Yes, you are probably right about the F's having ligh bulbs instead of LED's if the DASR is a direct replacement of the factory light board. If your DASR's are fairly recent they probably have resistors built in for using LED's. I think one has to scratch out some traces on the board but otherwise they are good to go.
Roger,
Thanks for the clarification! I've got 3 of the ATSF ABBA FTs with all units powered. I picked up the extra power chassissss for the B units. I've also got 3 of the older F unit consists with Kato drive - all ABBAs with all units powered. I totally agree that they are some fine running locos, and with the American Limited diaphgrams (spell?), KD couplers, they look good too.
I "assumed" the FTs had the leds, but believe the Fs do not. As I'm up to my elbows in benchwork, I won't be putting the decoders in for awhile.
Thanks,
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Mobilman44,
Sorry for the confusion. Mine are Stewart FT's with the 8 pin plug. I used a T! decoder from TCS with a very short conversion harnes to go from the decoder's 9 pin socket to the 8 pin plug. If I recall, I got the harness from Litchfield Station, another excellent DCC supplier. The only challenge you might have with the NCE D13SRP will be what to do with the longer harness wires.
By the way, these Stewart FT's are among the smoothest running locomotives I have.
Skagitrailbird,
Which "Fs" do you mean? The conversion manual called for DASRs for Stewart F3,F7,F9s and that decoder is simply a replacement board. However the Stewart FTs, call for the D13SRPs, which do have plugs.
A very basic additional question......... how can one tell the difference in an LED or bulb installed in a loco?
If your Stewart F's are like mine all of the factory installed lights are LED's. Assuming you are just going to plug your 8 pin plug into the circuit board in the loco, you'll have LED lighting with no fuss or bother.
I have to agree with David. Instaling an LED is a little more work but well worth it in the long run. A sunny white LED and 1K 1/4 watt resistor and some shrink tube is all you need. I had a prize super detailed RS1 that when I put the shell on the chassis I must have knocked the bulb from its mount and melted the shell. All that paint and hand rail work gone.
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!
Hi!
Just got 16 NCE decoders from Tony's Train Exchange (I recommend them highly!) for some of my Stewart/Kato F units and Stewart FT units. I won't be ready to install them until next week, but I do need to know something about their lighting requirements beforehand.
I've got the NCE DASR decoders for the Stewart F units (Kato drive). Will the stock lights be ok or do they need to be replaced? If so, what exactly do I need to buy?
I've got the NCE D13SRP decoders for the Stewart FT units. Will the stock lights be ok or do they need to be replaced - and if so with what?
Yes, I actually read the instructions but I honestly don't fully understand the parts about the lights.
Thank you all,