DCC question

[john in georgetown]

.  I have added DCC as an option to my DC layout using a switch.  Since I have 5 of CONCOR FUTURA Pennsy cars that I was using in the DC mode, will the lighting work ok when I switch to DCC and use my DCC controller.  I am concerned that the voltage would be too high in the DCC mode.  I have read on one of you newer model cars that the lighting is DCC  compatible but I do not know about my Futura cars.   An example of one of the cars in my set is: Hwt Pass Pennsy "FUTURA" Coach #4005 #0001-095013.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[selector]

I don't honestly know the answer, but I would be very cautious about expecting the lights to last very long on DCC-powered rails, even in N Scale.  If they are incandescent, and rated for 13-ish volts, than they'll work, but not for long.  If they are nominally rated for continuous 10 volts for a reasonable multi-year life expectancy, then they'll burn out in a jiffy, maybe even within a few minutes.

Resistors might help.  Please be patient and wait for more knowledgeable people to chime in.

[RR_Mel]

I got this off the Con-Cor site.

"Complete with factory installed.interior lighting that works automatically in either “DC” or “DCC” mode"


Mel



 
My Model Railroad  
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 

[john in georgetown]

Thanks for the reply.  Yes I saw that info on the Concor site for newer item but my cars in question are 2 years old and did not have that info.  I have contacted Cocor but they are completely shut down due to Covid.

[wjstix]

Remember with DCC lighting it's not the power on the track going to the decoder, it's the amount of power coming out of the decoder to the bulb or LED. Many decoders can be adjusted (or set at the factory) to only allow a limited amount of power to go to the lights. Even if the incoming power is 14V AC, the LED lights may only be receiving 1.5 or 3V DC from the decoder.