Bachmann EZ Dynamis 00 Gauge

[DRS Crewe On A Mission]

Hi all,

 

I wonder if anyone could help me?

 

At the moment I have a 00 Gauge layout controlled by the Bachmann EZ Dynamis. On the current layout I only have one full circuit of track with a depot and a freight yard coming off of it. I am considering building a new layout with two full circuits of track. The outer circuit would probably have a few sidings coming off of it whilst the inner circuit would have a depot and freight yard coming off of it like what I have at the moment. Is it possible for the Bachmann EZ Dynamis to control to full circuits of track with the above coming off of each circuit?

 

Also would I be able to cross the locos on track from the inner circuit to the outer circuit and vice versa without their been any problems?

 

At the moment I have two connecting wires which are connected into the piece of straight track to operate the layout. Would I need another set of the two wires and another connecting straight piece to operate a second circuit of track?

 

Also is their a way to ensure that track isn't isolated? For example if I was running a train on the inner circuit and outer circuit at the same time how could I ensure that the train on the outer circuit can still run when the points between the two circuits would be closed?

 

Thank you very much in advance.

 

Any help is very much appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[traction]

Hi all,

 

I wonder if anyone could help me?

 

At the moment I have a 00 Gauge layout controlled by the Bachmann EZ Dynamis. On the current layout I only have one full circuit of track with a depot and a freight yard coming off of it. I am considering building a new layout with two full circuits of track. The outer circuit would probably have a few sidings coming off of it whilst the inner circuit would have a depot and freight yard coming off of it like what I have at the moment. Is it possible for the Bachmann EZ Dynamis to control to full circuits of track with the above coming off of each circuit?

 

Also would I be able to cross the locos on track from the inner circuit to the outer circuit and vice versa without their been any problems?

 

At the moment I have two connecting wires which are connected into the piece of straight track to operate the layout. Would I need another set of the two wires and another connecting straight piece to operate a second circuit of track?

 

Also is their a way to ensure that track isn't isolated? For example if I was running a train on the inner circuit and outer circuit at the same time how could I ensure that the train on the outer circuit can still run when the points between the two circuits would be closed?

 

Thank you very much in advance.

 

Any help is very much appreciated.

 

 

Simple answer yes the Dynamis will run the whole layout.

The limit to the number of locos you can run will be the power available from the Dynamis.

 

I don't know what the Dynamis power supply is but if its say 3amps you will easily be able to run 4 locos at the same time, which I doubt you would be able to manage, without some frantic switching between locos.

What you could do is have a loco running around each loop and then shunt the sidings, this would be no problem.

 

You have the two wires coming from the Dynamis which in ideal circumstances would make the whole layout live, but as you rightly say if you've used insul-frog points when you switch these the track after the point would go dead.

Hornby have got round this by using their DCC point clips, which slot into the point so that it doesn't matter which way you turn the point the tracks after it will always stay live.

 

The better alternative is to use the power bus.

Basically you run two wires below the baseboard under the layout and then connect your two wires from the Dynamis to these.

You then solder wire droppers from the track to the two wires running below the baseboard, making sure you keep all the right side rails to one wire and all the left hand rails to the other wire.

Ideally the droppers are placed all the way round the layout so you are not relying on the fish-plates for good conductivity.

soldering droppers on all of the sidings will make them live no matter how the points are switched.

 

I would suggest going to Brian-Lambert's web site as it's full of very good easily digested information.

 

http://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/

 

Hope that helps.

 

Cheers

 

Ian

[Ron Ron Ron]

....I have a 00 Gauge layout controlled by the Bachmann EZ Dynamis.....

 

.....Is it possible for the Bachmann EZ Dynamis to control two full circuits of track with the above coming off of each circuit?

It's important to keep things simple, but also to understand a couple of basic principles about how DCC works.

 

Firstly, a DCC system does not control a layout, nor does it control any track, circuits or otherwise.

 

Secondly, it does two things.

 

1. Provides power to the track, or layout.

All the track is live and powered at full power.

 

2. Allows you to control or Drive your trains and to control or operate accessories, or other devices, on the layout (e.g. turnout motors)

This is achieved by the user sending control commands (signals) to the trains or accessories.

The actual control of a loco or accessory, is performed by the decoders (chips) fitted to them.

 

It's important to understand this and not to think about controlling track, as with DC, but to think about directly driving (controlling) trains and operating accessories etc.

