Atlas Master DCC system?

[Power Stroke]

I got one of these off ebay new in the box (commander & generator) for 30.00 with the thought of eventually converting to DCC. Any thoughts?
My layout is a modified Atlas GS&SV which Atlas used to show how to wire for DCC but I can not find it on their website any longer.
Probably one of the most important questions I have concerning DCC. After conversion, can older DC locos still be run?
Thanks,
Stephen.

[peteski]

I can't offer much help in the Atlas DCC system.  IIRC, it is an older (really basic) Lenz system.  But as far as running DC locos goes, even if the DCC system doesn't run DC locos (on analog address 00), you can always feed the DCC track leads and one of your old DC throttles to a DPDT switch, then to the track  That ways with a flick of the switch you can change the layout from DC to DCC.  Most (I should really say "all") DCC mobile decoders can also be operated from DC, but not as smoothly as if they had no decoder installed.

[mmyers]

Here's the link to the Atlas Commander Manual:
http://www.atlasrr.com/DCC/Commandermanual1.pdf

Commander is/was the Lenz Compact system which was not available in the USA. here's the link to the Compact manual which has a bunch more info.
http://www.lenzusa.com/manuals/sets/compacte.pdf

I don't think either system could run an analog engine on address 00. Best thing to do is try selecting address 00. if it doesn't select, it don't do it.

Martin Myers

[elnscale]

Hi Martin,

What Peteski says about a way to have either DCC or DC is true.

The one consideration though is the reversing loop on the top figure of 8. With DCC, it is really easy to automate that reversing loop with an auto-reverser, e.g. AR-1. However, if you did that, you would not be able to do what Peteski has suggested. You'd need to disconnect the auto-reverser as well to use DC.

If you did not automate that reversing loop and continued to manually switch the polarity, then you can do what Peteski says.

The GS&SV was my first layout and I went from DC to DCC. I have a page on going from DC to DCC on that layout here: http://www.scrantonstation.com/gssv/DCvDCC.htm

Steve

[mcjaco]

I originally wrote the review for the system for Model Retailer magazine. 

Atlas sent Kalmbach the system (and even asked what roadname I wanted for the GP38 they were sending).  I used it on my home layout for years, when DCC was just past it's infancy.  I was gifted a second Command station with the updated chip, a couple years later, so I had two. 

I liked the system for what it was.  I had used the MRC Command 2000, and hated it.  The programming for the Atlas system was a but clunky, but once you figured out the charts for hex, it got easier.  And really, at that time you could only program Rule 17 anyway, and directional lighting.