I have two Bachmann DC controllers. Neither one will operate a loco in reverse. I have swapped them out and tried different DC locos.
They work fine for running the locos forward, but when I hit the switch to run backwards, nothing happens.
When I use the DC controller, I unplug the DCC controller and plug the DC one in. The controller is run through the Bachmann booster to the track.
Any ideas? Could both of the DC controllers be bad?
Do you have the same problem if the controllers are connected directly to the track, without going through the booster? If so, the simplest solution would be to wire DPDT reversing switches into the track leads from those controllers.
Len
The booster takes a different size track plug than the controller. I have the track wires all at the back of the layout. I probably have a plug adapter back there for the booster. I will have to move the layout out if I can't find another adapter laying around here somewhere. The plug that goes into the booster is smaller than the plug that goes into the controller.
It wouldn't seem like the booster would create that problem but who knows. I'll find out.
AS I think about it, a few months ago I ago I had some tracks pieces set up separate from the layout with the DC controllers. They did the same thing then too. I'll try again with separate track. I had forgotten that I did that.
I was wrong. I just tried the two controllers with separate track and they both work both ways. That means it has to be the booster that is preventing it from going both ways. I don't run DC stuff often so I don't keep the DC controller plugged in to the layout.
Well, at least you know the controllers are ok.
Len
I was wrong again. Must be old age catching up to me. The track connection to the booster is two screw terminals. I can just splice a wire into those to go into the DC controller. If I can find a box to plug the two controllers into so I can flip a switch for one or the other. I want to avoid swapping boxes. Just power on one or the other,
DCC controller and booster on one side and DC controller on the other side so they would never be on at the same time. I could plug them in to my power center and make sure I didn't both buttons on at the same time.
I'm trying to find something like this to plug in two cords and be able to select either the left or right to power on. I've been searching the net to no avail. Does anyone know something like this available?
(https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/366667125_10161183113640522_7767672423609025549_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=7f8c78&_nc_ohc=ckIW-zUwxaMAX9Bi4ZW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfA20DKf66XocT4u4p_AVzGCySL8phPHWEnmI1VyJyYXPg&oe=64E12FB1)
Quote from: Terry Toenges on August 15, 2023, 01:16:18 PMI'm trying to find something like this to plug in two cords and be able to select either the left or right to power on. I've been searching the net to no avail. Does anyone know something like this available?
(https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/366667125_10161183113640522_7767672423609025549_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=7f8c78&_nc_ohc=ckIW-zUwxaMAX9Bi4ZW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfA20DKf66XocT4u4p_AVzGCySL8phPHWEnmI1VyJyYXPg&oe=64E12FB1)
That is a double pole double throw switch. (DPDT) Those are pretty easy to find in an auto parts store or Lowes, If you have a choice, get one with a center off position. Make sure the contacts are rated the same or higher than your booster in amps.
You'd cut your track wires in half, wire the track end to the center two contacts, and the DC controller and the booster to the outer sets of contacts.
'
Thanks. I decided that I was overthinking this anyway. All I need is the switch for the actual track wires instead of the power supplies. I don't really need that. I can just use a plug in connector from the track wire.
Plug it into the connector lead from the booster for DCC. Unplug it and plug it into a lead from DC controller.
I have the power supplies plugged into a 6 hole power center with individual on/off buttons. As long as both aren't sending power to the track at the same time, it's good.
With the track wire physically disconnected from one or the other, I won't run into trouble. I can also do the switch thing too but this will work for now.
I have used the DPDT switch for DC/DCC operation on my layout. It works well. SInce I am running on handlaid track I can't use the EZ track plugs like you do. The key thing is to never have DC and DCC connected to the layout at the same time.
That was my primary concern - That I wouldn't turn on the power center with both the DC and DCC power buttons set to on. There's no reason I would turn them both on but if I hit the wrong one by mistake it would be a problem.
The two lit buttons are the DCC. The rest control the Christmas stuff like lights, tree, and animated stuff. I have one open hole to plug in the DC power.
I'm going to have to combine a couple of Christmas things to one hole when I get the trolley up and have to plug it in.
(https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/367999896_10161185040720522_8665620112913200115_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=ouCWrjA-WrMAX8Y08hR&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDGF7U2yHJVDVADpbJdzjJ26tTFupO_SSOokqtqkM8sPQ&oe=64E283EE)
Just wondering why the track connector plug is a "stereo" plug with three isolated surfaces. The track wire is only two wires so one should only need two like a "monaural" plug.
The 'tip' connector is open to prevent a short as the plug is inserted in the jack. The wires to the controller are connected to the 'ring' and 'sleeve' of the plug.
