I'm just starting to add decoders to my fleet. I have a Walthers Trainline F40 and a Trainline Dash 8-40B up next. Neither are DCC ready but do have light boards.
My first question...can I (should I) remove the light boards and then hard wire my decoder harness to the appropriate wires? This would seem to be easier/cleaner than soldering the harness wires to the solder tabs on the light board. I'm planning to use a Digitrax DH163D for both units.
Second question...are the headlight bulbs in these units 12-14 volt or 1.5? My guess is 12-14 since I don't see any resistors on the light board. The Dash 8, I believe, has directional lighting with diodes on the light board. Will the DH163D decoder offer directional lighting without the need for diodes?
After I've done more of these decoder installs, I'd like to try to add ditch lights to both engines but I'll do that later.
john
Jay
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Jay:
Thanks very much. The Dash 8 is finished, removed the light board and hard wired to the harness. Tested the bulbs with the 1.5v battery; they are 12-15v. The F40 should go even faster.
One more question, if you don't mind. I have a P2K E6 with regular headlight and MARS light. One tip I've found, I think at the Digitrax site, says to move the yellow wire from pin 2 on the male plug on the decoder harness to pin 3 (or vice-versa, it's not in front of me). I guess I'd rather just remove the circuit board and hard wire everything but I need to know what to do with the MARS light wiring. Which wire on the harness gets the MARS wire and then are there CV's that need setting?
Thanks again,