KB521 What is "Smooth" DC?

The term smooth DC is used to describe the power provided to the layout by conventional model railroad power packs (analog transformers). Traditional model railroad power packs convert household line current into 12-18 volt current to power your model railroad. Voltage is supplied to the track, and as the voltage increases, the speed of the locomotive's motor increases, which makes it run down the tracks at faster speeds. Some power packs put out only AC (alternating current), while others put out DC (direct current) and AC (for accessories such as track switches and building lights). AC powered trains tend to ...

KB587 AC Motor Operation

I want to run a small 12V -16V AC motor via DCC and am not sure if you have a decoder for this and if so how to connect up.For Variable Speed:Some Digitrax decoders, such as the DG583S, can be programmed to operate AC motors. When you program CV61 to a value of 004, Digitrax decoders with split field motor drive capabilities will convert their motor leads to drive a "split field" AC motor instead of the default DC motor. This lets you run Maerklin 3-pole AC motors and similar motors in a number of locos built in Europe with ...

KB895 Digitrax Decoders with AC motors and "Lionel" Type E Units

Using Digitrax Decoders with AC Motors and Lionel Type E UnitsThis application note shows how Lionel users and other users of AC motors can use DCC to run their layouts.This example shows a wiring diagram for an AC universal motor with two-wire field coil. For this type of motor you must add a bridge rectifier to control the polarity to the motor's field coil.  This type of motor is found in AC locos built from the 1950s through today.Some Lionel type AC locos have motors with three wire field coils and an E Unit.  Half of the coil is used ...