DCC and Anolog turnout controllers

[bill collins]

I have a test track I use to run both DCC trains as well as DC trains. The switches are DCC with DCC turnout controllers. Can I run DC locomotives with this set up? I can switch out my controller to a DC one if necessary when testing an anolog train.

[russ daley]

I Googled this...'Yes, you can control a DC train from a DCC controller, but only if the DC locomotive has a decoder installed that can convert the DCC signal back to DC power for the motor; essentially, this means the DC locomotive needs to be "DCC ready" to operate with a DCC controller.'End of Googled.

From what you said, not sure if you have a dedicated DCC Controller just for turnouts? If train and turnouts are on one controller, then Engine must be DCC ready. 

[Tenwheeler01]

I do this but not very often.  I know this is support by Digitrax I am not sure about other DCC systems.  But both may DCS100 and DCS52 will run one analog (DC only) locomotive on address 00.   Address 00 on Digitrax systems is reserved for analog locomotives. They recommend that analog locos not be left sitting on DCC powered track for long periods of time when they are not running.

The loco makes a "singing" sound when siting on the DCC power track.  I have do this Bachmann, AHM and MDC locos.

The Bachmmann shop has a note on the EZ-Command DCC Turnouts "*not designed for DC-powered layouts"  So using DC controller is right out.

you could swap out the DCC Turnouts for Bachmann non DCC turnouts, since they are compatible with both.  I did this with one of may old layouts had DPDT toggle switch to switch between DC and DCC. 

   

[bill collins]

Thanks guys for all the good iformation. I think my solution will be to us a Backmann DCC controller and just use the #10 button when testing an anolog train. I only use one train at a time on the test track anyway.