I bought the EZ system for my son a year ago and would like to buy him a much better DCC engine. He only has 1 DCC engine an that is the one that came with the Bachmann EZ system. (He would like an Athearn HO MP15AC, NY&A #151) My question are DCC equipped engines already pre programmed and can you use the sound that is pre programmed as well with the EZ system.
Also, he has a DCC ready Athearn F59PHI Sounder but if a decoder is installed by myself does it need to be programmed?
Thanks for your help.
OK
Hi and to the forums.
I have the Bachmann EZ Command DCC system, in fact I have 2 for 2 layouts.
I have 13 Bachmann DCC On Board Locos and love every one of them..they have all given me fantastic service. Only one "growls" at slow speeds. They are light-speed-direct DCC controlled.
Any DCC loco should be factory preset to address 3, so they should all work on address 3, and Should be able to be reset to any other address on the EZ C. I never use address 10 on the EZ C as it controls the lights AND can run a DC loco {WHICH I NEVER DO...I don't want to get confused and blow something}.
Also, you SHOULD have sound...but will only be able to control sound functions 1 through 9 with the EZ C, and NOT be able to set any of the CV's for sounds.
A decoder installed by you, again, should be factory preset to 3.
Many will tell you to throw away the EZ C. I say Use it for all its worth then upgrade to a better system whne you need to. I find it works very well for me for what I do on my two small layouts.
Hope this helps
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
I ran my E Z for years with sound engines. All decoders come preset to address 3, so if you start to install you own decoders rather sound or just direction you are good to go.
One of the thing I really like about the E Z is you cannot hit the wrong button and mess up your decoder. I finally bought a fancy DCC system and one day by mistake I changed 20 engine address all to the same number!
Simple is good.
By the way and hope you post often.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
I to have an EZ C and i like it a lot. I have several locos and prefer Proto 1000 and 2000's. I run a Proto 2000 E8 A&B set with sound and it works great. Lately I have been learning to install decoders and I have installed an Athearn F7, a Bachmann Doodlebug, Atlas SD35 and several Proto E units. Typically i will run 4 or 5 locos at a time on my layout with no problems. Oh and I forgot the Proto SD9 I installed. Anyway I would suggest keeping a notebook of the loco's and items that have decoders and their addresses. It comes in real handy because there are only 9 addresses on the EZ C and you will eventually duplicate numbers. I use the same notebook when I go to train shows because it is a great way to keep an inventory. It cuts down on unwanted duplicates of loco's and cars.
RMax
Thanks for the warm welcomes and it's great to hear that the EZ system was a good choice for what my son and I need.
My question is, if the loco's are all set to address 3, how do you change it yourself?
As for a layout, we're going to start one in the garage. It's the only place for a decent size layout. Will post pics of the space for advise just as soon as I finish cleaning it out.
Thanks again!
Also, my son is a big Long Island Railroad fan so I'm going to start him off with the Athearn NY&A loco. Hopefully I can find some Long Island loco's with some vintage paint jobs from the past as well.
RMax1 I to have an EZ C and i like it a lot. ......Anyway I would suggest keeping a notebook of the loco's and items that have decoders and their addresses. It comes in real handy because there are only 9 addresses on the EZ C and you will eventually duplicate numbers.
I to have an EZ C and i like it a lot. ......Anyway I would suggest keeping a notebook of the loco's and items that have decoders and their addresses. It comes in real handy because there are only 9 addresses on the EZ C and you will eventually duplicate numbers.
I am not sure if he means this or not but:
You CAN program more than one loco to a number onthe EZ C. for example:
you can program GP40 and a 0-6-0 steamer on number 8 and write them both on the card provided for slot number 8. You just can't run them both or have them both on the layout at the same time or there will be a conflict of interest in trying to run one only!
You CAN assign a PAIR of locos... like an FT A/B set or F7 A/A set to say, number 7, and they will run as a pair by setting them both to number 7 slot. I did that with my FT A/B set and they run jsut great as a pair!!
I have 13 Bachmann DCC onBoard Locos as I said, and it IS a bit crowded but I write tiny and have placed a Brother lable maker label with the number on the top of the loco so i instantly know which number is which and click on it,
HAve fun!!!
Duplicate post???
TRIPLICATE POST???!!!
I recommend watching the Bachmann video to learn how to program your locos. It is a lot easier. I know you can easily reprogram to another number and even setup consisting. I keep a notebook with all my loco's listed in it. The notebook has road, number, operating date as painted, and decoder number. I am starting to do cars as well. Let's say I have 3 loco's running address number 5 on the EZ C, Since none of them would be on the layout at the same time due to time period it helps me keep things straight. An example would be a doodlebug, Amtrak E8 and a Dash9 could all have the same address. The likely hood of any of these three being in the same place at the same time would be very small. Also at a glance I have all the info I need and it is portable to take to train shows.