Could someone explain the circuit board in the tender of a Spectrum 4-6-0? I would like to plug in a decoder but being new to this knind of stuff, I find it kind of intimidating. The engine is a 2003 model and the instructions show only a plug in the tender. Does the whole board come out before the decoder goes in?
Thanks, Grenada
There are several variations of the engine. I have the 'High Boiler' version with the short tender from the 'Russian' 2-10-0. The board in the tender has a '2X4' NMRA 8 pin socket with a small 'plug' in it. Remove the plug and use harness with the NMRA 8 pin end to plug into the socket. Most new decoders have 9 pin JST connector and you can get the harness in different lengths with a JST on one end and the NMRA plug on the other.
IIRC, there is also a version with the long 2-8-0 tender and the 'Low Boiler' version with a small low/older tender. I have never opened up any of those, but the space in the older tender may be cramped.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Grenada
Open tender. Pull out jumper plug and snip the cap from the Bachman board. Plug in decoder and set on program track. Program and run loco.
The cap on the Bachman boards must be snipped if you want reliable throttle responce. Here is a link for you. http://www.tcsdcc.com/faq/Bachman%20Speed%20Control.html
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Thanks for your help guys, and also the link.
I have the 4-6-0 with 52 inch drivers. The tender is almost as small as the one with the Spectrum 4-4-0. The below photo is the PC board in the tender.I bought a Spectrum USRA medium tender that comes with some locos but the wiring is not compatible with my 4-6-0. I had to change the wires in the tender and add a 1k resistor for the LED in the loco. Below is the medium tender.Pin one of the decoder is the orange wire on the decoder plug.Rich
I have the 4-6-0 with 52 inch drivers. The tender is almost as small as the one with the Spectrum 4-4-0. The below photo is the PC board in the tender.
I bought a Spectrum USRA medium tender that comes with some locos but the wiring is not compatible with my 4-6-0. I had to change the wires in the tender and add a 1k resistor for the LED in the loco. Below is the medium tender.
Pin one of the decoder is the orange wire on the decoder plug.
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.
Thanks Rich, the board you showed is the same as mine. Is that yellow capacitor the only one and is that the one that should be disconnected?
I just modified the PC board photo. The two capacitors to remove are at the upper left. I marked them.
Here is the reason for a dim LED in the 4-6-0. The resistors and diode are in the circuit. Many people use 1,000 ohms resistance.
In my 4-6-0, I removed the PC board and hard wired a Micro-Tsunami decoder with a 1k resistor. I replace the headlight and used a LED. Not an easy modification.