I'm going to be buying an Athearn RS3 with a 9-pin plug inside it. Can I use any 9-pin decoder, say the Digitrax DH123D, to put in here or will it not fit? Thanks!
Modeling New Haven despite what his user name says...
Just about any 9 pin will fit., I used a TCS T-1.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
If space is at a premium and all you want is motor and light control you can hard wire a Digitrax DZ125 Z Scale decoder. I've installed them in quite a few of the Athearn locos I have (Blue box and RTR).
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
No need to use an more expensive tiny decoder, the RTR locos with the 9 pin plug have plenty of room to fit a less expensive 'full size' decoder, and the 9 pin plug is just sitting there ready to use (after removign the dummy plug). Takes maybe 5 minutes to take the shell off, plop in the decoder, adn put it back together. On anythign else I'd probably ditch the board and install LEDs but for the RS-3 I'd have to then find some clear lenses to fit the headlight casting and put the LED behind them. I'm sure one of the many MV lenses will fit and maybe in the future I will do this (after the bulbs burn out probably).