I have HO Proto 1000 F3 A & B and Proto 2000 FA2 & FB2.I want to install Digitrax DH163D decoders. I recall reading somewhere that with this decoder, there is no need to replace the factory-installed headlights. Is this true? If not, what to replace them with, in conjunction with this decoder? Is sound an option in these particular locos? If so, any recommendations would be welcome. Thanks.
I have put Loksound sound decoders in the P2K FA units. They were a relative easy hardwired install. If do it again I would select either a QSI rev u or a Tsunami decoder. I have never been happy with the horn volume of the Loksounds. As for the headlights. I always swap bulbs for LEDs. After a bulb melted a shell I spent many hours of super detailing now has a droop where there should not be.
The P1K has a similar chassis so the decoder choice may be the same for them.
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!
Depends on how you installt eh decoders. Some P1K locos have solder spots for each of the decoder wires, and a coupel of circuit traces marked with an X to be cut (don;t forget or the decoder will short the first time you put it on the track). Most of those designs keep the resistor int he circuit for the headlight. A couple I looked at and attempted to trace the circuit made little sense so I found it easiest to just remove all of it and hard wire the decoder. Which is how I generally install all my decoders, even when there may be a plug in option. If you do that you will need either different bulbs or, my preference, golden-white LEDs with a 1K resistor on each LED. If your F unit is a dual headlight version, one woudl be a headlight and the other would be a beacon like a Mars light - in which case I would use other than a Digitrax decoder since while they have great lighting effects, they don't work well with LEDs. TCS and NCE decoders work much better with LEDs, TCS even has a CV to adjust for LEDs and bulbs. For just plain on/off lights, it doesn't matter, this is only for the various flashing effects like Mars lights, ditch lights, rotary beacons, etc.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker .................... TCS and NCE decoders work much better with LEDs, TCS even has a CV to adjust for LEDs and bulbs. ................... --Randy
.................... TCS and NCE decoders work much better with LEDs, TCS even has a CV to adjust for LEDs and bulbs. ...................
Randy (and others),
Have you had any experience with LEDs and Tsunami decoders?
Thanks,
Dave
From Mt Pleasant, Utah, the home of the Hill Valley and Thistle Railroad where the Buffalo still roam and a Droid runs the trains
Dave,
I just put LED's (Golden White I seem to recall) in an OLD Atlas RS-11 that I also just finished putting a TSU-1000AT into. So far (its only been a week) they look and work great. The only thing I did do was to use a 1k ohm resistor instead of the 680 ohm one the directions called for.
Eric