What are the limits of the EZ Commmand? For my use, I do not plan on more than 3 or 4 Engines ( not sure on sounds yet, might just go with DDC only ) and 100 ft of track. I am not planning on any DDC switching ( I'll most likely go with manual ).
Will the basic EZ Command setup run what I am planning on?
Will I need a power booster?
The E-Z Command DCC System can only handle 3 DCC locos or 1 DCC & 1 DC loco or 1 DCC sound loco & 1 DCC loco simultaneously without a booster. The distance is not an issue, as you can always add extra feeders. If you want to run 4 DCC locos for sure or any sound locos, you should invest in a booster, but if you are only going to run 1 to 3 DCC only locos (no sound) then you will not need a booster.
Extra feeders...by this, do you mean the feeder wires being fed to the track? If so, I plan on a feeder wire every 3 feet or so, all connected the main wire, run under the table ( did that make sense? ).
If I run 3 Loco's, will the lighting operate with the DDC command? I read there was a lmit of 10 commands? I'm not aure how that works.
You can run 3 DCC locos fine, you can set each to a different address between 1-9 and use f1 to dim the light & f10 (f0) to toggle them on and off. And that is what I was talking about when I mentioned feeders.
So I can run 3 Loco's with sound ( and lights ), " if " I add a booster, correct?
If so, what booster is recommended?
Yes with a booster you can run several sound locos simultaneously. I got a Bachmann booster two years ago for $75 on ebay, but I would say buy the cheapest one you can find, pretty much any booster will work.
Amp size booster recommened? Seems there is a large price difference between the 3amp and 5 amp models.
And let me ask about the functions again. If I want to run 3 Loco's with sound. Each Loco has 2 sounds ( engine and horn ). So thats 3 functions ( train power, and 2 sounds ) per Loco? Or would each Loco have 10 functions available to them?
Sorry for all the queastions. Just want to make sure I understand how this works and would be happy with the EZ command, and not one of the more expensive controllers.
Quote
Controlling Locomotive Functions:
In DCC you can control many additional functions in a locomotive in addition to speed and direction. Bachman Decoder Equipped Locomotives allow you to turn on and off the locomotive headlight as well as dim the headlight. Other DCC locomotives can have many more functions for the control of sound, special lighting effects and even coupler control. E-Z Command can control up to nine independent functions.
Press the yellow Function button. This button toggles between function control mode and selecting a locomotive to operate mode.
The flashing LEDs adjacent to the button indicates the address of the train under control. When the led is flashing you are in function control mode.
F10 switches the basic lights function on and off. On most decoders this is directional and is useful guide to the direction that a train will move when the control knob is turned.
F1 to F8 control further functions on customer fitted advanced specification decoders. (F1 dims the headlight for Bachman decoder equipped locomotives.)
When you are through controlling functions and you desire to select a new locomotive to control press the yellow button again and the address led will become solid indicating that the system is in address mode.
Found it, thanx.
Advice is only worth what you pay for it, but I'd like to make a suggestion. DCC is much more than running multiple locomotives independently. Since it seems that you are sort of inexperienced with DCC, it would be a good idea to go to your LHS and find a book or two on DCC. An excellent one is called The DCC Guide, by Don Fiehmann, published by Kalmbach.
Then I'd suggest that you visit the web sites of the different DCC manufacturers and try to get a feel for the different capabilities of the various systems. Besides Bachmann, a list of DCC manufacturers would include, but would not be limited to, NCE, Lenz, Digitrax, and MRC. You can find information about Bachmann's EZ Command and Dynamis systems right here.
Getting going with DCC is not inexpensive, and almost all systems have hidden costs you can't know about until you do some homework. You'll feel a lot better about spending your money once you have a better idea about what you're getting for your buck. Good luck.
