DCS upgrade for non-powered units

MTH dummy units don't come with motors or truck gearing, so applying a PS2 upgrade would require buying the parts needed to install powered trucks (truck block, adapter plate, motors) into the dummy chassis.

Williams sold a dummy-power kit for its own locomotives. You could install one in a Williams/WBB dummy and then install PS2 instead of the reverse unit included in the kit.

The ERR products you quote are a command system for small locomotives and powered units, the other is for controlling lights and possibly a sound unit and/or smoke/electro couplers. They don't include motors or power trucks.

---PCJ

Thanks RailRide!  Sorry I didn't make it clear, I don't want to add power, just lights, couplers, and maybe smoke. My layout is small and I don't really need the extra power.

But I did think being able to control these functions independently would allow the dummy to be assigned to different locomotives. And for me just adding the CC features is fun. 

Alan

A PS1 smoke unit can be independently controlled with an on/off switch. IIRC it runs off track power and the board on the smoke unit converts it into the voltage the motor and resistor require.

MTH does make lighting kits for dummies, which would get you the lights and manual control over them.

Couplers would require an ERR board and TMCC electrocouplers to operate.

There is no DCS equivalent other than doing a full install, in which case, you might as well power it up.