I am preparing to construct my first n scale layout in a couple of weeks. I have just notice that I have 15 locomotives and one Bachmann EZ Command Control that only allow 10 locomotives (9 DCC, one DC). I want to run all my locomotives and I wanted to know when I get another DCC controller, would I be allow to run it with my current Bachmann controller or would I have to have separate lines because I have a four tender big locomotives and two saddle tanks that I want to have on one controller since they will only be used to pull tourist trains (my two saddle tanks will operate the lumber mill and logging camp) and on the other controller operate my diesels.
Thank you,
Mr. LMD, Owner, founder
The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad
Your Bachmann starter DCC unit is very basic, It only allows DCC addresses 1-9 - no 4 digit addresses. If you get something like a NCE Powercab or a Digitrax Zephyr Xtra, the old Bachmann EZ Command will not be able to be used on the same layout with either of them. I would consign it to the workbench for testing...
You will find that once you upgrade to one of the above systems, you will wonder how you got by on the EX Command!
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
jrbernier Your Bachmann starter DCC unit is very basic, It only allows DCC addresses 1-9 - no 4 digit addresses. If you get something like a NCE Powercab or a Digitrax Zephyr Xtra, the old Bachmann EZ Command will not be able to be used on the same layout with either of them. I would consign it to the workbench for testing... You will find that once you upgrade to one of the above systems, you will wonder how you got by on the EX Command! Jim
Thank you. I'm trying to keep my layout basic without lighting and power switching for the moment. since I cannot use the Powercab or Xtra with Bachmann, could I use two Bachmann EZ command controls?
Mr. LMD I'm trying to keep my layout basic without lighting and power switching for the moment. since I cannot use the Powercab or Xtra with Bachmann, could I use two Bachmann EZ command controls?
I'm trying to keep my layout basic without lighting and power switching for the moment. since I cannot use the Powercab or Xtra with Bachmann, could I use two Bachmann EZ command controls?
No, you can not use two E-Z Commands at the same time on the same layout. I think Bachmann makes an extra throttle for the E-Z Command. However, you will still be limited to a total of 3...maybe 4 locomotives with only 1 amp output. If the locomotives have sound, drop that to 2 locomotives.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage Mr. LMD: I'm trying to keep my layout basic without lighting and power switching for the moment. since I cannot use the Powercab or Xtra with Bachmann, could I use two Bachmann EZ command controls? No, you can not use two E-Z Commands at the same time on the same layout. I think Bachmann makes an extra throttle for the E-Z Command. However, you will still be limited to a total of 3...maybe 4 locomotives with only 1 amp output. If the locomotives have sound, drop that to 2 locomotives. Tom
Mr. LMD: I'm trying to keep my layout basic without lighting and power switching for the moment. since I cannot use the Powercab or Xtra with Bachmann, could I use two Bachmann EZ command controls?
I plan on not getting sound for my locomotives just the DCC decorder installed. I know they have extra boost for the controller, but I have 15 locos I wanna run and I cannot find any controller that allows you to use them on the layout. Thank you for letting me know that you cannot use more than one controller.
edited: I 14 locomotives with hopes to 15. I bought an undecorated Kato E8/9 A last night with hopes of buying a Life-Like E9 undecorated 3 pack, 2 A's (one dummy) and one B unit, from this seller on Ebay. The E8s will be apart of the tourist train portion on my layout. That will be 6 steam and two diesels on one controller which I intend on doing and the other controller will be for the diesels.
I looked at the Powercab and will get two of them since you can use them both on a layout from what I have read a few minutes ago.
thank you both
Getting two Powercabs is kind of expensive. You don;t need two Powercabs, you need a Powercab set plus one of any of the other NCE throttles to run the second train. You don't need all the extra stuff that comes with the Powercab twice for just one layout.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Getting two Powercabs is kind of expensive. You don;t need two Powercabs, you need a Powercab set plus one of any of the other NCE throttles to run the second train. You don't need all the extra stuff that comes with the Powercab twice for just one layout. --Randy
Including an extra throttle pack, would I be able to run all of my locos off one of them?
You can't run 10 locos all at the same tiem with it, no. You'd need to add a booster. You can;t run 10 all at once with the Bachmann, either.
