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Is it Possible to replace the Bachmann Decoder in HO DDA4X?

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  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: South Carolina
  • 1,719 posts
Posted by Train Modeler on Saturday, December 17, 2011 11:00 AM

These are tricky since there are 2 motors, I've done an old one and a new one.  Together these motors pull more amps than most decoders can handle.  I checked them at almost 1 amp each.     The new one like you have is best done using the existing light/motor control board and simply unplugging the bachman and going back in with a new decoder.   Since I put in a Soundtraxx, I had to do a little machining to get enough room and keep the OEM light board.    I also put 2 speakers in the fuel tank below.   Since I put in oversized speakers, I had to cut a little on the speakers and frame there as well.  But the sound is fantastic.

 

Richard

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada
  • 252 posts
Posted by CNR378 on Saturday, December 17, 2011 8:43 AM
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Friday, December 16, 2011 9:41 PM

 TCS has a replacement for the Bachmann DCC On Board diesel decoders.

                --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Spanaway, WA
  • 787 posts
Posted by SMassey on Friday, December 16, 2011 3:43 PM

more than likely it will be possible but I cannot access the Digitrax website from my work computers to research this.  I have in the past called Digitrax and asked them which decoders will work for odd engines and they are very helpful.

 

Massey

A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

  • Member since
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  • From: MX
  • 26 posts
Posted by Tonatiuh on Friday, December 16, 2011 3:37 PM

Massey:

I have the most recent release of DDA40X it has decoder already, one decoder, two motors, If is possible to replace with one Digitrax (example) the original Bachmann Decoder?

Thanks and Saludos

Esteban Tonatiuh

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Spanaway, WA
  • 787 posts
Posted by SMassey on Friday, December 16, 2011 3:22 PM

OH and if you have one of the dual motor models you may just want to use 2 decoders, one per motor.  If you do they will both work as one so long as they are both the same model of decoder and have the same loads on them.

 

Massey

A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Spanaway, WA
  • 787 posts
Posted by SMassey on Friday, December 16, 2011 3:21 PM

Any HO rated decoder should be able to carry the amps needed for the engine.  Is the engine you have one of the Spectrum line engines or one of the cheaper DCCinstalled engines? 

I would check NCE or Digitrax for drop in decoders, if you want sound I am not sure of the amount of space inside the engine for the speaker but Digitrax, Tsunami and others should have something that may fit.  Hell if you can fit sound inside Thomas or a Bachmann GE 44 ton engine I imagine that a behemoth like the DD engines can fit sound.

 

Massey

A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: MX
  • 26 posts
Is it Possible to replace the Bachmann Decoder in HO DDA4X?
Posted by Tonatiuh on Friday, December 16, 2011 2:52 PM

Hello all:

 

I wondering if someone could tell me if possible to exchange the "original" decoder of Bachmann  DDA40X, with other brand decoder, If so, what features has to have the replacement decoder?, (amp, stall current, etc)

 

Saludos from UP fan and modeler

Esteban Tonatiuh

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