 

 

Also would I be able to cross the locos on track from the inner circuit to the outer circuit and vice versa without their been any problems?

 

The only issue will be one of creating short circuits when a loco, or train's wheels, cross onto and bridge between track with opposing polarity.

This is overcome by wiring the track carefully, using some simple principles and by using isolating rail joiners in the appropriate places.

There are plenty of on-line guides and web sites that can help here; such as the one mentioned by Ian.

 

 

At the moment I have two connecting wires which are connected into the piece of straight track to operate the layout. Would I need another set of the two wires and another connecting straight piece to operate a second circuit of track?

 

Also is their a way to ensure that track isn't isolated? For example if I was running a train on the inner circuit and outer circuit at the same time how could I ensure that the train on the outer circuit can still run when the points between the two circuits would be closed?

As Ian says, to ensure an adequate and reliable power supply to all track, use a simple Power Bus from which to connect all the track at frequent places around the layout.

Whilst soldering is often preferred, connections can be by other methods, such as connecting blocks, terminal blocks, automotive suitcase connectors etc.

 

.

[DRS Crewe On A Mission]

Hi Ian & Ron,

 

Firstly thank you for the replies!

 

Yes I have been considering how I would be able to switch between locos so quickly and this may prove difficult. I was just thinking this method of operation so that more trains can see use at once. I have at least 25 modern image diesel locos and the problem I have sometimes is that some see more use than others and the main reason behind this is because I only have one full circuit of track.

 

Yes one concern is the outside loop of track going dead when the points are closed. This would mean no movement, lights or sound functions from any locos on the outer loop. Would the Hornby DCC clips work for me working with a Bachmann Dynamis controller? Also how complex are these to install considering that I am probably going to have around 30 points on the layout? Do you know where these clips can be bought from and how much they are?

 

The powerbus idea sounds great but I might have found a problem. I am planning on having the layout around one room in a square shape so that the layout can run around all four walls and I can be stood in the middle controlling it which allows easy access to trains and clean track etc. Would I am be able to have the wires running under each of the four separate boards which would be joined together to make the square?

 

Thank you for the website I will take a look at it.

 

Thank you for the information about the power bus I will have to do some research on it.

[traction]

No problem on running the layout around the edge of a room.

Just have the power bus running below the baseboard and join it up with connector block, you don't need to have the power bus as a complete square, you could have it as a U shape.

 

The point clips work for any type of Insulfrog points, they are made by Hornby but for all intense and purposes they are just a very thin staple like shape bit of metal that springs into the point.

Most model shops have them and they just spring into place, very very simple, although I've used them with no issues I would still prefer to use the power bus for reliability.

 

Link to point clips, if you look at the picture carefully you can see how they fit into the point:-

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hornby-Accessories-R8232-DCC-Digital-Electric-Point-Clips-Pack-of-20/111530326432?_trksid=p2054897.c100204.m3164&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140407115239%26meid%3Db99eb45f012a4195af10cd712e43ce46%26pid%3D100204%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D26%26sd%3D331441067815

 

Cheers

 

Ian

[DRS Crewe On A Mission]

Thank you again for the reply.

 

Its good to know that I have the option of the power bus or the point clips. Yes the power bus would be good for improved reliability. So am I right in thinking that both methods would allow all of the points and track to be live even if the points were closed?

 

So would the point clips be able to be used for the second circuit of track to allow two full circuits of track to be live by the time? Or would this create a problem?

 

Thank you very much in advance.

[Mike Storey]

Everything they said, BUT Rule no.1 for the power bus - do not form it as a circle! It must NOT join up at each end. Make it a U-shape and you will be fine. You do not then need the point clips, which are a far more expensive option than creating a bus wire anyway, if you ensure you wire up each siding or loop that could be isolated by points, to the bus wires. For those sidings where it doesn't matter if it goes dead when you change the points, then you don't have to bother, but it does improve reliability if you do wire all of them.

[traction]

A bit off topic but

 

I've never quite understood why everyone insists that the bus is not made into a circle?

When you buy a DCC train set it comes with a circle of track, you connect the controller to the track with the two wires it comes with.

Hey presto the rails have now become the circle of wire, where's the difference?

 

My power bus is a complete ring main and no issues at all.

 

 

Thank you again for the reply.