Just how big a layotu are you building? The capacity specifications for DCC systems are the theoretically maximum you can have runnign at one time. It has no beraing on how many locos you cna OWN. There's also a huge difference between the Bachmann and every other system - with Bachmann you set a loco to one fo the 10 buttons (9 actually, the 10th button is for a loco without a decoder). If you ahve more than 10 locos, you will have to assign multipel ones to the same button, and either remove the one you don;t want to run, or set up isolated sidings to cut the power on the ones you don;t want to run (back to DC wiring, defeats the whole purpose of DCC, really). On the other systems out there, you assign an address, anythign you want, but the easiest to use is the cab number of the loco. WHen you want to run a particualr loco, you key in the cab number to select the address, and off you go. How many locos you own does not matter, anythign not actually selected ont he cab will just sit there. The key is how many you can run at one time.
The PowerCab can run 2 at the same time, one you set and the switch to the second. Only one is active at a time, and you use the recall to switch between them. Add another throttle and you can have 3 trains running at the same time. The basic PowerCab has enough power to run 4-8 N scale locos at one time. If you add the SB3a SmartBooster, you can plug in up to 4 total cabs and run up to 12 trains at once.
Another alternative is the Digitrax Zephyr Xtra. That system has enough power for at least 12-16 N scale locos, and likely a lot more, as I ran 8 HO locos with my original Zephyr and did not reach overload, and the Zephyr Xtra has even more power. You can plug in up to 20 more throttles, and it can run up to 20 trains simultaneously.
I know you are trying desperately to not accept that your EZCommand was not the right system for you, but you just have to face it. You have outgrown it. It's time to buy an expandable system. There are several from which to choose.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
rrinker You can't run 10 locos all at the same tiem with it, no. You'd need to add a booster. You can;t run 10 all at once with the Bachmann, either. Just how big a layotu are you building? The capacity specifications for DCC systems are the theoretically maximum you can have runnign at one time. It has no beraing on how many locos you cna OWN. There's also a huge difference between the Bachmann and every other system - with Bachmann you set a loco to one fo the 10 buttons (9 actually, the 10th button is for a loco without a decoder). If you ahve more than 10 locos, you will have to assign multipel ones to the same button, and either remove the one you don;t want to run, or set up isolated sidings to cut the power on the ones you don;t want to run (back to DC wiring, defeats the whole purpose of DCC, really). On the other systems out there, you assign an address, anythign you want, but the easiest to use is the cab number of the loco. WHen you want to run a particualr loco, you key in the cab number to select the address, and off you go. How many locos you own does not matter, anythign not actually selected ont he cab will just sit there. The key is how many you can run at one time. The PowerCab can run 2 at the same time, one you set and the switch to the second. Only one is active at a time, and you use the recall to switch between them. Add another throttle and you can have 3 trains running at the same time. The basic PowerCab has enough power to run 4-8 N scale locos at one time. If you add the SB3a SmartBooster, you can plug in up to 4 total cabs and run up to 12 trains at once. Another alternative is the Digitrax Zephyr Xtra. That system has enough power for at least 12-16 N scale locos, and likely a lot more, as I ran 8 HO locos with my original Zephyr and did not reach overload, and the Zephyr Xtra has even more power. You can plug in up to 20 more throttles, and it can run up to 20 trains simultaneously. --Randy
I'm sorry if i'm giving you a difficult time, I'm more of a visual learner than book learner if that make sense. my original idea was to get two separate Bachmann EZ command controls: one for my diesel and the other for the steam. However, the gentleman before you told me that it would be impossible for that to happen because of the Bachmann controller so he recommended two other brands which I looked into and I'm planning on getting the Digitrax Zephyr Xtra for the reason that you said "That system has enough power for at least 12-16 N scale locos".
I don't plan on running all the locos at one time because that would be a mess. I will run 1-2 at a time 3 tops during a session. I'm just looking for a controller that will allow me to control, if possible, all of my locos instead of the painful task of buying two and wiring since is why I will sell my Bachmann and purchase the Digitrax Zephyr Xtra instead. I have not measure my area of room where I will place my layout but in the coming days I will have a separate post of me constructing my layout. I have a few locos that have Railroad names on them and the rest are undecorated and unlettered which was my first idea to go, but didnt have the money at the time.
Thank you once again :)
Phoebe Vet I know you are trying desperately to not accept that your EZCommand was not the right system for you, but you just have to face it. You have outgrown it. It's time to buy an expandable system. There are several from which to choose.
To be honest, it was the only one at the time that was at an affordable price and I sure as hell will sell it when I get a better controller. I just want to keep my layout basic when constructed then in the future i will add electric features like lit structures, etc.
