help! need DCC for...

[ShaunCN]

Help me please! i need to fit DCC into the fallowing list of locomotives, however i'm not sure wich decoders to use or what manufacturer?

 Kato SD40 and SD40-2

 P2K GP9 and GP38-2

Atlas "classic" in the black boxes C424, GP38, GP7

 Athearn Genesis SD70

[tstage]

Shaun,

The Proto 2000s can use the Digitrax DH165L0.

Tom

[jbinkley60]

Help me please! i need to fit DCC into the fallowing list of locomotives, however i'm not sure wich decoders to use or what manufacturer?

 Kato SD40 and SD40-2

 P2K GP9 and GP38-2

Atlas "classic" in the black boxes C424, GP38, GP7

 Athearn Genesis SD70

For Digitrax decoders, here's the selection matrix link.

http://www.digitrax.com/decsel.php

And

http://www.digitrax.com/decodeindex.php

 

 

[locoi1sa]

  Shaun

 Check out www.tcsdcc.com and www.nce.com. TCS site has great pictures of decoder instals.

        Pete
 

[wjstix]

Generally if the engine has an eight-pin receptacle, any of the one-piece "plug and play" decoders with built in 8-pin plug will work. Especially in newer engines, try that first. If not, most everyone makes light-board replacement decoders for Atlas and LL etc.

[ShaunCN]

i'm still lost as to wich ones i need, seems i can't get the right amount from any one, and having to go to TCS, digitraxx and NCE is a real pain, why cain't it be easier.

[ShaunCN]

problem is finding some one who sells all the decoders i need.. i don't like the digitrax ones for teh kato locomotives... also whats thsi about replacing headlights on athearn genesis SD70 and proto 2000 units.

[ShaunCN]

hmm i don't really want to modify the frame on my kato SD40's to make a decoder fit.. so far I havn't received the help i was looking for.  Lets take this oen step at a time then. Whats the best, easiet plug and play decoder for kato SD40/SD40-2?

 

 

[cacole]

Your problem seems to be more a case of trying to find a "one size fits all" decoder and there is no such animal.  Try looking at web sites such as Digitrax, TCS, Litchfield Station, or Tony's Train Exchange and you'll find that each different brand and model of locomotive usually requires a different type of decoder, depending on whether or not they are truly "DCC ready" or require soldering or total light board replacement.  Most of the models you have might be in the decoder selection matrix on Tony's web site.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

If you're pressed for space and don't want to remove any weight or other parts from your locos then the Digitrax DZ125 decoder can be used. It sized for Z Scale but is robust enough to stand up to HO equipment. Because of it's small size it can be tucked in almost anywhere. I've used them on a set of Athearn F7's and Proto 2000 E units.

[Texas Zepher]

i'm still lost as to wich ones i need, seems i can't get the right amount from any one

The right amout of what?

Personally I think I would use a NCE DA-SR for all the units you have mentioned.  They fit right in where the current circuit board was.  Power in on both sides.    OR maybe if the Proto-2000s you have contain the plug, then an NCE P2K-SR.

and having to go to TCS, digitraxx and NCE is a real pain

What do you mean by "having to go to"? 

why cain't it be easier.

Well one could just buy locomtives with the DCC already built in.  Easy costs money.  Doing command control yourself these days is easy.  If you want hard go back in time about 25 years before LEDs, micro-minature lamps, and try to install a CTC-16 decoder in an RS-3.

[ShaunCN]

Soory for all that trouble guys, was jsut trying to sort through all the info there was.  I've bought a couple hundreed dollars worth of decoders now, am i done? no.. But it's a good start.

 

thanks

[mmartian22]

use a digitrax combo unit   replace speaker with the smallest rect.speaker  you can get

  and mount it under the round fans  and no modifly the body. litchfield and tony's trains can help you here.