DC train buzzes on when used with EZ Command

[Rubius]

I have Chattanooga and Diesel Digital Commander train sets, along with a First Railroad Track Pack and a couple extra turnouts (all Bachmann product).  My son and I made a track layout with some nested loops (no inverted loops).

The DC Chattanooga train runs fine on the DC power pack, but when the DC and Digital Commander packs are connected (http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/ez_content/EZ_Command_instructions.pdf, bottom of page 6), the Chattanooga trains makes a buzzing sound and the EZ Controller's lights flicker and reverts to address 1 (won't switch).  We haven't tried adding either DCC diesel to the track, and have disconnected the Digital Commander.

Any ideas what causes this and what we can do to correct?

[ABC]

Avoid running the DC loco with the E-Z Command DCC controller for extended periods for starters, as prolonged running or even leaving it on live (DCC pwered) track for a little while can cause it to overheat and/or damage the motor to the point that it will no longer run any more. Also, why do you have your DC and DCC controllers connected, this is only useful if you have 10 DCC locos and need to use address 10. And when you do this you should only have 1 power supply/source, not two, which is what it sounds like you have, which may cause damage to your locos and it probably is dangerous.

[Rubius]

Avoid running the DC loco with the E-Z Command DCC controller for extended periods for starters, as prolonged running or even leaving it on live (DCC pwered) track for a little while can cause it to overheat and/or damage the motor to the point that it will no longer run any more.

Buzzing starts immediately upon placing train on track.  After a few minutes we switched to DC only and train ran normally.  Train was not run for long period; it produced buzzing noise regardless of speed while using EZ Command.  Did not produce buzzing noise at any speed using DC controller.

Also, why do you have your DC and DCC controllers connected, this is only useful if you have 10 DCC locos and need to use address 10.

Need DC power supply for DC turnouts; figured the DC + DCC controller would enable us to each control a train simultaneously (bonus!).  Nothing in EZ Command instruction book led us to believe otherwise.

And when you do this you should only have 1 power supply/source, not two, which is what it sounds like you have, which may cause damage to your locos and it probably is dangerous.

Single power source used per the EZ Command instruction page referenced in initial post.

[ebtbob]

Bottom line here is simply this....an analog engine,  one without a dcc decoder will buzz from the time it is placed on the dcc controlled track until it is removed.    Also,  be glad you did not fry the headlight as the dcc controlled track has a fixed amount of ac power in the rails that can be more than the rating of the blub in the engine.  Take the former advice and try not to run the analog engine on the dcc track.

[Rubius]

Thanks for the advice.  I suppose we can break the track into two sections, and maybe join with a non-powered piece of track to pass boxcars.

So, contrary to the Bachmann EZ Controller manual give instructions for running DC trains, it apparently isn't safe for the DC engines.  Any Bachmann folks care to comment?

[ABC]

The buzzing isn't really a problem, it is just a noise. You can operate one DC loco, but it must be done with care and like ebtbob said you should check the rating of the light bulb in the loco to avoid burning it out prematurely. The E-Z Command only has enough power for 3 newer DCC locos without sound, 2 DCC locos (more than a few years old), 1 DCC w/ sound loco, or 1 newer DC loco with 1 newer DCC loco. You can still use the DC pack for turnouts, but keep it separate from the DCC system because using turnouts along with 2 locos that draw a lot of amps will overload the system and cause the locos to slow or stop entirely when you throw the switches.

The system was intended to operate 3 (non sound) DCC locos manufactured after about 1999; although it technically can operate 1 DC loco it isn't really what it was built to do.

[Rubius]

The Chattanooga bulb isn't rated in the Bachmann parts list: http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_68_155&products_id=873. 

Sounds safer to run that engine separately from the DCC system rather than burn out the bulb of my 9 year old's train.