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Programming a Bachman DCC turnout with EZ Command?

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  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Staten Island NY
  • 1,734 posts
Posted by joe323 on Friday, July 20, 2012 10:08 AM

Have you tried the turnout to see if it operates at address 3 on the easy command?  If so I would think you should hold button 3 down with the stop button until the LED flashes and then press the button that you want the turnout programmed to (then press stop again to get out of progranmming mode). then try the desired address to see if it works.

Disclaimer:  This is just a guess.  I have two remote turnouts on my layout both conventionally wired to the AC terminals on an old HO power pack.  The trains are seperately DCC powered though the EZ command and the rest of my turnouts  are manual.

 

 

  

 

 

Joe Staten Island West 

  • Member since
    July 2012
  • 5 posts
Posted by ZeppelinBoy on Thursday, July 19, 2012 11:35 PM

We lost the instructions - thus our dilemma. :-)

But finally heard from someone over in the Bachmann forum. And for anyone who finds this post in the same pickle, here is what we learned:

On the EZ Controller, press 9 then the Yellow function button. The light below the yellow button should flash. Now press the small button on the turnout and hold for 2 seconds, until it activates the turnout twice. Release the button. Back on the controller, press the number button you want to use for the turnout, quickly four times. The turnout should activate four or so times. That's it. (Up to eight turnouts or crossovers can be programmed.) It is also possible to set up the default position, but I don't know how. 

Also - all turnouts or crossovers are operated from button 9. So - to operate them, do the following:   Press 9, then the yellow function button, and then the number button you assigned to that specific turnout. It should switch positions.

Thanks!!


Z. Boy

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, July 19, 2012 10:45 PM

 Are there any instructions with the turnout? I would be very surpised if Bachmann did not have instructions for thei rown system. The net it full how how to program them with every OTHER DCC system.

                --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    July 2012
  • 5 posts
Posted by ZeppelinBoy on Thursday, July 19, 2012 10:21 PM

Aha!! Finally, someone got back to me on the Bachmann forum. And just in case someone else is in this pickle, here you go!!

"I did it this weekend and it's very simple. Press 9 on the controller, then press the Yellow function button on the controller. The light below the function button should flash on & off. Now press the small black button on the DCC turnout & hold for about two seconds until the turnout activates twice. Release the turnout button. Now press the controller button you want to use for that turnout rapidly four times. The turnout will signal it's acknowledgement four or five times. It's done. The instructions are included with the turnouts along with instructions to set the default turnout position (which was important to me). Up to eight turnouts/crossovers can be programmed (buttons one thru eight).

All turnouts/crossovers are addressed from button 9 so to operate, press 9, then the function button, & finally the turnout button you chose.


David"

  • Member since
    July 2012
  • 5 posts
Posted by ZeppelinBoy on Thursday, July 19, 2012 7:00 PM

Sadly - can't follow the instructions exactly - as it includes "place the locomotive on the track." There is a button on the track. I know I should be pushing it at some point. Sigh. It really shouldn't be this hard. And for all I know, with all of my attempts at programming it, I've probably reassigned the internal address.

So no go yet on programming the track...

 

Z Boy

 

  • Member since
    July 2012
  • 5 posts
Posted by ZeppelinBoy on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 1:58 PM

Thanks!!  Will try it right after lunch!

Yes, we realize the EZ system has limits. But ours is *mostly* happily used by a 1st grader in a one bedroom apartment. So the EZ track and the EZ command makes for a quick build and take down!! And the early start we hope gets him (and his younger brother) ensnared by railroading for a lifetime!

 

Z Boy

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 1:50 PM

 Pretty sure it's the same as programmign a loco to one of the buttons - the EZ cannot operate accessory decoders, but the Bachmann turnouts work on a motor decoder address. So you do what is needed to put the turnout into program mode, then use the same steps on the contoller that you would to assign a loco to one of the buttons. That button will now be the control for that turnout.

 No slight of the system, but moving to DCC controlled turnoiuts is already exceedign the meager capabilities of the EZ system. It just wasn;t made with that in mind.

                      --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Centennial, CO
  • 3,218 posts
Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 1:26 PM

ZeppelinBoy - Welcome to trains.com! Cowboy

  • Member since
    July 2012
  • 5 posts
Programming a Bachman DCC turnout with EZ Command?
Posted by ZeppelinBoy on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 1:22 PM

A simple question for a simple task. Unless you've lost the instructions... Sad

A search of Google, etc only reveals how to program a Bachman DCC turnout with OTHER control systems. And a lot of folks talking about how simple the programming is. But no description (even at Bachmann's site) on how to do it with EZ Command.

Any help? Thanks...

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