We went to the train show in Lena Illinois and had a great time today. I found an Athearn SD40 not the new one from a earlier run. It is dcc compatable. Has anyone put a decoder in one? It says use a 9 pin plug or an 8 pin plug. If an 8 pin is used it needs to be soldered. Can anyone shed some light as to what they mean?
The April, 2016 issue of MR just happens to have an article on installing a decoder in an older Athearn blue-box locomotive.
http://mrr.trains.com/videos/issue-preview/2016/02/video-inside-the-april-2016-model-railroader
Regards, Ed
It is not a bluebox but a RTR loco w pin.I have not opened the loco to examine its innards tho.
Athearn RTR locos have a 9 pin harness in place on the lighting board. There should be a DC dummy plag in place on the harness. Unplug the dummy plug and plug your decoder in its place.
Joe
JoeinPAAthearn RTR locos have a 9 pin harness in place on the lighting board.
He's asking about the location for an 8-pin plug.
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
maxmanHe's asking about the location for an 8-pin plug.
That's good, he shouldn't have to worry about isolating the motor, at least.
Ed
It had both 9 pin and 8 pin available. On the rear there was a 9 pin harness hard wired to the board with a Digitrax decoder plugged into it. On the front end was an 8 pin socket that was unused. The decoder was set to the engine number.
CGW121 It is not a bluebox but a RTR loco w pin.
It is not a bluebox but a RTR loco w pin.
I don't believe Athearn ever offered a blue box SD40, only the SD40-2. Athearn aquired the RPP SD40 shells and upgraded them, and offered SD40's in the RTR line until the molds wore out a few years ago - newer ones are new tooling of course.
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