Earlier I posted about a decoder for my 4-8-2 Heavy Steamer, I forgot to mention sound or no sound. I am a beginner in DCC . I do not want sound right now. But I was wondering can I use a digitrax decoder such as a dh123 I think. Do I still have to cut the two yellow capacitors out or not. How do I tell which is pin 1 or 8 on the decoder wire harness.
Thanks for all the help. I am pretty much on my own out here in North Carolina. Wis I was back in Chicago or San Diego.
NickyB
Yes cut the capacitors. You'll get better rrunning with say a TCS decoder, or even a DH163 over the DH123. The TCS page has a step by step photo series for that loco, including showing where to cut the capacitors.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I remember when I add dcc to one of my Bachmann HO Heavy Mountains.
The decoder just plugged in and when I put the engine on the track it took off on its own. The engine would run, then stop, then run some more.
I cut the capacitors and the engine ran fine.
Funny, the other Heavy Mountain did not react the same way, but I cut off the capacitors on all of my Spectrum engines.
No other Bachmann Spectrum engine I have reacted strangely when adding dcc to those dcc ready units., just this one heavy mountain engine.,
Put a TCS decoder in it. they are the Cadilac's of motor control.
Truck.
davidmbedardCadillac? There are finer decoders than TCS. David B
Such as?
Not a challenge, David, just interested in which decoders are finer.
Rich
Alton Junction
LokPilot are much, much better motor control than TCS (or Digitrax or NCE or . . . . )
TCS is definitely the best of the US decoders, but the European ones do have even better motor control. Sometimes at the expense of more complicated setup (the CT Electronik ones come to mind - lots of adjustment, and they generally need it unless you have the exact type of motor they come defaulted for - but once set up - WOW. Also they make some of the smallest decoders I've ever seen.
davidmbedardWow....."more com
Say what?
CTE doesn't have that, at least on the last ones I saw. They were pretty tough to optimize - but worth the effort. I was referring to CT, not ESU.
And I guess technically, setting one CV to configure BEMF IS more complicated than just running the loco...