Santa came the other night and dropped off a new NCE starter kit to get me started in DCC. He also dropped off a DCC decoder for my HO scale Atlas FM Trainmaster (Atlas Item # 7810 Silver Series). Santa dropped off a DIgitrax DN163A0 decoder for my Trainmaster. I'm just about ready to install but I have concerns.
First of all, the train shop assured Santa that the Digitrax DN163A0 (which is made for N scale) would fit in my HO scale Trainmaster. When I removed the shell, I don't see how this will fit. Since I'm new to this, I see that the DN163A0 has about 2 1/2 inches in length and has two bulbs attached to the chip......are these the directional lights? If so, I'm assuming that this isn't going to work in my Atlas which is 8 1/2 inches in length.
Did the train shop pull Santa's leg in selling him this chip? I can't open the decoder packaging if I plan to return it (so says the train shop) so I'm stuck in trying to figure out if this is going to work...? Any help would be appreciated plus I hope all you model railroaders had a great Christmas and received lots of trains!! Steve
Steve.
Santas elves need to look up the right decoder for your loco. That decoder is made especially for the Kato N scale split frame locos. A good decoder would be a TCS T1P-SH. http://www.tcsdcc.com/public_html/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/HO_Scale/Atlas/Trainmaster/Atlas_Train_Master_T1_SH.htm
If your still wary of room issues a TCS MC2-SH would also fit great.
One piece of advise is not to listen to the kid behind the counter of a LHS unless they specialize in DCC decoder installs. A little online research before buying a decoder will save tons of aggravation later on. My LHS sold a locomotive to a club member and a G scale decoder they said would fit great. The decoder was bigger then the loco and the club member never picked up on it until he handed the bag to me for the decoder install.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Thanks for the info Pete. I did see that this decoder would fit in a Trainmaster, but a N-scale Trainmaster.......go figure. I'm glad I didn't rip into it or the LHS man would have given me the Grinch! The Trainmaster I have is a Ph. 1b (hi-nose). Thanks Again! Steve
TONS of room inside the Trainmaster, so no reason to pay more for the MC compared to the T1 decoder. Since the Silver Series TM's still have the giant speaker frames in the rear, with a longer harness the decoder could be placed there - there's enough room for a G scale decoder in there.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I went back to the LHS and they traded me a DH 123P which fit fine and they credited me back 10 bucks.....though it said that the chip was a 9 pin.
Great to hear that the DH123P will work! I did buy years ago a DCC intro book, maybe I need to re-read it again, although I think even from then many things have changed. Hopefully by today I'll be able to hook up the system and begin running some trains. Thanks for all the help! Steve
Use the book for leveling your kitchen table. Bookmark the manufactures web sites for Digitrax, NCE, TCS, Soundtraxx, QSI, and Lenz. Maybe even MRC if you want. My favorite is TCS. They have install pictures of a lot of locomotives. This gives you an idea of what you may run into before you even pop the shell off. Even if you don't use their decoder. You can also find a lot more information on the web sites that are not printed on the little piece of paper that comes with the decoders.
Also bookmark Tony's, Litchfield station, Train tech and other shops that specialize in DCC. Tons of updated info on these sites as well.
Welcome to the wonderful world of DCC