I have a Bachmann DCC system and have run my locos with it. Now I have acquired an NCE Power Cab system. When I run my locos using the NCE system their speed tops out much slower than when I run them on the Bachmann system. What's up with that???
wdcrvr
Bachmann puts out too high a voltage.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
NCE is made in the U.S. and its voltage output is exactly on the mark according to the NMRA DCC Standards -- Bachmann is made in China and can run either high or low, but is rarely right on the mark.
Reminds me of the old Atlas system, also made by Lenz like the Bachmann EZ. Used witht eh recommended power supply it was pushing near 19 volts to the rails. Fine for G scale. Common fix, and I think someone even built them up and sold them, was to add a bunch of diodes to drop the voltage.
Most decoders cna handle it, but you are putting too many volts to the motor of the loco. N scale usually wants an even lower voltage than HO, and some Z scale motors are only rated to 8 votls, not 12. Feeding Z scale 19 volts is more than double the rating!