I was all ready to buy a Bachmann Dynamis DCC system till I saw it would not run a DC engine. I all so went to the Bachmann site and did a keyword search about the Dynamis. Over all people that had them like them, but all complained of lack of good instructions and technical support from Bachmann USA.
I did not like the fact you could not read the preset CV's in the decoders, but I was willing to deal with it. Lack of technical support, hum you folks hate my questions now! I am 90% sure the fact I cannot run my DC engines is the deal breaker.
Reason I was looking at the Dynamis was it is wire less. I cannot afford radio control. What would I need to make the Zepher infrared controlled? I am looking for the most cost effective (cheap way) I can go.
Other concern is changing CV's on QSI (BLI) decoders. Not a big one, but I have around 7 of them.
What I am looking for.
Reading preset decoder CV's to head off problems before that happen.
Match starting speed so I can run constants of 2 to 3 engines.
Being able to run the bench, I am 6 foot from the closes end of the bench and 25 feet from the furtherest end. All my turnouts are hand thrown. Pain in the Caboose to shut down a engine, get up, throw a turnout, go back to the cab, change direction, get back it up, go back to the cab, well you get the idea! Heck, I have $400.00 in turnouts that never get used!
Looking forward to the coming answers.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Hi Ken,
Yes the Z can run a DC loco, but I don't think you will like it!
Here is why. First of all there is a whine / high pitched buzz that modulates up and down as you speed up and down. I find it annoying. Second, and I think for you the most important one, the speed of the loco when running in DC mode on the Z is far slower than the same loco would give on your DC layout. I think you would be better off being able to switch your layout from DCC control to DC control, thus keeping your existing DC throttles.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
Ken, I've run DC locos with my Zephyr and it's no worse than running one with your EZ-Command, I know, I've used both systems.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
For IR wireless the minimum you need to add is a UR90 IR receiver and a UT4 throttle.
And yes it can run a DC loco just like the EZ Command.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
simon1966 Hi Ken, Yes the Z can run a DC loco, but I don't think you will like it! Here is why. First of all there is a whine / high pitched buzz that modulates up and down as you speed up and down. I find it annoying. Second, and I think for you the most important one, the speed of the loco when running in DC mode on the Z is far slower than the same loco would give on your DC layout. I think you would be better off being able to switch your layout from DCC control to DC control, thus keeping your existing DC throttles.
Simon, I now and again run a DC engine. Yes I still have more DC engines than DCC, but I have around 18 that are DCC.
Ken
I found out the hard way that my Athearn FEF3 non-DCC non-sound engine didn't work with my Zephyr. Only DC related problem i've encountered with my Zephyr.
The below is from the Tony's Trains site.
The Zephyr can run a locomotive that does have not a decoder installed. It does this by using the “stretched zero” technique. This is part of the NMRA DCC specs. To run a non-DCC locomotive you select address “00". To check this out I put an SD-40 on the layout and ran it with the Zephyr. Then I assigned the SD-40 to the jump port and ran it with the small power pack while operating the two Doodlebugs with the Zephyr. The top speed on the DS-40 was not as high as it would be on d.c., but acceptable. When sitting still the SD-40 had a low singing sound. My suggestion is not to try this with coreless motors.
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I have done a couple experiments running a DC only loco like this. The open frame motor ran cooler than the "can" motor. The "can" motor is enclosed and can not get rid of the heat as fast. I only checked one open frame and one can.
After 30 minutes at half throttle the open frame got to 98 F.
After 30 minuets at half throttle, the "can" got to 109 F.
These were extreme conditions I admit. Most people will only run locos like this for a short while as the buzzing can get annoying. Plastic shells can transmit motor/gear vibrations quite well. Most eventually run the loco on to a siding and switch off the power to that siding.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I would go with the Zephyr, Digitrax DCC systems are set up to be added on to, so you can add infrared or radio control quite easily.
As noted yes you can run a DC engine with a Zephyr but you'd be better off putting in a toggle and connecting to a DC powerpack.
Here is a link to what happens when a DC loco on DCC with the capability to run DC locos.
http://members.shaw.ca/sask.rail/dcc/DCC-waveforms/DCC_waveforms.html
He is using a Zepher controller. This guy is a contributor in the Bachmann forums.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,8121.0.html