 

Its good to know that I have the option of the power bus or the point clips. Yes the power bus would be good for improved reliability. So am I right in thinking that both methods would allow all of the points and track to be live even if the points were closed?

 

So would the point clips be able to be used for the second circuit of track to allow two full circuits of track to be live by the time? Or would this create a problem?

 

Thank you very much in advance.

 

 

It will be fine to use the point clips on every point.

Could be expensive to use point clips, but if you can't be bothered to solder droppers all round the layout and buy the wire required then the cost isn't too much either way.

 

Cheers

 

Ian

[DRS Crewe On A Mission]

Thank you for the replies Mike & Ian.

 

So just to confirm the point clips could be used on all of the points around the layout including the outer circuit of track?

 

Would the clips ensure that their is conductivity to the outer circuit of track even when the points are closed to allow locos to run, have lights on and have sound on?

 

Thank you very much in advance.

[Mike Storey]

A bit off topic but

 

I've never quite understood why everyone insists that the bus is not made into a circle?

When you buy a DCC train set it comes with a circle of track, you connect the controller to the track with the two wires it comes with.

Hey presto the rails have now become the circle of wire, where's the difference?

 

My power bus is a complete ring main and no issues at all.

 

 

 

 

It will be fine to use the point clips on every point.

Could be expensive to use point clips, but if you can't be bothered to solder droppers all round the layout and buy the all wire then the cost isn't too much either way.

 

Cheers

 

Ian

 

Interesting. My layouts have never been a complete loop, despite being continuous, because I have always used electrofrog points, thus requiring isolation breaks on the rails. But I see what you mean for dead frog layouts. I always followed the gurus and that always seemed to be the rule! You have made me wonder why now? It was supposed to be to stop conflicting "waves" in the AC current, but I have seen elsewhere that it would have to be a gigantic layout for that to be a problem, and also to prevent shorts becoming catastrophic, and to improve fault detection, but why? Have you never had shorts or faults to detect? Is this another myth?? 

[Mike Storey]

Thank you for the replies Mike & Ian.

 

So just to confirm the point clips could be used on all of the points around the layout including the outer circuit of track?

 

Would the clips ensure that their is conductivity to the outer circuit of track even when the points are closed to allow locos to run, have lights on and have sound on?

 

Thank you very much in advance.

 

Yes, so long as at no point, your layout forms either a triangle or a reversing loop, in which case you will immediately short out the layout! This is because the charge on each rail would be reversed, which electricity does not like. If either formation exists, then retain the isolating point(s) at those locations as an isolating point(s). Even then, I would install a reversing unit (to change the polarity) to prevent shorting as a loco crossed the points - you will need to read up on that as there are several ways of doing it now.

[traction]

Thank you for the replies Mike & Ian.

 

So just to confirm the point clips could be used on all of the points around the layout including the outer circuit of track?

 

Would the clips ensure that their is conductivity to the outer circuit of track even when the points are closed to allow locos to run, have lights on and have sound on?

 

Thank you very much in advance.

 

Yes the point clips( two clips per point) could be used on the whole layout, two wires to the track and the fish plates and point clips should power the whole layout.

You could use a few track connecting clips and put these around the layout bring all the wires from these back to a connector block, all the wires from say the left rail into one side of the connector and all the wires from the right rail go into the other side of the connector then use the two wires from your controller into this connector block, it should help with getting power around the layout if it's large.

 

 

Interesting. My layouts have never been a complete loop, despite being continuous, because I have always used electrofrog points, thus requiring isolation breaks on the rails. But I see what you mean for dead frog layouts. I always followed the gurus and that always seemed to be the rule! You have made me wonder why now? It was supposed to be to stop conflicting "waves" in the AC current, but I have seen elsewhere that it would have to be a gigantic layout for that to be a problem, and also to prevent shorts becoming catastrophic, and to improve fault detection, but why? Have you never had shorts or faults to detect? Is this another myth?? 

 

If you still use the insulated fish plates on the V of the frog rails it will still isolate it, and if you do solder droppers to an oval of track then power is being supplied everywhere anyway.

I've never had a problem and short circuits still get detected, so no idea where this has come from, maybe you are right with the 'conflicting waves' but as I've no issues seems a bit odd.

 

Cheers

 

Ian

[DRS Crewe On A Mission]

I might consider the methods using the clips. The power bus sounds like a good idea but also sounds slightly more technical.

 

Have you ever had any problems using the clips on the points? For example loss of power or conductivity to the track etc?

