Stress Test Report - Ran it at the club for about 3 hours Wednesday. Everything still worked, and I did not let the 'Magic Smoke' out of the engine! It has been idling on the test track here at home for several hours - I toot the whistle whenever it goes into shutdown mode.
The install was not hard, but the instructions are lacking, and the magnet wire they used for the ditch lights is rather frail. The only reason I even considered a MRC decoder was due to they were the only company with a light board replacement - and Genset sound(even that is 'suspect'). At least I am not out $80 for a DOA sound decoder.
I plan to put ditch lights in some P1K GP15-1 and Atlas Trainman GP39-2 units when the ditch lights arrive - they will be 'non-flashing' as most BNSF road engines do not seem to use this feature. I will wire them up to the headlights with a Minitronics connector so I can remove the body shell for service. They have Digitrax DN135 decoders in them right now - Not sure if they will get 'sound'.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Wow, an MRC that actually works. Let us know how the stress test goes. It's unfortunate that we talk in such disparaging terms about MRC, but unfortunately the bad rap has been earned. I'm not into bashing manufacturers, but on MRC I'm 3 for 3 and replacing with Tsunami's.
Hi:
Reviewed one of the first of this series for Model Railroad News. Installed the same decoder as you did and haven't had any trouble. It is one of the smoothest running locos that I have. Congratulations on a successful install.
Dick Foster
Sonoma CA
Gate 5
It is complete! I taped everything, routed all the wires and taped them again - And it runs! The 'out of the box' sound appears to be a 539 Alco as mentioned. The other option is what appears to be a turbo EMD 645. Since I have not heard a genset, I really have nothing to compare with. I enabled the 'auto notching' and it works as advertised. The unit 'shuts down' after a couple of minutes of idle. I changed the default bell/whistle sounds to something more pleasing.
The ditch lights are too yellow, and can be configured to be on steady or flash. If in the default flash mode, you get flashing ditch lights even with no bell or whistle being activated. The CV121 to control if you want steady or flashing did not show up in Decoder Pro's CV table - and I downloaded the current production copy yesterday. CV123 for selecting the prime mover type did not show up as well - I used F12 to toggle between the sounds.
I'll take it to the club Wednesday and run it around for a couple of hours - the stress test to see if the MRC decoder can stand up to constant operation.
Jim Bernier
Even long-time "long hood forward" NS runs most modern locos short hood forward these days.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Before I wrote the original post, I spent about 25-30 minutes searching/reviewing web sites for a 'step by step' install - lot's of YouTube video of sound equipped gensets. After I made this post, I went back into YouTube itself and used 'their' search engine - I found a 3 part install video for the decoder! The pictures answered a lot of questions. I should have the decoder installed yet tonight - Then we will see if this is a MRC 'Dead on Arrival' decoder!
I am looking at an Atlas Genset with the body off. I have the MRC sound decoder along side it - Which way does the new decoder board mount? There seems to be some confusion as the Atlas engine has the red/black pickup wires reversed(as if they are expecting 'long hood forward' operation). The model has the 'F' on the short hood. Since this install is time consuming, I do not want to have the ditch lights out of sync with the headlights. Anyone have experience with this install or pictures? I know that the 'sound' is questionable for a genset....
Thanks - Jim