Have been using NCE system almost since they first began producing NCE. I like the system and have no plans to change to another with the investment I have now. I do have a problem that developed lately and I don't seem to find a solution. The problem is this:
As a Santa Fe modeler late 80's early 90's, I accumulated a large number of Kato mid production SD40-2's, in fact, I have as many as Santa Fe had in that period, lots of decaling on numbers. These units have proved excellent service over the years but a problem has started developing with the pins going into the board. I added some new decoders, mostly NCE but a few other brands, and I seem to be having failures right from the "getgo" on some diesels. They flat will not recognize. I ordered some decoders from Ulrich that were advertised for these units and cannot get any of their decoders to make contact and. When I try to program them I get all those bad error messages and nothing runs. Before I invest in some other brand, can anyone give me some directions on decoders that work. I notice that none of the decoders from Ulrich seem to fit tightly in the holes in the board which would certainly cause the failures.
Not so interested in all the pros and cons, I have a potful of Kato diesels that cannot operate because of a failure when programming. Any suggestions appreciated.
By the way, these are not sound decoders. I wear hearing aids and sound decoders are pretty much banned except for a few units that run when I am on tour.
Bob Miller
When you say "the pins that go into the board" do you mean the wires from the trucks to the Kato gray colored board with gold colored wires running the full length of the board? If so, send me a PM and I'll explain in detail how I install decoders, even LokSound, into those Kato locomotives. I've done about 10 of them with no problems.
Some of the newer Kato locomotives I have seen with an 8-pin NMRA socket outline on the board are not rreally a socket, but just the location where a socket must be soldered.
A photo of one of the boards you're having trouble with would be most helpful.
If you're talking about the 8-pin NMRA medium connector, try gently squeezing the two rows of pins together just a bit with your fingers. That way they'll grip the socket.
The other option would be a board-replacement decoder. I put Digitrax DH165K1A's in my SD40-2 Mid's and they run great. They include the LED's for the ditch lights as well as the front and rear headlights so they are truly drop-in replacements.
That sounds like the ticket. I assume then that the pins are attached to the decoder and can be bent without too much danger. That sorry system that Kato used on the board is not my idea of a DCC ready engine either. I am just starting to have some failures on the boards with the pins not making contact and I guess eventually all the units will require the same change.
Must be why I get a "burr under my saddle" when I hear anyone recommend Kato diesels as being DCC ready.
Bob
The board is the newer one with the outline for the plug. Where does one find the socket needed to be soldered into the outline? For some reason, there is little available in Kansas City for the electronics part of the hobby which is my weak area.
pastorbobMust be why I get a "burr under my saddle" when I hear anyone recommend Kato diesels as being DCC ready.
Sounds like they may have cheaped-out on later production models. I have several of the earliest production SD40-2s from Kato, and they all have a nice 8-pin socket that's a tight fit for an NCE or Digitrax plug.
Rob Spangler
wp8thsub pastorbobMust be why I get a "burr under my saddle" when I hear anyone recommend Kato diesels as being DCC ready. Sounds like they may have cheaped-out on later production models. I have several of the earliest production SD40-2s from Kato, and they all have a nice 8-pin socket that's a tight fit for an NCE or Digitrax plug.
Quite so. I have been buying those units over a period of a few years, grabbing one whenever I saw it on sale or a good price. The older ones cause no problems at all. I agree on the quality of the units deteriorating over the years. It is my newest ones that are causing the problem. I did find a workaround however quite by accident. I had an extra decoder with the wiring harness and decided to try it on those Kato plugins. Lo and behold, I had no problem programming it. So I picked up some more decoders with wiring harnesses and got all but two of my SD40-2's back in servce. The remaining two are awaiting a new order of decoders with harnesses.