ez track decoder equipped turnouts

[grenadier1943]

Morning all.

   Does anyone out there have any of the Bachmann decoder equipped turnouts (ez track)?  If so what do you think about it? I assume that it runs off the power from your DCC system and you just give the turnout an address to operate it.  Found some on the internet for $6 less than the regular turnouts at the LHS.  With shipping it would only be $4 more!!  Hope you all have a great day.

 Mike Kingsbury

Wife is going to kill me because another Atlas Chessie GP40-2 will be delivered this week

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 I find them to be convenient, no more than that. I found that I didn't need the DCC function on the crossover set I bought so I stripped them out. Now they're totally manual.

[grenadier1943]

Jeffrey,

  Thanks for the reply.  Am I correct though in how they operate?  You give the turnout an address on your DCC system, and when you want to throw the switch you select the address and press whatever button to throw it? What did you do with the decoders that were in the crossover??

Mike Kingsbury

[loathar]

Keep in mind that these are NOT for DC use. So if you should ever decide to use them on DC, you would have to throw them manually. I've seen them selling for around $30. Really not a bad price when you compare them to other DCC turnout systems.

[cacole]

The decoders used in these turnouts would be a custom made, one function decoder that could not be used for anything else other than as a light switch or similar on/off or flip-flop circuit.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

grenadier1943

What did you do with the decoders that were in the crossover??

I tossed them. Cacole is absolutely right about what they're good for, and they're just barely good for that. As for how they operate, You assign them an address and use a function key to throw the points. The decoders are designed to operate with the EZ-Command system from Bachmann but most any DCC system can operate them.

[grenadier1943]

Jeffrey,

  Thanks that's what I wanted to know.  I have a MRC Prodigy Express and the Bachmann EZ- Command.  So I figure I could use the ez-command to control the turnouts and the Prodigy Express to run the trains.

Mike Kingsbury

[cacole]

Why use two different DCC systems?  The Prodigy Express should be able to control the Bachmann turnouts.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

grenadier1943

I figure I could use the ez-command to control the turnouts and the Prodigy Express to run the trains.

Negative ghostrider! I don't know about the MRC system but the Bachmann system won't take kindly to another system being attached to the same layout it's on. Believe me, I know. The decoders on the turnouts get their power straight from the rails, just like the locos. Hook the two systems up to the track together and you're going to blow something.

[grenadier1943]

Jeffrey, Cacole

   After I typed my last response I started thinking that it's probably not a good idea to hook two DCC systems to the same track.  Looks like you found out the hard way.  Thanks for the heads up and helping me out on this topic.  That's one thing I like about this forum is people helping others out with their experiences .  I'll go with using the Prodigy Express for everything.

Mike Kingsbury