EZ Command system has been doing fine, but I've got a problem with either the system or decoders or both now ... hooked up an old power pack to power my accessories - in this case a signal I was going to hook up to a switch so I could turn it green or red. Had one slot open on an Atlas Connector (the first two slots went to my main line and yard from my EZ Command system) and thought "hmm, I'll use this last slot to send power (or not) to the signal switch." Connected it. In retrospect, there was DC power heading into the Connector from the left, AC from the right, and, subsequently, the smell of burnt toast in my garage ... now all my EZ Command system does is send a loco screaming forward at 100% power. If I hook up my old DC powerpack, the engines chug along merrily at whatever speed is set for them, but the EZ Command is 100% or nothing - to stop the engines I have to unplug it.
Well, I guess everybody has their first big boneheaded wiring move. The question is, what went kablooey? EZ Command or the loco decoders?
Im afraid your EZ command system is toast. DCC systems of all makes do not like DC fed to them from the rails.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
It sounds to me like the system has indeed gone to the big roundhouse in the sky. Perhaps Fate is telling you that you've outgrown your EZ Command, and it's time to upgrade.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Will the E Z take other commands, like changing engine address?
Ken
I hate Rust
You've learned two things avout the Atlas Connector, the hard way. One, all the switches are connected together, and two, one side is actually common and not switched at all (bottom terminal is connected to all the right-hand terminals at each posiiton without going through the switch contacts - I think, don't have one handy to check)
If the loco still runs on DC, that means that enough of it is functioning to recognize it's not getting a DCC signal and switch into analog conversion mode, so it's probably not fried. The EZ though is almost surely toast.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Insightful choice of words - "the smell of burnt toast in my garage" Your EZ Command system is now, as you described it - 'toast'. Mixing AC and DC power is BAD; mixing DCC and DC is BAD. You've more than likely fried the voltage regulator inside. Throw it out and start over. I refer you to the website I suggested in a previous post.
davidmbedard Let this be a lesson for all those who insist on a DC/DCC scheme where both are present on the rails at the same time. It doesnt take much to fry a system. David B
Let this be a lesson for all those who insist on a DC/DCC scheme where both are present on the rails at the same time. It doesnt take much to fry a system.
David B
This always leads to the question of why the idea persists that one can do this
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Thanks all. Yes, it would seem that I have truly screwed the pooch on this one. All things considered, of course, I'd rather fry the EZ Command than the decoders. i'm not sure what possessed me to run the AC stuff into the connector that was already piping DC to the rails, but ... oh well, lesson learned, and I'm sure it won't be my first.
And no, Ken - all that happens through the EZ Command now is full throttle. Can't stop the trains, slow the trains, reprogram addresses, etc. Fried. :(
Swayin lesson learned, and I'm sure it won't be my first.
Lets hope it was your last mistake. If you want another E-Z PM me. Mine came from this site, and I don't use mine anymore.
I have to ask. Was there beer involved?
MisterBeasley I have to ask. Was there beer involved?
I wish!!
That sucks. Now you'll have to punish yourself and pick up an NCE Power Cab or Digitrax Zephyr. After all, you can't disappoint junior
Springfield PA
Patient: It hurts when I do this.
Doctor: Don't do that.
Patient: Thanks doc never thought of that.
Doctor: That will be $300 please.
Experience is the best education you can get. Costly sometimes but worth every Penney.
I'm not going to get on your case. We have all done things that looked good on paper but when the third dimension is added it all goes wrong. Just be glad it was not some $600 system that went poof.
Don't let the wife read your posts. If she finds out you were asking about upgrading a few days ago she'd never believe you . Oh and I'm cheap to keep quiet.
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/171287/1881637.aspx#1881637
The only bright spot in all of this is just be glad it wasn't a real high dollar system then it would be a lot worse then burnt toast.