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Will a Loco with Digital Installed Run on Regular Analog DC Track?
NRC asks readers:
“Will a loco with digital installed run on regular analog DC track?”
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6 Responses to Will a Loco with Digital Installed Run on Regular Analog DC Track?
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Yes, and No. It depends on the DCC decoder. Some have the ability to be set to DC mode. You should refer to the decoder’s user manual before trying it on DC.
And what do I do if I do not have the manual and am a neophyte in digital?
Hi Noel,
you can disconnect the decoder if its a plug in type and insert a blanking plug that will allow you to run on analog ask your hobby store if they have the plugs, some will or contact to loco builder company and they should be able to supply you with one. all my loco’s came with their own blanking plug but i run DCC once you have set this system up you wont want to return to dc operation.
The analog or digital selection is in CV29 (CV means Configuration Variable). If I’m not mistaken all of the newer DCC decoders can be set to run on DC. Most if not all locos are delivered from the factory with the bit that controls the DC/DCC selection set to accept DC. Be aware that many decoders are not fond of Pulse Width Modulated throttles, which is a shame because they give you the best control in DC.
To check the configuration you should be able to put the loco on your programming track and pull up the programming mode on your DCC system to check CV29. The CV29 calculator can be found here: http://www.digitrax.com/support/cv/calculators/
Hope this helps!
NRC, if you have a DCC system supplying power to your layout a fixed voltage is supplied. The decoder in your loco adjusts the amount of power to the motor and so your loco go, stops and accelerates to your command. When a non-DCC loco is placed on the track it will take off like a scalded cat, and short of turning off the main power you will have no chance of controlling it. Locos come in three modes – either “chipped”, that is with a decoder, “DCC Ready” meaning that it is wired to accept the chip of your choice, or” plain DC”. The last 2 will happily run on a DC or “analogue” layout, the first will not, normally.Some “chipped” locos have a switch to turn it from digital to analogue. You will need to check your locos. Your question does NOT related to the system you have, but the locos you run on it. I hope this helps.
Many DCC locos are designed to automatically switch to DC mode on DC track and will run perfectly without modification,
But they may only start moving at about 8V, and therefore the DC controller may have a small range of movement between slow and fast.
As DCC locos run on 12V AC, you can try them on a DC track without risk of damage.
As mentioned above, if it does not work, there may be a system setting to allow this.
But never try to run a plain DC loco on a DCC track, as it will only heat up the motor.