to installing stationary decoders on your turnouts for DCC operation would be if you had a really big layout. Then you wouldn't have to build control panels and run lots of wire for your turnout controls (unless yo wated to or you like control panels). You could just use your DCC system.

If you wanted to get one stationary decoder and hook it up to one turnout, that would give you a little experience in how to connect them up and how to get it working etc. I don't think that you would have to get a special turnout, just a stationary decoder.  Learning something new in this hobby is always fun.

[Tjsingle]

Yea, I see what your saying, Yet since I'm short on cash, i don't have the money for the decoders, building control panels would be the cheapest, maybe in the future I'll buy some decoders.

Cheers

Tommy Single

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I use toggle switches and momentary contact switches with an old Bachmann power pack tio control all my remote turnouts, all of which are Bachmann.

[loathar]

Bachmann makes those turnouts with decoders built into them now. Runs off track power. No wiring or switched required. I believe they are about $10-$12 more per turnout.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Yeah, I've seen those but I don't have any, so I don't know how well they work. I hope they did something to keep the point rail in place. I had to modify all mine so the points wouldn't drift.