Running DC and its compatibility with other loco specs...

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So some vendors say. Unfortunately experience has said something different.

I've been installing DCC into locomotives since 1993, with the first offerings from Digitrax, and I've never run across a loco labeled as DCC ready that didn't at least have the motor brushes isolated from the frame. Which ones have you come across that were labeled DCC ready that didn't at least have that. When it comes to motor isolation, you really only need that.
 
So some vendors say. Unfortunately experience has said something different.

Depends on the "vendor" I guess, some are too eager (or desperate) to make a sale any which way.

Walthers P2K I think I mentioned appear to be making only DCC/sound and Standard DC. I have a couple of the latter, haven't as yet pulled one apart to see if it's got an insulated motor, must make the effort.
 
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Although he doesn't post here as much as he used to, he still posts over at the MR forums. His member name is Brakie, and his first name is Larry. I don't know if he's posted very much on this forum about the Tech 6, but he has posted a lot over there about it.

He uses the MRC Tech 6 for both DC and DCC, since it does have a basic DCC system as part of it, and from his discussions about it, he has had very good service out of it.

You don't have to be a member to read the posts about it, so you could go over there at,
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/default.aspx . This will take you to the discussions index. I would first go to general discussions and do a community search on posts about the MRC Tech 6. I would also try the Electronics and DCC section as well. Once the initial; search is done, it can be narrowed down by several choices, that will be on the left side of the page.

Brakie is very enthusiastic about his MT-6.
 
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a few more notes, BLI sold/sells Blueline versions, thay are DCC ready, but they have sound (and DCC controllable) but no DCC controls. Just add your favorite non-sound decoder. A straight DC engine no decoder may not be operational compatible with a decoder equpped engine as it usually requires pushing the throttle up first to power the decoder (and sound if it has it) then it will kick into moving. So the DC engine moves first. So if you try to couple the 2 together they will not work together. DCC ready it should run like any other DC engine (note the BLI Blueline).
 
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