(I posted this in 'general' earlier, just realized where it should have gone)
Having never installed a decoder before, I've got a few questions. I've got an N scale Con-Cor 4-6-4 (the newer version I think), and the decoder is a Digitrax DN163.
When I connect the Red and Black wires to the engine pickups, can I simply solder them to the two wires coming from the motor, or do I need to make sure that they aren't touching the frame? And if that's the case, how can I check?
I'd also like to convert a Model Power 4-6-2 Pacific, it looks like the motor is already isolated, but I figured I'd check to see if anyone knew for sure.
Has anyone converted either of these models? Thanks!
I don't know about the Con-Cor, though if it has two wires coming form the motor it is probably isolated. Where do the wires go?
The Pacific is a snap, the wires to the motor are already in the tender, as well as the wires from the pickups in the loco and the tender.
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
With the Con-Cor, the two wires coming from the motor plug into the track pickups in the tender. However, with them unplugged, the engine still received power from the track, so I take it that the motor isn't isolated, because it's getting power from the frame, right?
Thanks for the input on the Pacific, I think I'll try that one later today.
nick.
Your assessment of the Hudson sounds right. Have a look at this:
http://www.trainweb.org/nrmrc/dccconv/cc464.html
I saw that site, and that guy updated his motor, so mine is a bit different. I couldn't get the motor out, which was my main problem, as I didn't want to ruin an otherwise perfectly good engine.
I also managed to get the Pacific DCC compatible. For a second. I decided to try out the wiring to make sure it worked before soldering/securing everything in place, and as I powered it on, and it crept forward, a wire sticking out of the tender hit a little guy at the station, and something shorted out. Short story shorter, I've had a dcc set for two days and I'm already down two decoders, and have yet to successfully run a dcc engine. So it goes...
Thanks for your input. I'm sure someday it'll all work as it should.