Does anybody know if the current Atlas S-2 locomotives that are DCC ready can be used on a DC layout? If yes, is the DC compatibility out of the box or needs some sort of programming change? This is the loco I am interested in: https://shop.atlasrr.com/c-1223-n160.aspx
@drabina Atlas's descriptions of their locomotives in regards to DCC seem to trip people up. Reading through their website, it appears that their Master series Gold versions are sold with a dual mode (DCC/DC) sound decoder and their Silver versions are sold as DC with a speaker installed and a plug for installing a non-sound or sound DCC decoder. Regardless if you buy the Gold or the Silver version, it will run on DC without having you do anything to the locomotive. I.e. it will run on DC right out of the box. See the link below, under "What are the differences between the different lines of HO Scale Locomotives?". Their description should be applicable to both their N and HO Scale Master series locomotivs. https://shop.atlasrr.com/t-faq.aspx
It is a very good question. My two HO Bachman steamers are suppose to run both DCC and DC. They don't run on DC and only made sounds on my set-up track with DCC. Hopefully that has changed for N.
Yup, sounds like their ESU chip is a Dual Mode decoder as @Moose2013 stated. Here's a link to their manual: http://download.atlasrr.com/DCC/FINAL User Manual - Atlas Gold Series Diesels with LokSound.pdf
Thanks. I went thru the links you provided and additional info for the locos and you guys are right. There are two versions: silver for DC (DCC ready) and gold (DCC equipped). I will get the silver one. At $82 it looks like a decent buy for my small layout.
What kind of DC power pack do you have? The vast majority of DCC locos will run on regular DC out of the box, but most of them also will not run on a PWM power pack.
The DCC is NCE Power Cab bought with the engines in 2008. The DC is 5 years older Railpower 1370 that I had for the N scale layouts.
Hmmm. Well I'm pretty sure the Railpower 1370 is not a PWM power pack. Were the DCC locos tried "new, out-of-the-box?" - Are you sure they weren't programmed to not run on DC?
They were new with no box. Bought at a small local swap meet. They did have small pamphlets with them that stated they would run on both. Nothing about such setup. I don't know what PWM is but it did run a bunch of my N gauge.
I have a DCC ready which just means it's ready for a DCC decoder to be installed. Mine was from the second run Atlas did and it runs fantastic! The cast metal hood gives it enough weight to pull really well and run slow. It's detailed well also. My layout is DC. Some from the first run had some issues with too much blackening on the wheels but once it was ran awhile and the blackening wore off, it was fine. Ralph
I am actually going to use PWM motor speed controller as the layout is going to be built into a coffee table so I don't want to have an external power pack. There is going to be a small on/off switch and knob for adjusting speed somewhere on the side of the table. What issues would the newer locos have with PWM speed controllers?
PWM is short for pulse-width modulation. It is basically a type of controller that can from a constant voltage source send variable DC output to the locomotive.
PWM stands for Pulse Width Modulation. It quickly pulses the output in a square wave between 0 and full voltage, and varies the width of the pulses to control the average voltage. For example, at 50% throttle, the output would be at full voltage half of the time and 0 volts the other half. It is not an issue for newer locos that do not have a decoder installed, but since the pulses look similar to the DCC signal it can confuse decoder equipped locos (although I believe some do have the logic to deal with it). You can add a filter to the PWM output that will smooth it out so that any DC capable decoder can deal with.
Thank you Robert. I was about to ask about this very thing. Interesting that a filter can be added to smooth the PWM output for DC capable decoders that need it.
Thanks guys for explaining the PWM power pack. It does sound good for the plain DC engines and I can understand why it might mess with the DCC controls. So I don't think I'd want to mess with the HO engines. Just learn the DCC control and get some better tracks. I have 4ft of Bachmann E-Z track. I'll try the DC on N scale when I get a layout set up. With only one old N scale SW1200 I've a ways to go. I bought the 4-6-0 and 0-6-0 saddle tank switcher with the NCE Power Cab together at the local National Guard Armory sale back in '08. He had mostly old stock and DC engines and I was planning on going over to modern HO.
Could anyone tell me where I could find one of those PWM type controllers. If I can get some N scale tracks for an inexpressive layout I may be able to try it with the one N scale engine I have.
MRC (Model Rectifier Corporation) still sells PWM power packs. I think they start >$50 new. I'm not sure if the Bachmann DC power packs are PWM or just a variable transformer feeding a rectifier (DC with a lot of 120Hz AC left in it). They don't have the low speed performance a good MRC unit has. They are inexpensive If you're any good with Arduino, a motor shield with one of those can generate PWM DC, and then with DCC++EX SW ($free) it can be a DCC system too. Add a WiFi shield and it will talk to throttle apps on your phone.