Mr. LMD Phoebe Vet: I know you are trying desperately to not accept that your EZCommand was not the right system for you, but you just have to face it. You have outgrown it. It's time to buy an expandable system. There are several from which to choose. To be honest, it was the only one at the time that was at an affordable price and I sure as hell will sell it when I get a better controller. I just want to keep my layout basic when constructed then in the future i will add electric features like lit structures, etc.
Phoebe Vet: I know you are trying desperately to not accept that your EZCommand was not the right system for you, but you just have to face it. You have outgrown it. It's time to buy an expandable system. There are several from which to choose.
Actually, after reading your last post where you said you will be only running two or three trains at a time, you can use your EZCommand if you install a switch so you can turn off the power to your staging tracks. You can have more than one engine with the same address as long as they are not on the powered portion of the layout at the same time.
But I believe that you will be happier with the Zephyr.
Phoebe Vet Mr. LMD: Phoebe Vet: I know you are trying desperately to not accept that your EZCommand was not the right system for you, but you just have to face it. You have outgrown it. It's time to buy an expandable system. There are several from which to choose. To be honest, it was the only one at the time that was at an affordable price and I sure as hell will sell it when I get a better controller. I just want to keep my layout basic when constructed then in the future i will add electric features like lit structures, etc. Actually, after reading your last post where you said you will be only running two or three trains at a time, you can use your EZCommand if you install a switch so you can turn off the power to your staging tracks. You can have more than one engine with the same address as long as they are not on the powered portion of the layout at the same time. But I believe that you will be happier with the Zephyr.
Mr. LMD: Phoebe Vet: I know you are trying desperately to not accept that your EZCommand was not the right system for you, but you just have to face it. You have outgrown it. It's time to buy an expandable system. There are several from which to choose. To be honest, it was the only one at the time that was at an affordable price and I sure as hell will sell it when I get a better controller. I just want to keep my layout basic when constructed then in the future i will add electric features like lit structures, etc.
I already planned that I will use manual turnouts for my layouts since it will not put a lot of stress on my family house aging electric system or whatever the real term to describe it lol. Yes I will be buying the Zephyr because I can run all my locos on one system without any major problems if that.
Thank you for the advice about using my EZ command for the turnouts, but like everyone have said it's done and it needs to go.
If you go with the Zypher,save up to get a UP5 panel and a DT402 throttle. Or get a UR91 panel and a DT402R simpex throttle or a UR92 panel and a DT402D duplex throttle. The DT402 is a tethered throttle. The DT402R and DT402D are wirelees. Both are 2 throttles in one. Or get a UT4 throttle . These are available in the tethered and wireless versions as well. Go to the Digitrax web site for more info. Joe,
The cheapest throttle is free and if you already have a laptop/computer then you can have as many throttles as you want for very little money if you use the Digitrax loconet system. Other DCC systems have a similar capability, I'm just not that familiar with their LAN capabilities and ease of use. DecoderPro is tied to our loconet via the Locobuffer USB (digitrax has their PR3 interface too). and so with the laptop and JMRI (Decoder Pro) software we have many throttles and can program most all decoders with a GUI (more intuitive) interface.
http://jmri.sourceforge.net/
Richard
Thank you for the advice and informing me on Digitrax over products, but I'm going to stick with the Digitrax Zephyr Xtra since I won't have to wire very much and it will keep things simple and easy to maintain.
Train Modeler The cheapest throttle is free and if you already have a laptop/computer then you can have as many throttles as you want for very little money if you use the Digitrax loconet system. Other DCC systems have a similar capability, I'm just not that familiar with their LAN capabilities and ease of use. DecoderPro is tied to our loconet via the Locobuffer USB (digitrax has their PR3 interface too). and so with the laptop and JMRI (Decoder Pro) software we have many throttles and can program most all decoders with a GUI (more intuitive) interface. http://jmri.sourceforge.net/ Richard
Thank you also Mr. Richard. I went to the link you provided and looked around the tutorial and screenshots provided and found that their program seem very complicated to me. I'm just going to focus on getting the Digitrax Zephyr Xtra instead, but if that doesn't work I will look into their programming. thank you
I recently contacted the Digitrax tech team and one of their representative told me that I can run up to 20 locomotives with their Digitrax Zephyr Xtra controller. I was searching for an exact number for how many locomotives I can have on their products and the Zephyr is the right fit for my layout.
Thank you guys for your time and patience.
But you're not going to run 20 locomotives simultaneously. You said earlier that you would only run 2-3 at a time. So, the "20" number is really meaningless then.
