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Adding a Bachmann EZ Command Control Center to an existing Layout?

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  • Member since
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  • From: Western, MA
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Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, August 2, 2012 12:20 AM

Just remembered something that is not obvious to everyone. Read the manual, First. It is all there. I just check the manual to be sure.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

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Posted by cudaken on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 8:41 PM

  Many thing is if you want to run a DC engine on DCC is not to let it sit still. I have been told that is when the real damage happens.

 I have ran some of my  older DC engines on DCC and so far no ill effect.

 Cuda Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by richg1998 on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 4:06 PM

Using the EZ Command for a DC only local will cause a lot of buzzing of the motor. Nature of the beast. Many use a siding with a switch to turn off the DC only loco.

What you have is the DCC signal which is AC with the DCC zero bit stretched for positive or negative potential to operate a DC motor.

Below is a link about this.

http://members.shaw.ca/sask.rail/dcc/DCC-waveforms/DCC_waveforms.html

Locos as old as your are might not be candidates for decoder conversion. I doubt any will be plug and play.

Some locos have a split frame with a motor contact on each frame. Some use a inefficient three or five pole open frame motor. Some a pancake motor.

Motor current will probably be too high. One amp, including lights seems to be a limit for many decoders, though not all decoders.

DCC requires good pickups and as many as possible for good operation.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

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Posted by ba&prr on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 3:35 PM

Several things to know: DO NOT  connect your DC power pack and the DCC to the lay out. You can only have 1 type hooked up. Even though you can run a DC engine on DCC I do not  advise it as DCC is always on and any DC engine on the tracks will have  DCC (AC) power to them. This is bad for the motors.  If you plan on converting some of your DC engines to DCC, you need to know the AMP draw of the motors at the  stall speed. There might be a post in this forum on how to do it.   JOE 

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Posted by tstage on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 3:06 PM

NMSJR

How do I remove track to add another Terminal Joiner to use the Bachmann.  All my other Engines are 30 to 40 years old and I do not want to tamper with my setup running those.

NMSJR,

If you've already purchased the Bachmann EZ Command, you won't need another set of terminal joiners because your EZ Command will run both DC and DCC locomotives.  Unhook the track pickups from your DC power pack and attach them to the EZ Command.

Granted, with the 1-amp limitation and the older locomotives you have, you probably will only be able to run 2 locomotives - tops! - simultaneously.  (Most like only one; since older locomotive motors draw more current that newer can motors.)  Your DCC locomotive can run on addresses 1-9 and your DC locomotives will run on address 10, which is also the light button.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 2:45 PM

NMSJR - Welcome to trains.com! Captain

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Adding a Bachmann EZ Command Control Center to an existing Layout?
Posted by NMSJR on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 2:38 PM

I have just purchased my first DCC Engine.  How do I remove track to add another Terminal Joiner to use the Bachmann.  All my other Engines are 30 to 40 years old and I do not want to tamper with my setup running those.

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