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DC + DCC


Bala

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Hi

 

I visited a friend today who has a layout and was running two loco's that appeared to be a Cock of the North fitted with DCC and nice sound. The other was a Castle - very quiet no sound and apparently DC

 

Can DC & DCC be run on the same track? 

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Not DC and DCC power simultaneously on the same track but it is possible to run a DC loco on DCC using address 0. It might make a slight whining noise though. DCC fitted locos will run on DC provided they are set up to do so, which is usually the default setting. I've never tried it but I believe that some DCC sounds can work on DC too. Can anyone confirm that?

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To my knowledge the only DCC systems that still support DC loco on DCC using address 0 is lenz and possibly Digitrax and the early Bachman EZ command.

 

Most other DCC systems have dropped it yrs ago.

 

Might be OK for short periods but not really advisable as it is basically a DC motor powered by AC which the motor does not like.

 

 

 

 Cheers

 

Ian

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To my knowledge the only DCC systems that still support DC loco on DCC using address 0 is lenz and possibly Digitrax and the early Bachman EZ command.

Add ZTC 511 to that list

 

Andi

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Aimed at 'the larger scale': Both LGB MTS (currently 'from Marklin', and Massoth - who make or made all the electronics for LGB except the very original Lenz-badged 8 loco controller (?), as well as their own range: - both  of these support 'Loco 0' still** - BUT it should be noted, that even 'unfitted' locos in G Scale from LGB may have on'board electronics, and usually have some degree of 'filtering' even if only in the form of the large Buhler motor itelf.  Even so, it is not desirable to leave these stationary on the track with dcc present - but its okay for a quick test of a new loco before fitting a decoder (if it was bought without one).

The ZTC 511 also aimed itself at the G Scale market - and this may helo to explain why this feature has continued there.

 

The official advice, as I recall from the nmra website, is that 'Loco 0'/analogue unfitted running should NOT be used when the track voltage is 16V or above (obviously a value not aimed at G Scale users! - therefore all such guidance should not be taken as absolute).  This is one reason why Roco does not support it: With a SMPS 18V power supply, their track voltage is about 16V .... and they supply sets like this even for HOe ... probably for N gauge too.    How much voltage actually reaches the motor, on average, of course depends ONLY on what speed you want to run your train at !! (assuming modern hf drive)

 

**The use of Loco 0 is also usually accompanied by the 'warning' that operation of accessory decoders may be adversly affected: however I have NEVER experienced that as a problem in practice: the timing difference between 'early ZTC' (including V4 Expressnet s/w) and certain early decoders versus 'modern nmra' timing standards being the more critical factor by far!! [ I recall that early timings, as used  in MTS etc as an early adopter, can be incomaptible with current nmra dcc; from my personal experince,this was included the 'Zero-1compatible' decoders from ZTC and their accessory decoder - although later production may have changed, of course.

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Yes ZTC does allow running a non DCC loco. Never liked doing it myself, found other dcc fitted stationary locos doing strange things.

New locos are always decoder fitted first before testing.

Not sure if the new ZTC 611 will have it, or the capability to use the old Zero 1.

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In http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/70359-ztc-611-updated-controller/page-11 in post 259 TTG relates a conversation that he had with ZTC's new owners about the 611 at Reading. It will not support Zero 1. His comments about running on DC is ambiguous as the old 511 had the ability to output proper DC as well as Loco 0, and it's not clear, to me anyway, whether he was referring to the proper DC mode or Loco 0 capability.

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Thanks for your comments - I passed them on to my friend and I was told don't worry the castle was DCC fitted. It runs so quietly so I now I need to know when/if the TCC sound module is going to be sold separately for fitting in the loco or a coach. But I guess I should ask that on another forum 

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