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Which Decoder do I use?

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  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Which Decoder do I use?
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 21, 2005 6:16 PM
I just bought a Athearn SD60 rtr and want to put a decoder in. All the other installs I have done have been hard-wire types. Do I change the board like a genesis model or do I just plug in one into the harness supplied. I tried a existing decoder I had in another loco and it worked, but no lights worked. Interesting thing is that the board on the loco has digitrax printed on it.
Here is a pic.
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, March 21, 2005 9:22 PM
Just about any decoder with the 9-pin JST plug will work in those. You pull off the dummy plug that's attached to the short cable and plug the decoder in there. You need a 3-function decoder to control everything, if it has diitch lights. Frontlight, rear light, and ditch lights. To have flashing ditch lights you will need a 4-function decoder and need to do a little rewiring, I think.

--Randy

Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 21, 2005 9:51 PM
Thanks Randy,
I put a dh123 that I had in another loco and worked f/r lights. It doesn't have ditch lights (yet). I've only been at this for 6 weeks now so I am still learning.

Thanks again,
Steve

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