2Nd EZ Command Question together or compete?

[galaxy]

This one is not like that last one. This is an entirely different question.

Can I somehow tie the two EZCommand controllers together to get them to control up to 20 locos {not all at the same time}?

Can I tie them together in series or parallel {and how because I always for get which way is which way} to get them to work together and address 20 different locos that way? Or will they compete and short out?

I am wondering because I am fastly aquiring more locos than the allowable 10 addresses on the system-assuming Santa  brings me just one or two of what I asked for and with cash gifts I always get will aquire more locos Santa DIDN't bring....{remember my thread "when do we have "enough""?}

I am probably asking for trouble on this one and will blow something up or short  out something, right?

Another dumb question?

{I suppose next year I should seriously look at upgrading to another system like the Digitrax zephyr if I continue to aquire locos.... But then I would need two of those too.....one for the regular layout and one for the xmas layout....of course by then we may actually add Nscale to the DCC list and change over/buy new DCC equiped Nscale locos to run under the xmas tree. I have a few Nscale I like to run at xmas, but other half doesn't have a regualr layout on which to run Nscale Like I do for HO scale, so they only get run at xmas...}

[fwright]

No, you get one command station per layout, with whatever limitations that command station has.  Two command stations will interfere with each other at best, and let some magic smoke out at worst.

But I have to ask the obvious question.  Do you really have more than 10 locomotives on the layout at the same time?  If you have 9 or fewer locomotives on the layout, you can keep each on a separate address.  Now, you may have to reprogram the address as you rotate locomotives on or off the layout.

The second obvious point is since you have the funds to buy more than 10 locomotives, then you have the funds to buy a DCC unit capable of 4 digit addressing.  This allows you to have each locomotive to have its own unique address even if you can only put a certain number on the layout at the same time due to limits of the DCC unit.  The EZ Command can be kept for your Christmas layout, although you will have to reprogram addresses as you move the locomotive between the 2 layouts.

my thoughts, your choices

Fred W

 

[tbdanny]

Galaxy,

From what I understand, the Bachmann EZ-command system assigns addresses 1-9 to the locomotives programmed into each 'slot'.  If you hook up the two systems, this won't change - you'll have conflicting commands sent to the locomotives if you try to control one loco from two controllers at once.

Hope this helps,

tbdanny

[rrinker]

 This time it's no, any given layout can have only 1 DCC command station. You can;t even just divide the layout into to parts and connect one EZ to each part - when a loco crossed the gaps, all heck would break loose. If you really need to control 20 locos at a time, you'll have to stp up to one of the more advanced systems.

                            --Randy

 

[cacole]

There's no way to connect any DCC command station brand in series or parallel because their command signal timing would not be in perfect synchronization.  One or both of them would most likely release their magic smoke if you ever tried it.

You'll have to invest in a better system than the Bachmann if you really need that much capacity.

[galaxy]

fwright

But I have to ask the obvious question.  Do you really have more than 10 locomotives on the layout at the same time?  If you have 9 or fewer locomotives on the layout, you can keep each on a separate address.  Now, you may have to reprogram the address as you rotate locomotives on or off the layout.

The second obvious point is since you have the funds to buy more than 10 locomotives, then you have the funds to buy a DCC unit capable of 4 digit addressing.  my thoughts, your choices

Fred W

 

Fred: thanks for your imput.

A} I am approaching 10 locos and depending what I get for xmas and what I buy with xmas money {I have my eye on two diferent locos} Will have more than the allowable addresses on the EZ. I'm just trying to avoid reprogramming locos on and off the layout. Two locos are dupliactes so I can get rid of one that is the worse runner of the two.

B} ALL my locos are Bachamann DCC OnBoard {read: cheap} that I have collected over 4 years. this year for xmas I could get as many as three for gifts, and 5 if I buy after xmas what I didn't get with xmas gift money.

C} maybe next year instead of locos I will look for a better system that allows me to adress mroe locos, though I love the simplicity of the EZCommand!

[galaxy]

Besides my previous statement, I think I have found a use for the second EZCommand if I get the New Digitrax Zephyr Xtra next year for xmas. At one price of $179.99 I can see it in my future over the plain zephyr at $159.99.

I think I'll be saving pennies as I may not run 10 locos at once, true, I just don't want to be doing a lot of programming/reprogramming to run locos.

My other half has been talking about going all DCC with any other Nscale loco purchases that also run under the tree at Xmas. There is no room in the house for an N scale layout too, so they only get run at xmas...on the EZCommand?!?!

[NSdreamer]

You can link up controllers, but you can only control 10 locomotives. You do not have to worry about competing controllers shorting it out. The Locomotive will respond to the LAST command it recieves, dropping all others.

[Phoebe Vet]

Simple answer:  No, you can't.

With that out of the way, here are your options:

1:  Program 2 locos on each address and remove them from the layout or park them on a dead track.  You can then run either of them but not both of them at the same time or you can run them in a permanent consist.

2:  Build a second loop on the layout that doesn't connect in any way to the first one and run one loco on each "separate" layout using the two separate EZCommand controllers.

3:  Buy a real DCC system and use the EZCommand to run the Christmas Tree train.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

galaxy

This one is not like that last one. This is an entirely different question.

Can I somehow tie the two EZCommand controllers together to get them to control up to 20 locos {not all at the same time}?

I actually tried that once just to see if it was possible. The answer is NO, you can't. When I tried it both controllers acted as if the track was shorted out. The lights were blinking on and off like a Christmas tree gone mad and both were putting out their shrieking beeping signal. And yes, everything on the layout came to a complete abrupt stop. When the other command station was removed I could run the trains as before but not with both controllers no matter how they were connected on the same track.

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

NSdreamer

You can link up controllers, but you can only control 10 locomotives. You do not have to worry about competing controllers shorting it out. The Locomotive will respond to the LAST command it recieves, dropping all others.

What?

If one can act as a booster, then yes, but I don't think that's doable in this instance.

You cannot have two command stations talking on the same track.  There may or may not be smoke, but there won't be any useful train operation happening.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

NSdreamer

You can link up controllers, but you can only control 10 locomotives. You do not have to worry about competing controllers shorting it out. The Locomotive will respond to the LAST command it recieves, dropping all others.

While some other control stations such as the Digitrax Zephyr can be used as a booster the Bachmann EZ-Command cannot. It's a control station, nothing more. If a booster is needed the Bachmann 5 amp booster and the MRC booster are available.