I'm NOT saying that you shouldn't get the Zephyr Xtra. It's a very nice system and will serve you very well. Your conclusions for getting it just doesn't make sense - at least to me.
tstage But you're not going to run 20 locomotives simultaneously. You said earlier that you would only run 2-3 at a time. So, the "20" number is really meaningless then. I'm NOT saying that you shouldn't get the Zephyr Xtra. It's a very nice system and will serve you very well. Your conclusions for getting it just doesn't make sense - at least to me. Tom
I know what you mean and I'm sorry if I didn't clarify it right. I want to have all of my locomotives on one system without having an extra controller just to control them.
I am not sure you understand. With the Zephyr, you can have lots of locomotives on the track. To run one, you select it on the throttle. When you are done running it, deselect it and select another, The 20 limit is how many you can be running AT THE SAME TIME. Parked locos don't count.
Mr. LMD tstage: But you're not going to run 20 locomotives simultaneously. You said earlier that you would only run 2-3 at a time. So, the "20" number is really meaningless then. I'm NOT saying that you shouldn't get the Zephyr Xtra. It's a very nice system and will serve you very well. Your conclusions for getting it just doesn't make sense - at least to me. Tom I know what you mean and I'm sorry if I didn't clarify it right. I want to have all of my locomotives on one system without having an extra controller just to control them.
tstage: But you're not going to run 20 locomotives simultaneously. You said earlier that you would only run 2-3 at a time. So, the "20" number is really meaningless then. I'm NOT saying that you shouldn't get the Zephyr Xtra. It's a very nice system and will serve you very well. Your conclusions for getting it just doesn't make sense - at least to me. Tom
I still don't think we are all on the same page concerning what you want to do. What exactly do you mean "have all my locomotives on one system without having an extra controller just to control them"?
Are you looking for a system where you can enter all your locomotive numbers onto the controller at one time and then scroll through the list every time you want to run one of them? I don't believe that there is any DCC system out there that will do that.
Looking at page 17 of the manual for the Zephyr Extra (http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/products/starter-sets/dcs51/documents/ZephyrXtra.pdf) it comes with a factory default recall stack of two locomotives. The instructions indicate that you can change this to either 4 or 8. The recall stack is where you can pre-enter the numbers for different locos and then "recall" them one at a time to run them. So the most you can store is eight. That doesn't mean that you cannot run a 9th loco. But if you want to run this additional loco from the list, one of the other 8 has to drop off. When you spoke to the Digitrax rep and he told you that you could run 20 locos, I suspect that he meant that there was power enough to do so. I doubt that he meant that you could store that many locos in the recall stack (unless they have changed something and the manual I referenced from their website is not the latest and greatest).
The next question is how many trains do you want to have moving at the same time? I believe that you mentioned three. So okay, with the Zephyr you can get the first train moving, recall the loco number for the second train and get it moving, and do the same for the third. But you need to realize that you are only actually controlling one train at a time. So if you get occupied with the first moving train and suddenly notice that the third will crash into the second unless you slow it down, you will have to recall its loco number to regain control. To be able to control more than one train simultaneously will require another controller (handset).
Extra controller...or extra throttle? There is a difference. You can not operate two DCC systems [controllers] on the same layout. You can, however, add an extra throttle(s) to a DCC system.
maxman Mr. LMD: tstage: But you're not going to run 20 locomotives simultaneously. You said earlier that you would only run 2-3 at a time. So, the "20" number is really meaningless then. I'm NOT saying that you shouldn't get the Zephyr Xtra. It's a very nice system and will serve you very well. Your conclusions for getting it just doesn't make sense - at least to me. Tom I know what you mean and I'm sorry if I didn't clarify it right. I want to have all of my locomotives on one system without having an extra controller just to control them. I still don't think we are all on the same page concerning what you want to do. What exactly do you mean "have all my locomotives on one system without having an extra controller just to control them"? Are you looking for a system where you can enter all your locomotive numbers onto the controller at one time and then scroll through the list every time you want to run one of them? I don't believe that there is any DCC system out there that will do that. Looking at page 17 of the manual for the Zephyr Extra (http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/products/starter-sets/dcs51/documents/ZephyrXtra.pdf) it comes with a factory default recall stack of two locomotives. The instructions indicate that you can change this to either 4 or 8. The recall stack is where you can pre-enter the numbers for different locos and then "recall" them one at a time to run them. So the most you can store is eight. That doesn't mean that you cannot run a 9th loco. But if you want to run this additional loco from the list, one of the other 8 has to drop off. When you spoke to the Digitrax rep and he told you that you could run 20 locos, I suspect that he meant that there was power enough to do so. I doubt that he meant that you could store that many locos in the recall stack (unless they have changed something and the manual I referenced from their website is not the latest and greatest). The next question is how many trains do you want to have moving at the same time? I believe that you mentioned three. So okay, with the Zephyr you can get the first train moving, recall the loco number for the second train and get it moving, and do the same for the third. But you need to realize that you are only actually controlling one train at a time. So if you get occupied with the first moving train and suddenly notice that the third will crash into the second unless you slow it down, you will have to recall its loco number to regain control. To be able to control more than one train simultaneously will require another controller (handset).
