I am actually planning to convert a Bachmann Spectrum GE 44 Tonner to DCC.
Do I need to use resistors between the board and the bulbs as I don't want to change the regular bulbs for LEDs?
Guy
Modeling CNR in the 50's
If you remove the clip and solder the decoder wires in the holes provided - no. Remember to clip off the capacitors while you have it apart, it will run MUCH better.
--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 stripped everything except the lights out of two 44 tonners and hardwired in a LokSound decoder. No resistors needed.
For a small non sound decoder, solder the wires as explained. My first try was a DZ125 decoder.
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.
Presumably the factory bulbs are in the 12v to 16V. If so, no resistor is required. But is it a good idea to run those bulbs at full power from the decoder? I would be worried about the heat, possibly softening/melting the surrounding plastic.
When (if?) I ever convert mine to DCC I will swap out the light bulbs for LEDs with resistors.
My 44 tonners have the bulb in a metal tube. Looks like aluminum.
http://www.hoseeker.net/assemblyexplosionbachmann/bachmannspectrum44%20tonpg2.jpg
http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=1397
The latest ones have LED's on the PC board though it is DCC on board. No idea if Bachmann sells it DCC ready anymore. catalog does not show DCC ready.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/62201.pdf
Yes, that's why I left it alone, the bulbs are not in contact with the plastic. Eventually I am going to rip out the factory board and change it to a Loksound Micro for sound, and put LEDs in it.
Sometime ago I installed a LokSound micro with 16mm x 35mm speaker and baffle in both of my 44 tonners. The pictures are in the DCC forum somewhere.
richg1998No idea if Bachmann sells it DCC ready anymore. catalog does not show DCC ready.
AFAIK, the last several runs of both the 44- and 70-tonners have been DCC/dual mode decoder equipped only. Like anything free, the included decoder's worth should be considered about what you paid for it. I've found the B-mann decoders to be more trouble than the effort expended to fiddle with the CVs in hope of better performance, even with the caps being excised as the first order of business.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Yea. all the Bachmann non sound decoders are low end Lenz.
Been watching the Bachmann forums for some years and the last I new, that has not changed.
Sometime ago NCE developed a light board non sound decoder, BACH-DSL, with LED's on it for the standard size Bachmann diesels. Not the 44 or 70 ton.
richg1998Sometime ago NCE developed a light board non sound decoder, BACH-DSL, with LED's on it for the standard size Bachmann diesels. Not the 44 or 70 ton
Yeah, found that out the hard way, but when handed lemons, you make lemonade. I found that with a little hacking the BACH-DSL can work quite well in the 70-tonners, which I convert to HOn3. Still too big for the 44-tonner. In this pic, the factory board is next to the hacked, partially modified board to check size.
By cutting the NCE board carefully and recycling the original cab-mount for the factory LED, you end up with the LED mount needed in the cab for the rear headlamp. A few jumpers finish the job.
With a little assist from Kapton tape, you can insulate and tape the factory weight on top of the board, so you don't lose any tractive power.
Randy,
You wrote "Eventually I am going to rip out the factory board and change it to a Loksound Micro".
Is it as simple as removing the PCB and soldering the wires from to loco to the wires of the decoder?
Besides finding room for the speaker - yes. The wires fromt he truck pickups and the wires from the motor are fairly obvious. The circuit board does nothing but house the capacitors and coils for the silly rf supression and a couple of diodes that make the lights directional on DC which get bypassed when you connect a decoder to the holes provided.
My normal standard for ANY decoder install is to remove factory boards, even when they have 9 pin or 8 pin plugs. By completely removing the factory board, I have more room, plus I do not have to worry about any possible miswiring or fogtotten trace cuts on a factory board. Both wires from the right side truck pickups to the red wire, both from the left to the black wire, orange and grey to the motor. I always repalce incandescent bulbs with LEDs, too, so I should never have to tear apart any loco ever again. In the case of direct wiring a decoder, generally resistors are needed with LEDs, unless using one of the decoders that already has current limiters built in.
Thank you for the reply. I will give it a try on that Bachmann GE 44 Tonner.
And thanks to all that contributed to the thread on resistor.