How do you put DCC into a Stewart Hobbies VO-1000? Is it a PC bord, 8 or 9 pin plug or hard wire?
8-pin plug. See http://www.tcsdcc.com/decoderpics/vo.html for an example.
Gary
If you are new at this decoder installation stuff you picked a good one, its easy and you will be very pleased with how it runs. I love the stewart stuff, all i ever had before i got my first stewart were Athearn B.B.'s. I will never forget seeing something run (DC) without any noise .....
Been Nothing Since Frisco (BNSF)How do you put DCC into a Stewart Hobbies VO-1000? Is it a PC bord, 8 or 9 pin plug or hard wire?
8 pin socket.
It's a nice little engine, but room is TIGHT under the hood. I barely managed to shoehorn a Lenz Gold decoder under there.
Mine ran quite a bit quieter after I put a little greese on the drive gear. After about 10 hours, it was really super quiet at switching speeds
Also, be careful of the bronze strips used to feed power to the lights. They break off easy.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Like everyone said,this is an easy dcc install. This was one of the smoothest running out of box loco I ever converted .Slow crawl speed. A great switcher .
BNSF
Easy decoder instal. Order a TCS MC2 -VO it comes with the short VO harness. Instal decoder put on program track, run. Its that easy. It takes longer to put the hand rails and wipers on.
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!
Just got home from work to go through my 3 ring I keep on my loco's, I used an NCE KRS-SR. Im old now but it truely must have gone smooth because no blood pressure increase was noticed when I found the page..
By the way, if you ARE new to this, dont be too nearvous. Its alright. We all did our first conversion, and you have some INCREDABLE, COOL, nice help here on this site. I know, Ive asked some dilly questions. But if I might recommend, I bought a three ring binder, some of those clear three ring binder envelopes, and have my locos in order by size, with a digital photo on the front side of the envelope and my decoder paperwork when you flip the page. In the front pcket of the binder i have a hand written roster in loco number board order so i never use the number twice. Like I said, im old.
Doug
So adding a lokosound decoder would be the same prinsapal as a "TCS MC2-VO" or NEC decoder right?
Thats true, but if you add a sound decoder you have to plan for the area used up by the speaker. These narrow hood locos can be a challenge. I have installed a speaker on the underside of the cab roof pointing down.
Well other than the not so minor issue of finding a place for the speaker and enclosure. It CAN be done but will require a good bit of modification of the loco to make it all fit.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
A loksound won't fit easily.
If you look at Bowser's website, they sell loksound chassis only for the VO-1000. You will note the chasis is different. They lopped off a bit of pot metal up front so they had room for the speaker.