Can this be done?

[tigerthelion]

I found an older bachmann power pack... you know, the square light-grey kind with a big red speed knob... can I convert the power from this dc source to ac to control my lighting?

[train with no shame]

no don't think so . find an a/c d/c controller and use the a/c side for accessories. i used my old Lionel controller to operate my remote switches and accessories .  and then picked up an athearn controller at our local hobby shop for $19. works great i have a couple of dc loco's i like to run i just swap the plugs to the terminal railer for now . although i can run them on channel 10 on my ez commander .i prefer to use a separate d/c controller . i don't like the buzzing and humming . and potential to burn up the d/c motors by running the d/c loco's on the ez commander.

[jward]

your lighting should work on dc as well as ac. and you'd have the added advantage of being able to dim your lights.

[Rangerover]

Also you can go to radio shack and ask for a rectifier diode, 1 amp up to 50 volts (the range is from 1-to 50 volts). These diodes are handy for changing DC current to AC current or vice versa.

[jward]

rectifiers will only change ac to dc, not dc to ac. an inverter is needed to change dc to ac.

[tigerthelion]

Thanx for your input!

[train with no shame]

is he talking lighting for the loco's or accessories .i miss understood .please excuse me

[Chris350]

is he talking lighting for the loco's or accessories .i miss understood .please excuse me

I think he's talking about accessory lighting for buildings and such.

[jward]

lighting for locomotives is drawn from the track power. it is possible usiing dcc to turn the headlights on and off, but they are still using track power.