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Bachmann DCC on board vs Digitrax DCS50

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  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, July 11, 2019 9:24 PM

PennsyNut
Mike: You mean you run all your locos with number 03? I

No, I mean I don't run the Bachmann locos.  I have Genesis, Kato, and Atlas locos that I run regularly, along with converted Athearn blue box locos.

The "blue box" Bachmanns have the same drive train and electrical pick-up as their train set locos, and the locos that were used in the Hawthorn Village special name trains that were once popular.  It's the series they had out before the Spectrum line came out, I forget the name.

I'll probably be selling the "blue box" Bachmanns the next time I downsize.  

I do run some of my locos in 03, that run good together, instead of going through all of the steps to run a "consist".  Like running 2 locos in DC.  Find a couple that run good together, and go.  It works just fine.

Mike.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Texas, USA
  • 33 posts
Posted by PennsyNut on Thursday, July 11, 2019 9:06 PM

Mike: You mean you run all your locos with number 03? I want to change 03 to the loco number. Like all other DCC locos. BTW my name is Morgan Bilbo

A SPF,Nuts about Pennsy,what else is there?
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, July 11, 2019 12:32 PM

Last I knew, the Bachmann on board non sound is a low end Lenz decoder. With Digitrax, clip a 1k resistor across the rails when programming. From the Bachmann forums

At the Bachmann forums you can find the CV list. Not much there.

NCE some years ago designed a decoder for the Bachmann diesels. Bach-dsl. About $20.00. Much better.

Been discussed here before.

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.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, July 11, 2019 11:31 AM

I'm guessing it has something to do with the quality of the decoder Bachmann used on these.

I have a few of these, never tried to read or change a CV.  I've never used them, only to run them and see if and how they run.

I'm sure someone else will chime in with some ideas.

Mike.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Texas, USA
  • 33 posts
Bachmann DCC on board vs Digitrax DCS50
Posted by PennsyNut on Thursday, July 11, 2019 10:42 AM

Just bought a brand new blue box GP9. Looks great for such a cheap loco. Runs OK on 03 on the main right out of the box. But I can't get a CV reading on the programming track with my Zephyr. Any help?

A SPF,Nuts about Pennsy,what else is there?

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