Len
Thank you Len. I am so much the wiser now. :)
The only reason I know is back when I had my repair shop, a customer brought in a home built power cord he'd made to get a longer reach. He said didn't work, but the set cord did. He wired it 'tip' and 'ring', figuring the 'sleeve' wasn't used. I'd never thought about it before, so I got out the ohm meter and checked a standard power cord and discovered nothing was connected to the plug's 'tip', just the 'ring' and 'sleeve'. So I rewired his plug that way and when he got home he called to say it worked fine now.
Once I knew that, I bought a handful of ministereo plugs and started a sideline selling power cords to plug into Bachmann controllers, with open ends to connect to other styles of track.
Len
So I am befuddled now. I bought some connectors. The red wire is the tip so I clipped that off. I checked it with my meter to see which wire was the tip.
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I connected the female half to the booster. I connected the male half to the track wires.
I plug the male into the female on the booster and everything works fine on DCC..
I plug the male into the DC controller and the loco still only goes one way. Booster and DCC controller are turned off and not connected to track at all.
I reversed the track wire connections and it goes the other way but not reverse.
The left side of the direction slider on the DC controller is what works. When I switch it to the right, I get nothing.
When I tried it on my short length of test track, both buttons work and the loco reverses.
So frustrating. I tried a different way.
I replaced the black male connector (that I bought) with the Bachmann red wire and plugged it into the DC controller and wired the ends to the track wires.I thought maybe it was the black connector that I bought. Same result. Loco goes one way but not the other.
Then, I used jumper wires with alligator clips straight to the track. I hooked the other ends of the clips to the DC controller wires. Same result.
I plugged my DCC set up back with the booster and DCC controller. With the DC loco I was using, it ran back and forth on address 10.
I still can't figure it out.
I made a video showing how the DC controllers won't work in reverse on a loop but work fine on a test track. I'm still befuddled. I'm not using any off the wall connection set-up, just the standard Bachmann red wire.
https://youtu.be/6dXP8CNY7KA (https://youtu.be/6dXP8CNY7KA)
I figured it out. It was the power supply. On my layout, I put a plug on my track wire. When I wanted to run DC, I unplugged track and power from DCC and plugged it into DC controller. The DC loco ran fine forward. When I was doing the loop track on the floor, I plugged into the layout power.
When I was doing the test track on the table, I was using a different power supply.
I looked at both power supplies. The one with the E-Z Command is DC. The one I was using at the table was AC. Now I know that I can't use the same power supply by just switching the plug from the DCC controller to the DC controller.
It was still strange to me that it would go forward with the DCC one and not backward. Since that's what it was, I'm surprised it went at all.
I was hoping to be able to just switch track and power plugs from DCC to DC controller when I wanted to run DC stuff. I'll have to plug in the other power supply to run DC stuff.
I just didn't even think about the power supplies being different and I know that DCC is different.
Oh Well.
I know now that DC power will let a DC loco run directly down the track in one direction. I know that AC power will let a DC loco run down the track in alternating directions. :)
Sorry, guys, my wife made me go on vacation, so I didn't catch this one.
Terry, The two controllers (power supplies) that you have, can you provide the model number of each one.
The reason I'm asking is that Bachmann doesn't do a good job on distinguishing the DC controller, their DCC controller (if there is such a thing), unless it's the DCC command controller.
I've jump through hoops, just like you just did, trying to keep these controllers (power supplies) straight. I'm going to surmise that both of your power supplies have the same model number, and they are DC only, not AC as you mentioned.
Bach Man if you're reading this, please provide your take on this too, if any.
P.S. your video (U-tube) was pretty good, I've gotta learn how to do that. ;)
Terry,
Am I correct in assuming that your booster remains connected to the track at all times? If so, that could be the problem. The DC controller and the booster should not be connected to the track at the same time.
The DC one I'm using says -
Hobby Transformer - Model:AC1601000 - Input:AC120V 60Hz 24W - OUTPUT:AC16V 1000mA 16VA - Made in China by Sandan
The DCC one going to E-Z Command says -
Toy Transformer - Model:SPS1601000 WU - Input:AC120V 60Hz 22W - OUTPUT:DC16V 1000mA 16VA - Made in China by Sandan
The booster is not connected to track all the time. I remove the track plug from booster and to connect to DC controller.
This is the way I have it set up.
(https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/379994953_10161254460475522_8461341650319672510_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=813123&_nc_ohc=OCRx9B8bOMwAX-TRdiw&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCd1Rll8w2NvfagAlYisxdqJKIoFBzFEvksIOnno4BMJw&oe=650C5AC2)
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I used these connectors. The plug part is connected to the track wires. The two sockets are connected to the booster and dc controller.
No chance of having them both connected to the track at the same time.
(https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/379961838_10161254460180522_6123999921894932659_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=813123&_nc_ohc=q9K73CUWRg0AX-2Wg8z&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCg4fHWJykSCAJOwJ7rAzzj9V04WrH-NBqG6FeAGKFuRQ&oe=650C9A22)