Mr. LMD: tstage: But you're not going to run 20 locomotives simultaneously. You said earlier that you would only run 2-3 at a time. So, the "20" number is really meaningless then. I'm NOT saying that you shouldn't get the Zephyr Xtra. It's a very nice system and will serve you very well. Your conclusions for getting it just doesn't make sense - at least to me. Tom I know what you mean and I'm sorry if I didn't clarify it right. I want to have all of my locomotives on one system without having an extra controller just to control them.
Q1: What exactly do you mean "have all my locomotives on one system without having an extra controller just to control them"?
A1: I want to have all of my locos under one controller so i do not have to wire two controllers for my layout.
Q2: Are you looking for a system where you can enter all your locomotive numbers onto the controller at one time and then scroll through the list every time you want to run one of them? I don't believe that there is any DCC system out there that will do that.
A2: I'm not looking for a controller that function likes that because there probably any that exist. I just one my locomotives on one controller WITHOUT needing a second controller because I do not want to have extra power on my current house electric grid due to its old age.
tstage Extra controller or extra throttle? There is a difference. You can not operate two DCC systems [controllers] on the same layout. You can, however, add an extra throttle(s) to a DCC system. Tom
Extra controller or extra throttle? There is a difference. You can not operate two DCC systems [controllers] on the same layout. You can, however, add an extra throttle(s) to a DCC system.
Yes i know that now after the first person told me that. I was talking about the controller not throttle because I still do not know what that is until I did some research about it.
My guess is that you are looking at DCC through the eyes of DC. With DC, in order to control two separate locomotives, you have to have two cabs [controllers] and run the locomotives on separate tracks/blocks.
With DCC, you can operate several locomotives from the same DCC system - albeit the base unit or with the combination of the base unit and and extra throttle(s). The only need for adding an additional throttle is if someone else wants to run locomotives with you. The throttle uses the DCC system base unit for power.
There is no additional wiring needed to add an additional throttle. Just plug it into the Zephyr. There is no additional load on your house wiring. You can add several additional throttles if you like, but you won't need to.The Zephyr has one throttle built in.
tstage My guess is that you are looking at DCC through the eyes of DC. With DC, in order to control two separate locomotives, you have to have two cabs [controllers] and run the locomotives on separate tracks/blocks. With DCC, you can operate several locomotives from the same DCC system - albeit the base unit or with the combination of the base unit and and extra throttle(s). The only need for adding an additional throttle is if someone else wants to run locomotives with you. The throttle uses the DCC system base unit for power. Tom
I know i can run many more locos with DCC control. However, i do not want to run all of my locos at once, but i do want to have them all on my layout when i want to run them independently when the others are in their respective places. Just like when other modelers wanna run one of their locos or trains while the others arent being used, i want to do the same thing with mine. That is what I posted to the modelers at the beginning of my post.
I have 15, soon to be 17 locomotives, and an outdated Bachmann EZ command that a fellow modeler told me to get rid of. I want to have all of my locos on ONE controller so when I want to run them, I will have to have more than one DCC controller because a controller can only have so many locos.
That is why I contacted Digitrax because I wanted to know how many locomotives I can have on one of their controllers so I wouldnt have to pay a lot of money going through controllers til i found the right one.
I'm sorry if i'm not that clear to anyone who is posting, I do have a learning disability and typing things out isn't my best way of explaining things.
Phoebe Vet There is no additional wiring needed to add an additional throttle. Just plug it into the Zephyr. There is no additional load on your house wiring. You can add several additional throttles if you like, but you won't need to.The Zephyr has one throttle built in.
So how many boosters or throttles would i need for my basic future layout?
Just the Zephyr. If you add a throttle then you can control two at once, In fact if you add the 402 series throttle, you can control three at once because the 402 can control two itself.
Check out this video: I would run it full screen because it has some small letters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTQA11-UE50