I found a near new Atlas Commander Version 3.2 and was wondering if it could run a DC loco like many other systems can. It doesn't say in the instructions, I've checked the Atlas forum and well as searching other sites to no avail....Does anyone know the answer?
Bob Berger, C.O.O. N-ovation & Northwestern R.R. My patio layout....SEE IT HERE
There's no place like ~/ ;)
This is the entry from Tony's Trains, one of the most authoritative sources on DCC:
http://www.tonystrains.com/productcompare/dcccomparison-atlas.htm
Note in particular this sentence: "One limitation of the Commander is the restriction to short decoder addresses (02-99), as 01 is reserved for non-DCC equipped locomotives and 99 is the largest two number." That tells me that yes, you can run DC locos.
An Atlas Commander has a Lenz system as its baseline. Lenz does allow you to run DC locomotives, so I'm not surprised that the Atlas Commander does, too.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Thanks MisterBeasley, I appreciate the link to Tony's...I find it strange how something like Tony's Trains didn't come up in any of my searches.
The Atlas Commander is basically the same as the Lenz Compact so information on one generally applies to the other.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.