I am beginning the process of replacing the MRC DCC sound decoders with Tsunami TSU-1000 heavy steam decoders in a number of HO Athearn Genesis FEFs and Challengers that I purchased new in about 2008.
I am not sure whether I should try to preserve and reuse any/some of the Athearn PCBs and/or wiring in the locomotives/tenders as part of that exercise.
It seems that the MRC decoders and associated wiring use a different color coding system than that used by the Tsunamis and it appears to me that a complete re-wire might be the preferable solution. But, I don't want to loose the chance for a quicker fix by using some of the existing wiring or incorrectly wiring items such as the number boards.
I am also adding the same Tsunami decoders to a number of DC only Athearn Genesis Big Boys that I purchased new in about 2008 and that seems to be a much more straight forward plug and play exercise.
I would be grateful for any comments regarding the best method to attack each of these two projects - particularly any references to earlier discussions and/or webpages, etc. that deal with the process of installing the Tsunamis to replace the MRC units in the DCC FEFs and Challengers that don't provide for a simple plug and play solution.
Regards.
PGI123,
I've not experienced the insides of those models, but I have installed Tsunamis. In general, I prefer to pull any existing wiring and redo it on a decoder install. It's simpler and less chance of a poor connection causing problems.
For special cases like the wiring to marker lights and other lights that tend to be "buried," I tend to judge how much trouble it could potentially be before extracting the old in favor of new wiring. So long as you make the connection secure, I like to preserve wiring in cases where the labor and what will be gained lean towards leaving it in place.
Since you have multiple locos to do installs on, if you are inclined to extract the old, try one and see how it goes, then decide how to approach the others.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I've never changed out the MRC decoder in an Athearn steam engine, and have never seen what's in the tender, but have done several diesel models, replacing the MRC sound decoder with a LokSound Select because the MRC motor control was so horrible.
My first action would be to check the Athearn box for a wiring schematic or exploded drawing showing how things are wired, if such an item actually exists. Unfortunately, decoder installations are not usually shown in exploded diagrams provided by the manufacturers.
If no diagram is available, my second choice would be some very careful wire tracing with a VOM to determine, as much as possible, which wire goes where, and the applied voltage. I would try to restrict the amount of rewiring to the tender.
If Athearn provided no wiring schematic with the model, check their web site. Also check around to sites such as TCS, Tony's, Litchfield Station, etc. and see if someone has provided a photo essay on replacing the MRC decoders with another brand, even non-sound.
Unplug the MRC and plug in a Tsunami. You can cut back the shrink on the Tsunami and remove the plug with the wires. Buy an 8 pin to 9 pin adapter to plug in the Tsunami. The link below shows you how to do this. If you go with the present lighting, it should work ok. Does the present loco have LED's or 12 volt light bulbs?
To my knowledge, the Athearn locos have the Quick Plug, a nine pin connector.
I have done one like this and it was a piece of cake. I have knowledge of what is used in DCC so it was not an issue for me. Your mileage may vary.
http://www.mrdccu.com/curriculum/soundtraxx/tsunami.htm
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Hi Mike,
Thank you for your helpful response to my inquiry. I will be sure to bear your observations and suggestions in mind as I proceed with this project, particularly the idea of a test run on one unit first.
Regards
Hi Cacole,
Thank you for your helpful response to my inquiry. I will be sure to look for the schematics, etc and try the VOM method you have suggested as I proceed with this project.
Hi Rich,
Thank you for your helpful response to my inquiry. I will be sure to bear your observations and suggestions in mind as I proceed with the Big Boys in this project because their decoders do have both 8 and 9 pin sockets.
Unfortunately, the MRC DCC sound decoders in the FEFs and Challengers do not - so I am still searching for that solution.
Hi David,
Thank you for your very helpful response to my inquiry. I will be sure to bear in mind your suggestions and I will try using the method suggested on the web page to which you have kindly referred me.
Do a search here for "genesis challenger wire harness" . You should find a complete set of instructions written for the 2006 genesis challenger model.
pharmd9233
PGI123 I am beginning the process of replacing the MRC DCC sound decoders with Tsunami TSU-1000 heavy steam decoders in a number of HO Athearn Genesis FEFs and Challengers that I purchased new in about 2008. I am not sure whether I should try to preserve and reuse any/some of the Athearn PCBs and/or wiring in the locomotives/tenders as part of that exercise. It seems that the MRC decoders and associated wiring use a different color coding system than that used by the Tsunamis and it appears to me that a complete re-wire might be the preferable solution. But, I don't want to loose the chance for a quicker fix by using some of the existing wiring or incorrectly wiring items such as the number boards. I am also adding the same Tsunami decoders to a number of DC only Athearn Genesis Big Boys that I purchased new in about 2008 and that seems to be a much more straight forward plug and play exercise. I would be grateful for any comments regarding the best method to attack each of these two projects - particularly any references to earlier discussions and/or webpages, etc. that deal with the process of installing the Tsunamis to replace the MRC units in the DCC FEFs and Challengers that don't provide for a simple plug and play solution. Regards.
How'd it go? I'm going to be attempting this with my Genesis FEF3 soon, using the TSU 1000 which is far superior in my opinion. Just installed one into a Bachmann DCC ready daylight loco and it was simple. This one looks far more complicated. I'm also hoping to be able to replace the cheap non-proto quantum chip in my BLI cab forward. Tsunami cab forward chips have that distinctive cross compound feed sound of the cab forwards, whereas the quantum one sounds just like every other BLI sound steam loco.
davidmbedardLeave the front pc board in. Wire up the tsunami as per the instructions on this page. http://www.dccwiki.com/Athearn_Genesis_With_Tsunami_TSU-1000 Use the stock speakers and you have to replace the rear light. The hardest part is getting into the tender. Hint.....the tool box comes off first! David B
Spoke with Dave from Athearn tech support this morning. Gonna double check the wiring harness connections from this with what he told me. Pretty sure I've got them all double checked enough now to successfully swap out the chips and make my 844 run and sound better. Thanks all for this thread.
The wiring in this is correct for the Genesis FEF-3 with MRC board. I successfully replaced the board last night, wiring according to the instructions on this wiki:
http://www.dccwiki.com/Athearn_Genesis_With_Tsunami_TSU-1000
the only problem is that the F0 key controls the mars light, not the headlight. I added a new backup light since the original was hard wired to the MRC circuit board in the tender. I've got the boiler off now, per Athearn's instructions, and may have to reverse a couple of wires on the micro LED headlight, and simply not worry about the MARS light operation, since it would only be for emergency use anyhow. Otherwise, everything worked as expected - just needing some tweaks to the chuff rate, start up voltage, etc.
What Quantum in a BLI? No BLI locos ever had QSI Quantum sound. If your model was a non-sound one that someone put a QSI Quantum board in, they probably used the wrong sound, or it's not set correctly - Quantums have multiple sound sets per sound file. If it was factory equipped, it either has an original QSI sound decoder and probably never had the chip replaced with the upgrade, or it's BLI's own sound board.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker What Quantum in a BLI? No BLI locos ever had QSI Quantum sound.
What Quantum in a BLI? No BLI locos ever had QSI Quantum sound.
Sure they did.
I have four BLI Paragon steamers and six BLI Paragon diesels with factory installed QSI Quantum sound.
At least that is what it says on the box and in the operating manual.
Alton Junction
Never mind, mixing up their generic brand name Quantum with the new Titan specific model.