DCC conversion PK2 E/8

[ernies railroad]

Has anyone converted a Proto 2000 on a E/8 that is not DCC ready? And if so, what decorder did you use. I purchased four of these at a train show four years ago at a reasonable price with my road name. I have a Digitax system. In looking at the units I don't belive I have room for sound, I'm looking for help. I've converted some Athearn BB's with satisfaction. Thanks in advance.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I don't have any E8's but I do have a couple of E7's (originally standard DC) that I converted to DCC using Bachmann decoders. I simply soldered the truck pickup wires to the power inputs of the decoder and then soldered the motor wires to the decoders motor output pads. I ran two wires from the decoders lighting pads to the E7's light board. In this way I didn't have to change out the bulbs and I still had the Mars light effect. The decoder supplies the only power going to the light board.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

If you're looking for a decoder that takes up little space and you're not interested in a lot of fancy functions then I recommend the Digitrax DZ125. I've used them in Athearn BB equipment with no problem other than a very minor addressing issue particular the EZ-Command's programming limitations. The DZ125 is sized for Z scale but is robust enough for HO use. It's a FX3 2 function decoder that controls speed, direction and lighting. It's current rating is 1 amp (2 amps peak).

[Otis]

Cool, man. 

I am at the same doorstep with a NYC P2K E8 I picked up on Ebay.  I am going to use one of my supply of DZ 123s that I stocked up on.  This looks as straight forward as any other hardwiring job except that there are two forward lights to convert to LEDs....one is just for the lightboards...odd.

Now, if you have a dummy B unit for any of them, I believe there is room for a sound decoder in the loco once the old board is taken out for hardwiring...and the speaker(s) can be placed in the dummy.....that's a solution I have used before.  But I have no dummy for this NYC of mine.

[ernies railroad]

Thanks for the help, went to the LHS and picked up a Digitrax DZ125, installed and seems to be working fine. I"m shoping for a dummy to go with the E/8 unit and in time will install a sound unit, once I find one thats compatble with the E/8 sound. What a great hobby.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Glad I could help.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

There should be loads of room for a sound system in that locomotive; no need to put it in a b-unit. 

Have you seen the inside of the P2K E series locos? There's not much space there. Any sound system would have to be really small.

[ernies railroad]

Thanks David, I'll look into it. Very little space in rear of unit, depending on size of MRC Sounder, it may just work. I do not want to get rid on any of the weight, I have a mountain area that has a 2% grade and I need the pulling power. THANKS  again ERNIE

[jeffrey-wimberly]

One person immediately comes to mind.

[Texas Zepher]

Has anyone converted a Proto 2000 on a E/8 that is not DCC ready?

Yes. But I believe there were at least two versions created before they began the DCC-ready bit.   Even for the DCC ready ones, I've found it easier to remove the DCC ready part and just install the decoder from scratch.

And if so, what decorder did you use.

I originally used  a Digitrax DH163, but was dissatisfied with the control over the lights.  I switched to an NCE D13SR.  Please note that both of these decoders require the addition of resistors for the headlamps.   As there is a lot of room in the locomotive for a decoder almost any can be used and there are now several that have the limiting resistors for the 1.5V headlamps built in.

Also note that depending on which exact model you have the headlamp can have multiple filaments in it.   Mine (CB&Q) has a single filament bulb in the lower lamp, and a double filament in the upper. 

I've converted some Athearn BB's with satisfaction.

These will be a dream compared to the blue box, as the motor is already isolated from the frame and the frame is not used as a conductor of track power.

[Driline]

Has anyone converted a Proto 2000 on a E/8 that is not DCC ready? And if so, what decorder did you use. I purchased four of these at a train show four years ago at a reasonable price with my road name. I have a Digitax system. In looking at the units I don't belive I have room for sound, I'm looking for help. I've converted some Athearn BB's with satisfaction. Thanks in advance.

Yes, I dropped in a soundtraxx LC 100 with great success. I used a 1 inch speaker. Plenty of room and sounds great! Only bad part is the soundtraxx decoder does not allow for a mars light function.

[BRVRR]

erinies railroad,

I have converted two P2K E8s to DCC. I kept the installed circuit board and plugged the decoders in with the 8-pin medium plug in one loco. The installation in my lead engine is basically the same, but I took out the old style circuit board and hard wired the deecoder into place.There is plenty of room for a HO scale decoder whichever method is used.

As to sound. Both of my E8s have Soundtraxx DSD100LC decoders and 3/4" speakers and enclosures installed. While the sound isn't the greatest, but it is adequate for my needs. I didn't want to perform major surgery on the chassis. Here is a picture of the plug-in installation:

This loco is the third in my A/B/A set, E8/E7B/E8. The E7B is a dummy and has a 1" speaker and enclosure installed which can be plugged in to the lead A unit. This little trick makes the sound much better. I still have to install the wiring for the B-unit in this loco.

In sum, there is room for a decoder inside of the P2K E8 loco. If you don't want to try sound, I would go with a TCS T1 or a Digitrax DH123/125 decoder. But, as can be seen above, there is room for a sound decoder, even the old style Soundtraxx, if you wish.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

 

 

[ernies railroad]

Thanks, I installed a DZ125 in one of the units, and I think I'll try the DSD100LC in one of the three that is left. I'll have to place an order for that my LHS has a very limited supply of decorders or anything else, but he is a good guy and trys.