OldTimer
It only has 10 functions and it can't do programming! You will find this to be a major hindrance as you get deeper into the world of DCC. I thought it would be great for my first, small 6x8 layout. It is nice, but as I bought locomotives with more capabilities I realized how lacking EZ Command is. My new Paragon2 Y6b has 28 functions and I can only access the first 10...Very frustrating. Also I can't do CV programming. (i.e. - Change the volume of sound, change breaking speed, etc.) Many people will argue this is too advanced for beginning in DCC. That may/may not be true but you don't always stay a beginner. If you plan to stay in the hobby spend the money up front...that way you aren't disappointed down the road.
-Brad
Michi-Jim-
The EZ DCC unit has only limited capacity, unless you invest more money in a booster, and essentially no ability to let you change decoder settings. For the price of an EZ-DCC and a booster, which still won't allow programming, you can step up to one of several more powerful and versatile systems, including Bachmann's own Dynamis. I used an EZ-DCC for my young grandson for its ease of operation, but then I can do programming on my own set-up so he doesn't need that capability. I think the EZ-DCC is great for what it is intended to be but I'm also convinced that most modelers will outgrow it pretty fast.
Also, you don't need track feeders every three feet, especially if you're using three-foot sections of flex-track. I feed into a rail joiner and allow only one track joint from the power supply but that can work out to as much as 12 feet between feeders.
-- D
I use EZ Command on my small layout but my demands at this point are still very limited. Primarily I wanted to be able to keep multiple locos on the track while running one. Beyond that I see a more powerful advanced unit in my future.
for me the biggest drawback to ez command is its limited functionability. it is probably the most stripped down, basic dcc system you can buy. there is no path forward to upgrading the system without replacing the ez command. you'd be much better off with the dynamis, or if entry level is what you want, digitrax (zephyr) and nce both offer starter sets that can be integrated with their more sophisticated systems if you upgrade later. nce's entry level system can be used as an additional throttle on their other systems, and the digitrax unit can also be used that way, or as a booster.....
i think that ez commznd would be more useful if it had those paths to upgrade available. i'd like to at the very least be able to use an ez command as an additional throttle on the dynamis....
Thanx for all the replies.
The EZ command might work well for me. Sound is a cool novelty, and I might like it...for the first few uses. But after that, I see myself turning the sound off. So between that and the cost of the sound Loco's, I am pretty sure I'm going to go without sound. Without sound, I'm told I can run 3 DCC Loco's at one time. Thats more than enough for what I want. I might end up with 5-6 Loco's, but I know for a fact I wont be running them all at once. And I'm on the fence on if I want the expense of DDC controlled turnouts or going manual.
There are no other funtions on a DCC non-sound Loco that I need to worry about is there ( besides lighting )?
adjustments to speed control settings would be an example of a non sound function you might want to play with. you can get all your locomotives to run at the same speed at any given throttle setting.
another one is MU capability. need 2 or more locoomotives on a train? you can run them as an MU'd consist. i believe with ez command you'd have to set both locomotives to the same address to do this. with other systems you can temporarily MU them together.
I don't want to start a conflict here . I have a 5x9ft layout with about 60ft of track on the table . with an upper 18"rad oval with 2 turnouts all tied into my EZ command dcc controller . I also have most all Bachmann dcc locomotive's . I agree with the cv programming on other units fine tuning you decoders . I would love to have a better dcc system .but as for now I have no feeders no booster .and for the past 3 years I run 5 strings with lights 50% throttle and none of my reliable bachmann loco's have given me any problems. granted I used another controller for my accessories . for the money it's a good little starter unit .
with the EZ command when you address and start your 1st string moving and then decide to start another string .your 1st string will be at the speed it was when you addressed the 2nd loco and so forth . when you go to switch lights on and off it gets a little confusing . going from addressed loco to function then the 10 address for light function .but it gets easier as time goes on . if you stick with Bachmann dcc equip locos you in my opinion won't have any problems with the EZ command controller running your loco's
I forgot to mention I run a ho 11 car gp40 consist "2 gp40's" ,they are on the same address an FT a-b unit with 50ft passenger cars on the same address . a gp38 string a sd45-2 another gp40 string and 2 ge 70 ton switchers .I have ran all of these at once with my EZ command with no problems .9 locos It was a chore but I did it . I couldn't keep up with all of them and had to hit the AH-OH button the red stop button . Yampa Bob liked his and I like mine . If I grow and get bigger like I wish to someday then I will upgrade ...
