Thanks for the help and advice. I went to the link you gave me and it was and will be helpful.
Between Tony's site, above, and those of the various manufacturers of decoders, you should find lists of decoders suitable for various engines, although older engines may not be included.
As a general point of importance, the motor must never be in electrical contact with the rails and the frame. That is your first item to think about...how to isolate the motor entirely. Thereafter, the motor must only ever get electical input from the decoder. So, once you know you have severed the motor from any contact with the wires and frame, you must provide rail power from the wipers to the decoder's appropriate inputs, and then provide the decoder's outputs contact with the appropriate items on the engine. Note that lights will be a bit tricky because decoder outputs may exceed what the current lighting can handle for more than the second it takes to make them go poof. This is also true of LEDs.
Decoders should, if possible, be kept as far away from any heat sources as possible. They produce their own, and don't need a warm or hot motor warming them as well.
One other important point...if you have to guess a bit about which decoder to use, make sure the one you pick can handle the stall current of the motor you link it to. If a motor sucks current to 2.4 amps or more, say, and your decoder is only rated for 2 amps, you may be on the hook for a new decoder if you are to blame for its failure. I hear that TCS decoders are redeemable free of charge, but others who actually know will have to confirm that.
Sound decoders adds more complexity.
to the forum! Here is a website that has a wealth of DCC information:
http://www.tonystrainexchange.com/index.html
Be sure to check out the DCC for beginners section.
Don Z.
Research; it's not just for geeks.
A short answer would be to start with a couple of Your favorite locos. Then go to the numerous sites that have technical advise on the particular loco You're working on .They will guide You in choosing/installing the decoder needed.There are numerous threads on this site with information on decoders & dcc systems. Welcome to the forum & great luck ! Randy.........
I am thinking about converting to DCC for my new layout. All of my locomotives are DC. What would be the best way to convert them to DCC? I have been checking out various sites and manufacturers and am getting lost. Can someone give me a guiding hand?