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Is this Kato loco DCC-ready/friendly?

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  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Under The Streets of Los Angeles
  • 1,150 posts
Is this Kato loco DCC-ready/friendly?
Posted by Metro Red Line on Sunday, January 13, 2013 10:23 PM
I have an HO scale Kato C44-9W bought in the '90s. Here's a picture with its shell off. It has a light board with LEDs. Can anyone tell me if this loco is DCC-ready/DCC-friendly, or at least does not require any major modifications to add a decoder?
Tags: C44-9W , DC , DCC , kato , loco
  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
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Posted by wp8thsub on Sunday, January 13, 2013 10:36 PM

Like other Kato mechanisms of similar vintage it has an 8-pin socket, so all you should have to do is plug in a decoder with an 8-pin plug and harness.  Note the lettering on the PC board identifying "pin 1" so you can properly orient the DCC plug.

Rob Spangler

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: sharon pa
  • 436 posts
Posted by gondola1988 on Sunday, January 13, 2013 11:58 PM

The orange wire is the # 1 on the upper left in the pic, or if you are using a plug and play check the instructions for orientation.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Under The Streets of Los Angeles
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Posted by Metro Red Line on Monday, January 14, 2013 1:17 AM

wp8thsub

Like other Kato mechanisms of similar vintage it has an 8-pin socket, so all you should have to do is plug in a decoder with an 8-pin plug and harness.  Note the lettering on the PC board identifying "pin 1" so you can properly orient the DCC plug.

Thanks! Good to know!

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: La Mesa,CA
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Posted by Marty C on Monday, January 14, 2013 1:17 AM

Metro,

I have installed both soundtraxx mobiles MC 1 and 2 and NCE 14sr decoders in similar Kato engines with good results. Only mods I made were having to add a pin extender (readily available at your local hobby shop) and added a piece of electrical tape over the mounting screw just behind the engine's socket to ensure isolation of the circuit board. Good luck.

 

Marty C.

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: South Carolina
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Posted by Train Modeler on Monday, January 14, 2013 8:44 AM

Soundtraxx has a direct replacement for it with correct sound files.

Richard

  • Member since
    October 2012
  • 53 posts
Posted by The_Ghan on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 9:29 PM

The Digitrax DH165K0 is a direct board replacement.  You can read more here:

http://www.digitrax.com/products/mobile-decoders/dh165k0/

Cheers

Nige'

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