Mark, you ran all of those simultaneously without a booster? Are the passenger cars lighted?
Quote from: jward on November 08, 2010, 03:40:12 PM
adjustments to speed control settings would be an example of a non sound function you might want to play with. you can get all your locomotives to run at the same speed at any given throttle setting.
another one is MU capability. need 2 or more locomotives on a train? you can run them as an MU'd consist. i believe with ez command you'd have to set both locomotives to the same address to do this. with other systems you can temporarily MU them together.
This is relatively minor issue as changing the address back and forth isn't a big deal except that you have to remove all the other locos on the track so they don't change as well.
I have a related question though: On the new AK & J Rwy I am going to run 7 locos.
1 GP 38-2, 1 GP -40 2 GE 70 ton switchers 2 GE 45 ton switchers and a proto 2000 subway car converted as a track geometry car after I install a decoder. Now given the physical limitations of my layout I expect to run no more then 2 at a time but I read that DCC equipted locos sitting idle consume some power. I was wondering if this will be too much for my EZ command and should I upgrade or get a booster?
I know DC locos that idle take power, but I'm not sure about DCC ones unless you have ones with sound or leave the lights on. A cheaper solution would be just to isolate your sidings and add a toggle switch if necessary.
Yes, the decoders in DCC locomotives draw power even when the locomotive is stopped awaiting orders. No, the amount of power a few locomotives draw at idle will not overload your E-Z Command. A string of lighted passenger cars or a line of idle locomotives with their lights on might use as much power as a running locomotive, especially if the lights were incandescent and there were many of them.
Sound locomotives draw more power at idle because of the added sound system.
If you run into the situation where an idle locomotive or two break the camel's back in the power department, consider installing an isolated track with a toggle switch to turn its power off. Locomotives or lighted cars stored on this track cannot draw power when the switch is off.
Jim
Simkon, Jim Isolated sidings = Good idea thanks
Joe
Michi-Jim-
I put a small roundhouse and garden tracks on my grandson's layout with all tracks controlled by a rotary switch which makes only one live track at a time. As long as he sends unused locos to the roundhouse, all of his idle locos are off line and drawing no current.
-- D
no my passenger cars aren't lighted and I use a seperate power source for my switches .I posted a video of one layout I had running a couple of consists and running the f units and the switchers . I personally haven't really had any problems with my EZ command .I did run feeders off of some terminal railers I had bought . but I didn't really notice a difference with or without then . I do agree if you have lighted cars and use the power from the track .yes you might to need to add a little more power or a booster . like I said my ho diesels are mostly all dcc bachmann's . I do feel if you install your own decoders and run atlas or some other brand and upgrade on a dcc controller might be your route togo . I will try to repost the video to this topic today or tommorrow .been pretty wrapped up in my g scale venture lately ....
(http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad119/mf5117/my%20trains/th_photo2003.jpg) (http://s927.photobucket.com/albums/ad119/mf5117/my%20trains/?action=view¤t=photo2003.mp4)
I think this is the video I poster running with EZ command
I think if you have any grades or are running longer trains then there would be a greater load. I think because you have to grades and your trains are all pretty short that you can get away with running 5 or 6 locos simultaneously, but on my layout I had large grades and huge trains and I could only manage running 2 or rarely 3 Bachmann DCC locos simultaneously without overloading the system.
at one point a total of 6 locos are running . click on the picture and it will take you to my photo bucket
I can see with grades .mine is flat have done some changes and have a 4% grade also i added .when i get to that point and start popping the breakes on the on the cord rail . just remember electrical things run on smoke and when the smoke gets let out it time to fix the problem .but over all im happy so far with my EZ command
Quote from: mf5117 on November 10, 2010, 06:27:29 PM
at one point a total of 6 locos are running . click on the picture and it will take you to my photo bucket
I would suggest just to copy the IMG code and post that code here, not your complete site.
Rich
thanks Rich I'll do that .you always have my back .and thank you mark f