I recently puschased a DCC Sound Card from Bachmann for a Bachmann Spectrum 70 ton three-truck Climax. It's already DCC but without sound. The folks at Bachmann parts told me it would come with an eight pin plug - but did not. In fact, it arrived in a ziplock bag without documentaion or installation instructions. In truth, the part appears to have been previously installed in something. The wire holes have alredy been soldered with previous wires cut off.
It appears to be the same size and has the same mounting holes for the existing PC board. It would seem that I will need to remove the old board and eight pin DCC card and then wire the new one directly to the existing leads and then attach the speaker leads. However, I don't want to fry the board in the proces of trial and error.
Calling Bachmann has been no help. I'm familiar with DCC and wiring. I just need a schematic or install instructions. Does anyone have documentaion on one of these? Any help would be greatly appreciated since it looks as if I will not be able to return this item.
Here is the link to Bachmann's install instructions
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/HOSoundDecoderInstallation_HOClimax.pdf
RR Baron
What do you see in the loco? I thought they were at least DCC Ready.
You might try looking at the diagram pages at the Bachmann site.
Join the foruns and ask. Company reps there. You might post a picture of what you have. Bachmann does make chages in their locos.
They do sell two different sound modules. They also sell a PC board with eight pin socket and the four pin and two pin sockets.
The Parts pages does show wiring instructions. I don't have this loco so did not know the wiring was there.
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.
And why can't you reture it? You have a copy of the invoice- make a copy -call and get a return authuration and send it back-
If you did not use it and it looks used it need to go back and you get a new one.
Bachmann is perty good about wranty items. SEND IT BACK!
Yes, send it back. I just looked at your message and realised you got the module without plug. Looked too fast and thought the loco did not have the eight pin. When you look at the Parts page for this loco, you can see the wiring instructions for both sound modules.
http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=66_68_92&sort=20a&page=3
Anymore Bachmann locos and I would suggest spending some time looking through the Bachann product pages. DCC info, Parts and Returns page, loco diagrams.
After you click on the link, click on "Click here for intructions". That is what you were looking for.
RR Barron,
Thanks for the link! I finally got through to a Bachmann rep who told me they did not have install documentation, but did a deeper check and found the same link.
I got it installed and running. They did offer to take the entire thing back, engine as well as the card but given the needed documentation, I elected to keep it and made the install.
Hard to fit it all in with the rear light monting but a small midification made it work!
Richg1998,
I was never able to locate the wiring instructions on their webpage. Probably due to my marginal internet skills! "Annie" from Bachmann customer service emailed them to me almost immendiatly after I finally got through to someone who could talk about the Climax loco.
The loco had an eight pin pc board but that had to be removed entirely. The wiring to the new board came from a four pin and two pin plug running from the loco. Once I desoldered the wire stubs on the new board (they removed it from an in-stock loco) I was able to make the attachments.
There was some deviation in the install intructions regarding the two pin wiring. It was from the front truck power pickup and shown in the install diagram as running to the rear truck pickups, but actually ran to the old board itself - along with the rear pickups leads. There were two attachment points on the old board for power pickups - front and rear. The new AE32020 board only accomodates one track power attchment, so I an the front leads to the rear truck as the instructions showed and then fed the power to the new board from there.
Works great! It took a little effort but that's half the fun! Thanks to all for the help!
Good little loco. The gearing is a bit rough but she seems to be smoothing out. I lubed the bearings and journals underneath and its running more smoothly. I think she just needs a but of break-in time.
The sound is very nice!
Many thanks to the community!