 

Also how big is your layout?

 

The layout size would be 7ft by 6ft. Would this mean that I would need to use track connecting clips and a connector block?

 

Thank you very much in advance.

[traction]

I might consider the methods using the clips. The power bus sounds like a good idea but also sounds slightly more technical.

 

Have you ever had any problems using the clips on the points? For example loss of power or conductivity to the track etc?

 

Also how big is your layout?

 

The layout size would be 7ft by 6ft. Would this mean that I would need to use track connecting clips and a connector block?

 

Thank you very much in advance.

 

Lay out the track, fit the point clips to all points connect the controller and see if you can run a loco on every bit of track.

If it stalls then add a track connecting clip near where it stalls and take this back to the controller, to get the power there.

I don't have the layout now but I did try it on a 6ftx4ft layout and all was OK.

 

If you do this before any ballasting or scenic work it's an easy fix to make it right.

 

Cheers

 

Ian

[Ron Ron Ron]

I might consider the methods using the clips. The power bus sounds like a good idea but also sounds slightly more technical.

 

The point clips are a train set solution and IMHO not a long term fix.

There is absolutely nothing "technical" about a Power Bus. It's just a more reliable means of getting power to the rails all round the layout.

If you can count the fingers on your hand, you can figure out how to wire a Power Bus.

 

Failure to take the simple measures of wiring up properly, may be regretted later on.

As Ian said.......

 

If you do this before any ballasting or scenic work it's an easy fix to make it right.

 

If or when electrical continuity starts to break down at the rail joiners, or some of those point clips work loose, you might end up regretting not having wiring up adequately. Especially if access to the track is limited or difficult because of ballast and scenic work.

 

 

.

[DRS Crewe On A Mission]

Thank you again for the replies.

 

I will have to consider which method I am going to use. Its good to know that the Power Bus method isn't too technical.

 

Could you tell me the steps involved in installing the Power Bus method and also what I need to be able to do this? I may decide to choose this option seen as though I am creating a brand new layout with new boards, new track, new scenery and more new locos and rolling stock. Like you say the easier method may be regretted later on as their could be problems with the conductivity of the locos on the track if the clips come out or come loose.

 

Thank you very much in advance.

[Nigelcliffe]

Power Bus = two reasonably fat wires around your layout. Tap into those two wires where convenient to provide power to the track.

 

Don't skimp on the bus wires, decent fat wire will be more reliable.

 

When you connect each bit of track to the power bus, perform a "coin test". With this you deliberately short the track with a coin, and your command station should trip instantly - if it doesn't trip then your wiring isn't good enough.

[Phil S]

Don't forget, that if using 'track power clips/connectors' to connect from your dcc controller output - hereafter called the 'track power bus' - to the rails, there must be NO CAPACITOR in the power clip: these are ALWAYS included for 'analogue/dc' use, but must not be left in-situ if re-used for dcc !!! (cut them out with a pair of wire cutters)

 

(This is NOT the same as discussion about removing the capacitor mounted next to the motor, inside a loco - although these perform the same job with 'unfitted locos'  in analogue/dc layouts; when used in dcc layouts, there is a LOCO DECODER inserted between them, even if the (dcc-fitted) loco is then used on an analogue layout.

The DCC Track signal is AC (even though it is not a sinusoidal  ac waveform), and therefore there must be NO CAPACITOR across the track, as it would appear as a short circuit.

[DRS Crewe On A Mission]

Thank you for the replies.

 

All of the information you have given about the Power Bus and DCC Clips will help me to make plans for the new layout. I am just trying to considering my options. I know that either of these methods will work although the Power Bus will be more reliable. I am going to see first of all if I have enough room for a second circuit of track as on the new layout I will have to allow for a depot and freight yard. I will also have to consider how I would transfer the locos from the depot onto the outer circuit as this would mean stopping the train on the inner circuit to allow trains to transfer lines. This maybe quite complicated and I would also have to consider where I would store locos and rolling stock from the outer line otherwise every time I wanted to change locos or stock over the trains on the inner line would have to be stopped ton access the depot and freight yard.

 

I will have to consider if a second circuit would be beneficial to enable more trains to run at the same time or if it would be too complex when switching trains and rolling stock.

 

What would be the worse case scenario if a DCC Clip came off or came loose? Would the whole layout be short circuited and cut out or would it just affect that one line/siding from been live?

