Is it acceptable to power turnouts on a DCC track with a separate DC powerpack?

[Byrna55]

Hi,
I have four Bachmann no. 5 turnouts on an EZ-track layout (2-rail DC current), which each have DCC controller boxes. However, if I want to run this Bachmann system on an ESU DCC Command Center, I have no way of connecting these turnouts' power inputs to the ESU. Can I simply connect the power portion only of the DCC boxes to a separate DC powerpack but still use the ESU to operate the DCC controllers (to operate the turnouts)? Bachmann has red wires for power and green for data DCC connections. So the red will go to a DC powerpack (non-DCC) from the power output of the DCC boxes, and the green will still be connected to the turnout output of the DCC boxes.

I think this is possible, but I wanted to be sure.

 

[Selector]

If your ESU can control decoders, and if your EZ-Track turnouts have decoder/actuators for throwing the points, then yes, you can use your ESU system to throw the points. Just give each turnout a decoder address. Otherwise, the turnouts, just the rails, get power from your bus or power distribution system for the rest of the layout's rails.

 

[Byrna55]

If your ESU can control decoders, and if your EZ-Track turnouts have decoder/actuators for throwing the points, then yes, you can use your ESU system to throw the points. Just give each turnout a decoder address. Otherwise, the turnouts, just the rails, get power from your bus or power distribution system for the rest of the layout's rails.

Hi,
Here is a photo of my setup. The DCC decoders for the turnouts are "external" to the tracks. Unlike Marklin's which are directly connected to the tracks underneath and thus draw their power from them. These are those black Bachmann DCC boxes I was talking about. The green wires are for data exchange with the turnouts, so they connect to the connectors on the side of each turnout (not shown here) so they can communicate with the DCC controller (in my case the ESU). The red wire is for power and need to be connected to a power pack. What you see in the photo is actually two decoders (housed inside the boxes) connected together, in series, so I don't need to find free power connection slots on the DCC controller.

The Bachmann wires have a proprietary connection and I can't find a place on the ESU 50210 Command Center DCC controller, to connect these such as an "accessories" connection. Even if I cut the Bachmann connector off on one end, I still can't figure out if they can be connected for power from the ESU. That's why I though I could just use a second power pack, just for power to the black DCC decoder boxes.

 

[Selector]

I am not familiar with this setup, except that for the few months I used EZ-Track back 20 years ago now, the turnout actuators looked like what you show, and I did power them from the AC output, if I recall (it HAS been 20 years!!) of a DC power pack. However, these were AC solenoids actuated by flicking or pressing the switch, I forget, and they DID NOT have a decoder.

 

[riogrande5761]

"Is it acceptable to power turnouts on a DCC track with a separate DC powerpack?"

Yes it's acceptable. Since the switch motor is separate from the DCC track power, it can be powered with a DC powerpack. I bought a cheap Tyco power pack at the train show for $3. I've got the AC terminals hooked up to some old fashioned Atlas momentary contact controllers and a Peco capacitive discharge unit (CDU) and old school Atlas twin coil switch machines to throw the turnouts I cannot reach. The track is ran by a TCS DCC system.

These are turnouts controlled using the Tyco power pack and CDU:

 

[steelwheels]

Hello
Yes, using the same for myself.

Pep

 

[Byrna55]

"Is it acceptable to power turnouts on a DCC track with a separate DC powerpack?"

Yes it's acceptable. Since the switch motor is separate from the DCC track power, it can be powered with a DC powerpack. I bought a cheap Tyco power pack at the train show for $3. I've got the AC terminals hooked up to some old fashioned Atlas momentary contact controllers and a Peco capacitive discharge unit (CDU) and old school Atlas twin coil switch machines to throw the turnouts I cannot reach. The track is ran by a TCS DCC system.

These are turnouts controlled using the Tyco power pack and CDU:

Hello and thank-you for your informative reply.
It turns out, that well, I didn't read the instructions of the DCC controllers. LOL! You can simply connect the DCC turnouts to ANY Bachmann power track (terminal track, usually coming with a "rerailer"), which has TWO power in connectors on either side. So basically, the DCC controllers get their power directly from the track, but just not integrated into the track like chips. On the other hand, Bachmann does have DCC controllers integrated with turnouts for sale also.

Essentially, the red cables are for power, and simply connect to the terminal (power in) track. The green ones come out from underneath the turnouts and connect to the other connector on the DCC controller black boxes (marked "to turnout") for the control commands (signals) to the turnouts.

 

[J.Albert]

"Is it acceptable to power turnouts on a DCC track with a separate DC powerpack?"

Sure.
Why not?
That's what I do.

My very modest layout is built with Kato Unitrack, and I use the Kato switch levers and connecting cables to control them.

For switch machine power (Kato uses 12v DC), I ran a set of leads from my OLD MRC power pack, which connect to the Kato rectifiers that in turn snap together with the switch levers. Looks like this:

..

 

[Iron Horseman]

Essentially, the red cables are for power, and simply connect to the terminal (power in) track. The green ones come out from underneath the turnouts and connect to the other connector on the DCC controller black boxes (marked "to turnout") for the control commands (signals) to the turnouts.

Glad you figured that out. Here is a U-tube from Bachmann concerning the units.
https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D9C3tmneUzOg

 

[freescopesdad]

What if I have more than 10 turnouts and use EZ Command? What if I don't use Bachmann EZ Command? What if I want to assign a turnout address with my ECoS? Or Digitrax, etc? That YT video did not really explain anything. Ron

 

[Iron Horseman]

What if I have more than 10 turnouts and use EZ Command? What if I don't use Bachmann EZ Command? What if I want to assign a turnout address with my ECoS? Or Digitrax, etc? That YT video did not really explain anything. Ron

The video was answering the question being ask, "is it acceptable to power turnouts on a DCC track with a separate power supply", and the discussion that followed that.

Your questions require more research.

 

[freescopesdad]

I was referring specifically to the Bachmann video you linked, using the EZ Command control station. The video indicated a limit of turnouts 1-10 using function key 9. While it is certainly acceptable to power turnouts with a separate power supply, they will never be programmable without utilizing track power.

However, back to the OP's original question, which is how to control these turnouts with the ESU ECoS command station. I believe the solution is really simple. The Bachmann DCC controllers have red and green wires. For each turnout, connect the red wires between the track and the DCC controller. Connect the green wires between the DCC controller and the turnout itself. On the ECoS, create each turnout as an accessory in configuration mode in the turnout control panel, and assign each of the turnouts an address. Then, place a specific turnout in programming mode (press and hold the button on the DCC controller for 2+ seconds), then go to your ECoS turnout control panel, with track power on, and throw the turnout back and forth. Do this in succession for each of the other 4 turnouts. Don't forget to save, the cycle track power and each turnout should respond within ECoS.

In reality, I found it easier to build my track diagram in ECoS first, and then go into utility mode to create an address for each turnout, and then program. I have an ECoS 50210 command station, Kato n scale Unitrack and DCC Concepts stationary decoders to power my turnouts, but the method is identical. I currently have 41 Kato turnouts programmed successfully. If you are unsure how to proceed on the ECoS side, see section 13 (creating and switching accessories) and section 16 (creating a track diagram) in your ECoS manual. Here is also a link to a good YouTube video I found for programming turnouts in ECoS. Good luck.