DCC in dual motor Athearn

[awwrailroad]

Has anyone out there done a DCC install on a dual motored Athearn DD-40 (DD-35A)?

[rrinker]

Nope. Not sure how I'd handle that one. Not too many HO decoders can handle TWO Athearn motors. I'd probably remotor it, either with one or two decent motors from Helix Humper or NWSL.

--Randy

[cacole]

Yes, I've done that. I used a Digitrax decoder, but it's been so long ago that I don't remember which one. I think it was rated for O scale use. One decoder runs both motors, so you need a heavy duty decoder rated at at least 2 Amps. Another option is to install two separate decoders that are assigned to the same address if you have only 1 Amp versions, but purchasing a heavy duty decoder would be cheaper. And there's nothing wrong with the Athearn motors, so I would not consider it worth the cost to try remotoring one of these puppies. The replacement motors would cost more than the original cost of the locomotive, so why bother?

This is one of those cases where you have to ask yourself, "Do I use this locomotive enough to justify the cost of the decoder(s), or should I just continue to run it on DC block control?"

Of course, if your layout is not set up for dual operation, that's not a consideration; but I have a lot of older locomotives that are simply not worth the time, effort, and cost of trying to make them DCC, so I run them on block control.

[nfmisso]

Another option, viable if the locomotive's top speed is about twice as high as you would like, is to wire the two motors in series, which will cut the current draw roughtly in half. It will also cut the top speed in half.

What ever you do, make sure you properly isolate the motors from the frame.

[aluesch]

QUOTE: Originally posted by awwrailroad

Has anyone out there done a DCC install on a dual motored Athearn DD-40 (DD-35A)?

A Zimo MX64H should handle that. I use it in several 2-motored HO enignes.

Regards,
Art

ZIMO Agency of North America
http://www.mrsonline.net/

[awwrailroad]

Thanks for all of your responses. Since I already have the Digitrax decoders with the athearn easy harness, I'll run with two on the same address.
Thanks again!

[SP4449]

[?] Using the Zimo decoder for two Athearn motors, how about using it to control a pair of F-units that are drawbar connected? Using a plug-socket arrangement between the A and B units similar to how the Proto 2000 steamers are connected to the tender, should work, right?

I have a couple of the double motored DD40s and some F-units this option may work in.