 

Thank you in advance.

[Anthony566]

Hi as i had a Dynamis for 2 years i thought i would add how i used it.

 

At the time i had a layout that was 16 feet x 8 feet with 4 lines and sidings the power supply with the Dynamis work just fine running 4 locos on the main lines and operating locos in the sidings.

 

On this layout i had a single power clip conected to the layout and Hornby DCC power clips on all of my points this worked without any problem's at all.

 

You will soon work out an operating plan when you are running more than one loco ie before moving a loco from your inner line to the outer line ( or vice versa ) you will stop and hold one loco then carry out the line Change this is one of the best things about DCC you can have mutiple locos on the same line yet only move the loloco you select.

 

As for a power bus and keeping things simple my sugestion to you would be if you in the future do have power issues then just add additional track power clips and run cable back to the Dynamis.

 

Remember this is your layout and if you are happy with its operations and it works for you then its the right thing to do.

 

Good luck with the new track plan.

[michaelp]

Surely if it is to be a new layout built from scratch would it not be better to do it right first time to save work later, why tempt fate?

 

Michael

[DRS Crewe On A Mission]

Thank you Anthony and Michael for the replies.

 

I have been thinking about the new layout a lot recently. I think I am going to go for two full circuits of track with a depot and a freight yard coming off the inner circuit and a loop line and possibly a few sidings coming off the outer circuit. This would be beneficial to me as on a single track layout like what I have at the moment I can only run two trains at once. Whereas on a new layout I could run four or five over the two circuits. This would mean that trains would see a lot more use than what they do now. I also have a list of 16 locos that I would like to buy over the new two or three years which means that I need more space to run and store these locos.

 

I think on the outer track I would leave a rake of wagons their on a permanent basis and just swop the locos over. For example this could be a rake of Freightliner coal hoppers, an intermodal train or an engineers train. I could then just detach the locos and run them over to the depot or freight yard on the circuit for stabling and then attach new ones from the depot or the freight yard. After all this is what happens in reality for example at Basford Hall. Freightliner and DRS often do loco swops at Basford Hall if the loco/s are due exams or repairs or are required for other trains.

 

Its good to know that I have the option of the DCC Clips or the Power Bus. Am I right in thinking that the Power Bus would require two wires running around the layout. One for the inner track which would also run under and connect to all of the freight yard sidings and the depot area? Then the second wire would run under the outer circuit of track and connect to any lines coming off that track? I assume the wires always have to be connected to the points to enable good conductivity around the whole layout? Just to clarify this would enable every track and siding on the entire layout to be live at all times? This enables sound and lights to stay on locos and trains can run even if the points are closed?

 

Thank you for the help. The main idea of the new two circuit layout is to allow more trains to run at the same time.

[michaelp]

On my layout I have two main running lines, these are both powered by one pair of bus wires with all the tracks wired with droppers to the bus wires, dropper wires are kept as short as possible and where my colliery is I simply run a spur from the main bus wires across under the baseboards and feed the colliery tracks the same way with no problems at all.

 

If you are planning to run a few locos with sound and lights you may want to give consideration to your power supply, I'm not sure what the Dynamis power supply is to the track but my Lenz uses a 5 amp transformer which is more than adequate for my needs.

 

Michael

[DRS Crewe On A Mission]

Thank you for the reply.

 

What do you mean by having droppers to the bus wires? What are these and what is the purpose of them?

 

At the moment I only have one loco with sound and that's a Hornby Class 60. The rest of my locos have lights both directional and in the cab.

 

Thank you very much in advance.

[michaelp]

The bus wires run all the way around your layout under the baseboards, I use Red and Black, the dropper wires are soldered to the underside of every separate piece of track, the wires then go through holes in the baseboard and connected to the bus wires using suitcase connectors (no soldering) the dropper wires are also red and Black and connected to the same coloured bus wires.

 

Having dropper wires greatly improves conductivity and does away with relying on metal rail joiners to pass current from one piece of track to the next although they are still needed to join the rail sections together.

 

The wire sizes that I use are 32/0.2mm Red and Black for the bus wires and 16/0.2mm Red and Black for the dropper wires, a lot of people don't use/like scotchloks or suitcase connectors but I haven't had a problem with them, they are a quick and convenient way to connect dropper wires to the bus cables and as long as the correct size connectors are used they are fine.

 

Edited to add last paragraph

 

Michael