DC to DCC conversion
DC to DCC conversion
Is there any hobby shops in the Wayne county area that at a reasonable price will convert DC engines over to DCC? For those of us not comfortable with their soddering knowledge....
Railpictures.net contributions -
Railroad Picture Archives.net - http://crow_t_robot.rrpicturearchives.net/
http://www.youtube.com/user/Spawn674 - I need a better video camera
Railroad Picture Archives.net - http://crow_t_robot.rrpicturearchives.net/
http://www.youtube.com/user/Spawn674 - I need a better video camera
- SousaKerry
- ALCOHAULIC
- Posts: 1158
- Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 9:47 pm
- Location: Somewhere north of Jackson but south of Leslie
- Contact:
Have not actually jumped to DCC yet but will probably get the Prodigy setup. The engines that will be converted are Athearn I've been told you need to isolate the motor before installing the decoder which I thought you had to solder in???
Railpictures.net contributions -
Railroad Picture Archives.net - http://crow_t_robot.rrpicturearchives.net/
http://www.youtube.com/user/Spawn674 - I need a better video camera
Railroad Picture Archives.net - http://crow_t_robot.rrpicturearchives.net/
http://www.youtube.com/user/Spawn674 - I need a better video camera
-
- Sofa King follower
- Posts: 6159
- Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2005 1:59 pm
- Location: Toledo, OH.
Depending on what decodors you use, (and all will work together) some have mounts that connect directley to the metal tabs used for electiical pick up. No sodering. If you go to digitrax, or even lenz's web sites, they should give a list of what fits what, with no connections to make. In fact they even make full electrical boards that fit right into the new atlas's and athearn's all you have to do is disconnect the wires, and insert the new board. There are lots of options.
https://flic.kr/ps/jSuAb My Flickr photos!
The decoders you buy should illustrate how to install in your locomotives in the instructions. Soldering is rather easy to do. All you need is a low temp soldering iron. Anyone use those cold heat soldering irons they show on TV?
MQT Rail pictures at [url=http://bbarch_railfan.rrpicturearchives.net/default.aspx]RRPictureArchives.NET[/url]
Brandon
Brandon
Well its sounding a bit easier everyday glad to hear there are some decoders that don't require soldering. I was told the other way around. Thanks for the info. I will check out the websites mentioned.
Railpictures.net contributions -
Railroad Picture Archives.net - http://crow_t_robot.rrpicturearchives.net/
http://www.youtube.com/user/Spawn674 - I need a better video camera
Railroad Picture Archives.net - http://crow_t_robot.rrpicturearchives.net/
http://www.youtube.com/user/Spawn674 - I need a better video camera
Decoder installation is a piece of cake nowadays, almost all manufactures offer drop-in decoders. For example; Atlas has decoders that you just “plug-in” to the circuit board on top of the locomotive drive system. If you rather save money, go with the ones that the modeler has to install, the directions aren’t hard to follow and are fairly simple. On my layout I use DCC; and let me tell you, it makes things a lot easier. I have some friends that have the old “Block Control System” it cuts down on operation drastically, even worse; you lose the futures of DCC that allow you to operate the headlights, horn/whistle, bell, brake squeal, and all the others that are available nowadays. Go to a local hobby shop and ask one of the employees about the different DCC systems.
Have Fun.
Have Fun.
- SousaKerry
- ALCOHAULIC
- Posts: 1158
- Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 9:47 pm
- Location: Somewhere north of Jackson but south of Leslie
- Contact:
I don't like those old style rubber motor mounts Athearn uses. I think the new motor mounts use screws.SousaKerry wrote:For Athearn loco's I recoment the digitraxx dh121at it comes with all the necesary clips to convert it to dcc with no solder whatsoever the hardest part of the instalation is prying the motor out of the frame to install the new bottom clip
Sousa
MQT Rail pictures at [url=http://bbarch_railfan.rrpicturearchives.net/default.aspx]RRPictureArchives.NET[/url]
Brandon
Brandon
- SousaKerry
- ALCOHAULIC
- Posts: 1158
- Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 9:47 pm
- Location: Somewhere north of Jackson but south of Leslie
- Contact:
- BerkshireKid
- sofa king we todd
- Posts: 1539
- Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:22 pm
DH 121 decoders are no longer produced. The mounting system for athearn locomotives will work with just about any Digitrax decoder.
I LOVE my AA GP35's from athearn. Just unplug dummy plug and plug in your decoder.
I LOVE my AA GP35's from athearn. Just unplug dummy plug and plug in your decoder.
Rule #1: BerkshireKid is God. Rule #2: God is always right. Rule #3: If you think you may actually be right refer to Rules #1 & #2.