Thanks for the info - that explains how DCC fitted locos can still run using a DC controller, which is something I've wondered about! 

Thanks for your response - I checked the wiring and plugged in a DC controller and that works okay.  I was running British Hornby locos at the time of both burn-outs so maybe they were overloading!

My E-Z Command controller recently burned out after about three years use and so I replaced it with a new one but this burned out almost immediately.  I run a mixture of DCC and analog engines - both the burn-outs occurred running the latter.  Would I be better off running the analogs via a DC controller powered from the DC output on the E-Z controller rather than using channel 10?