Product Highlight: E-Z Command® Plus Digital Command Control System
For over 20 years, the E-Z Command® Control Centre has been a starting point for railway modellers who are taking the step into the comprehensive world of Digital Command Control (DCC).
The capabilities of DCC have advanced significantly during that time, with digital models now having many more sounds, lighting and other functions than were possible when the first version of the E-Z Command® was released, and so Bachmann are excited to release a new version of the controller that enables the modeller to use all of these new features: the E-Z Command® Plus Digital Command Control System (36-502).
The E-Z Command® Plus can be used to control N, OO/HO and OO9/HOe scale locomotive models that are equipped with an NMRA-Compliant DCC Decoder. It can also be used in conjunction with our E-Z Command® 5 Amp Power Booster (36-520) for O Scale and Large Scale models.
The Control System
The E-Z Command® Plus control system will be easily recognisable to modellers who are familiar with previous control systems from the range, as it uses a very similar layout to its predecessors. However, many of the individual controls have been reworked in subtle ways to allow for much more functionality and flexibility.
The control system allows for up to nine DCC addresses to be assigned using buttons 1 to 9 on the right hand side. Each address belongs to a single button, and can be assigned to a single locomotive to allow that locomotive to be controlled individually. The same address can also be assigned to multiple locomotives, so that they can all be controlled together in a group at the same time from a single button. The buttons will light up to show which locomotive (or locomotive group) is currently being controlled.
Driving Your Locomotives
The LED Speed Indicator is a completely new control that is positioned to the right of the dial and displays the current locomotive’s speed. This allows for easier control when switching between locomotives, as the speed of the current locomotive is no longer determined by the position of the dial. When you switch to a different locomotive, the LED Speed Indicator immediately updates to show the speed of the locomotive now being controlled.
Since the current locomotive’s speed is now displayed on the LED Speed Indicator, the Speed Dial can be rotated continuously to slow the locomotive down or speed it up. The dial itself can be pressed to bring the current locomotive to an immediate stop without affecting the other locomotives operating on your layout, whilst all locomotives can be brought to a stop using the Stop All button. The direction of the current locomotive’s movement can be changed using the Direction buttons above the dial. These buttons now light up to show when they have been activated.
Modern DCC locomotives, such as the SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE locomotives in the Bachmann Branchline, Graham Farish and Bachmann Narrow Gauge ranges, have many DCC functions such as sounds and lighting. The E-Z Command® Plus’ reworked Function button allows for up to 29 functions to be used on the currently selected locomotive.
While the function mode is active, the buttons on the right hand side of the controller will allow you to turn the functions on or off in groups of 10. You can press the Function button again to move on to the next group of 10 functions, with the colour of the function button changing to identify which functions can currently be selected.
Box Contents and Accessories
Aside from the controller itself, the E-Z Command® Plus Digital Command Control System comes with all of the components that you will need to start controlling your locomotive with DCC. The box also includes the following:
- A plug-in transformer to provide power to the controller and your layout
- A power connecting clip and track power wire for use with OO gauge track such as our Bachmann Branchline track. The track power wire can also be used without the clip to connect to the E-Z Terminal Rerailer track pieces for use with the OO/HO scale Snap-fit E-Z Track system, which is also included with OO Scale Thomas & Friends train sets.
- A universal power cable included for use with N scale track and other OO scale track systems.
- Spare address labels that enable to you to display details of the locomotive next to each button
Whilst not included in the box, the E-Z Command® Plus control system is also compatible with our N Scale Wired Power Clip (379-480) for use with N scale track.
More Information
For more information about the features and additional functionality of the E-Z Command® Plus control system, take a look at this video prepared by our colleagues at Bachmann Trains in America, or hit the button below to visit our website for a full overview of the system.
DCC Decoders
The E-Z Command® Plus Digital Command Control System is designed for use with locomotives that have been fitted with a DCC Decoder. SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE locomotives from the Bachmann Branchline, Bachmann Narrow Gauge and Graham Farish ranges are already equipped with a DCC Decoder, and can be used with the E-Z Command® Plus straight away.
Most modern analogue (DC) locomotives, including those from the EFE Rail and OO Scale Thomas & Friends ranges as well as the other Bachmann Europe ranges mentioned above, have decoder sockets that make installing a DCC Decoder a simple task. Bachmann Europe offers a full range of DCC Decoders suitable for fitting to all of our models that are equipped with decoder sockets:
| Product Code | Decoder Description |
|---|---|
| 36-556RA | 6 Pin 90° DCC Loco-Decoder |
| 36-557A | 21 Pin DCC Loco-Decoder (with Brake Button function) |
| 36-566A | 8 Pin DCC Loco-Decoder (with Brake Button function) |
| 36-567B | Next18 DCC Loco-Decoder (with Brake Button function) |
| 36-568A | 6 Pin DCC Loco-Decoder (with Brake Button function) |
| 36-569 | DCC Decoder for Branchline Class 90 with Pantograph & Brake functions (manufactured in 2019 only) |
| 36-569A | DCC Decoder for Branchline Class 90 with Pantograph & Brake functions (manufactured from 2021 onwards) |
| 36-570B | Plux22 DCC Loco-Decoder (with Brake Button function) |
| 36-571 | 6 Pin Micro DCC Loco-Decoder (with Brake Button function) |
The E-Z Command® Plus Digital Command Control System is already available from retailers, so head to the Bachmann Europe website where you can find more information and get in touch with your nearest retailer to order yours!
Your nearest retailer can be found by using the Retailers page on our website, which can be accessed either from the menu at the top of the page or by clicking on the button below.
