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Proto 2000 GP38 DC Light board

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  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 7:38 AM

Wiring a decoder into an Athearn blue box loco is quite easy. The biggest thing is to isolate the motor from the frame. This can be easily accomplished. It sounds harder than it really is. Remove the motor from the frame. Remove the two fingers that stick down from the strip on the bottom of the bottom or at least push them back up into the strip so they can't touch the bottom of the motor well. Solder a short length of small gauge wire to the bottom strip. The wire should be at least long enough to reach one inch above the top of the motor. I usually make it about two inches above the top of the motor. Cut two thin strips of electrical tape that will fit in the shiny part of the motor well so there's two layers of tape there. Secure the motor back into the frame.

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  • Member since
    January 2013
  • 23 posts
Posted by Jersey Southern RR on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 7:20 AM

 I found it.  Just use a standard ddc 8 pin decoder and go backwards.  Geeked

  • Member since
    January 2013
  • 23 posts
Proto 2000 GP38 DC Light board
Posted by Jersey Southern RR on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 8:39 AM

Have some with lights installed. Want to use on Athearn BB locos.  Can not find anywhere the power hook-up schematic. Any one know how to hook this up to a dc analog loco (pins 1 thru 8).  I will see if I can get a photo up.  thanks

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