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Spectrum "Baldwin" 4-6-0 63" Driver Decoder Installation

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  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: Arnold, MD
  • 3 posts
Spectrum "Baldwin" 4-6-0 63" Driver Decoder Installation
Posted by Cougar33 on Monday, March 8, 2010 3:44 PM

Hi.

After 15 years "off the air", I've finally come back to my model trainsSmile. Of course, things have evolved quite some in the decade and a half, mainly with DCC.

I've just bought a Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0, which is supposed to be DCC ready, with the intent to install a decoder myself. I have no problems with electronics so the new technologies are coming pretty quickly but I am quite confused as I cannot figure out if should install the decoder in the tender which has a small PCB (that I will probably have to remove) or in the loco itself. Before starting to take the loco apart, I prefer to ask my dumb questions!!

Thanks for any help

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Monday, March 8, 2010 3:59 PM

 Remove the tender shell, unplug the DC adapter fron the NMRA socket, plug in a decoder that has the eight pin plug. A Digitrax DZ125 decoder would work fine as it has BackEMF. You will have to solder the seven wires to a eight pin NMRA 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.

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: Arnold, MD
  • 3 posts
Posted by Cougar33 on Monday, March 8, 2010 7:38 PM

Thanks Rich, I'll follow your instructions.

...and if anyone else has ideas and advice, shoot!

Paul

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Monday, March 8, 2010 9:04 PM

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.

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Gateway City
  • 1,593 posts
Posted by yankee flyer on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 8:27 AM

richg1998

 

You will have to solder the seven wires to a eight pin NMRA plug.

Rich

 

 For me that was a big problem. I finally gave up and hard wired the darn thing. Banged Head

Lee

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: Arnold, MD
  • 3 posts
Posted by Cougar33 on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 11:06 AM

Well, I wasn't expecting all this information so quickly. Thanks to you all.Big Smile

(...and for David B: no, I didn't have any explaination, even in pictures, with the loco...)

Paul

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