I recently received the gift of a Spectrum 4-8-2 Light Mountain from a friend (now my best friend). The engine is new in the box. It does not have DCC and is not DCC-ready. The engine has two circuit boards already, one in the engine and a second in the tender. These supply some sound, lights and a neat reddish firebox glow. I would like to put a DCC chip in there but don't want to lose the firebox feature. Do the circuit boards in there need to be removed or can DCC be installed with them present but disconnected? Would it be best to leave the existing chips in there and just put in a simple DCC chip to control the motor? Also, do I need to put a different motor in the engine to work with AC and DCC?
Thanks
Locos made in the last 20 years or so generally have motors that are compatble with DCC in all ways. Old open frame motors can have issues, because of the hi amp draw and there are other things that could also require some thought in some of the older motor designs.
That said, a REQUIREMENT for DCC is to isolate the motor so that it feeds and grounds only through the decoder. If it's a can motoer with two wires coming out, probably OK, but check with a multimenter to be certain.
Generally, decoders that support sound, assuming that's what uou intend to do, also have a firebox flicker function in their lighting circuits. So you should be able to use that and get the factory board out of the way. Most people tend to strip out factory boards to create more room. Depending on how they serve to operate the lights, etc you may or may not want to do that. Each case is different.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
No, you don't need to remotor. Just get a TCS decoder and install it.
tedski...The engine has two circuit boards already, one in the engine and a second in the tender. These supply some sound, lights and a neat reddish firebox glow...
Well, if the engine already has sound, I'm pretty sure it is DCC.
The Spectrum 4-8-2 is not DCC Ready? I thought all Spectrums were at least DCC Ready.
Rich
Alton Junction
tedski I recently received the gift of a Spectrum 4-8-2 Light Mountain from a friend (now my best friend). The engine is new in the box. It does not have DCC and is not DCC-ready. The engine has two circuit boards already, one in the engine and a second in the tender. These supply some sound, lights and a neat reddish firebox glow. I would like to put a DCC chip in there but don't want to lose the firebox feature. Do the circuit boards in there need to be removed or can DCC be installed with them present but disconnected? Would it be best to leave the existing chips in there and just put in a simple DCC chip to control the motor? Also, do I need to put a different motor in the engine to work with AC and DCC? Thanks
This tells me your loco is DCC ready. A loco not DCC ready would not have PC boards and the associated wiring.
To my knowledge, DCC ready only means the two motor contacts are isolated from the frame halves.
Most pre DCC locos had one or two motor leads connected to the frame or frame halves.
Plug in a decoder. The chips are on the decoder.
There will be two inductors and maybe a couple capacitors, maybe in the loco. Cut the caps for better decoder performance.
Below is a link to the Bachmann HO forum with Bachmann reps, Parts page, diagrams, DCC info, etc.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/board,2.0.html
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
From the Bachmann website. Strongly recommend you study the Bachmann site if you want more info on Bachmann products.
DCC Ready. That should be yours.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/H816X-IS001.PDF
DCC equipped, no sound.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/H833X-IS001.PDF
DCC with sound.
TCS seems to be the newest decoder on the market. Their sound decoders are called WOW decoders.
Do some research before you buy. Google should be your best friend. Google TCS decoders. You can do that for SoundTraxx and other decoder companies.
Bachmann does not sell sound decoders, only a low end Lenz non sound decoder.
TCS has been around for 12+ years. They are new to SOUND decoders, but have been making motor decoders for a long time.
Bachmann has been making the Spectrum Series for a while now as well, and when they started they did not come with DCC and/or sound, they were just higher quality and better detailed pieces than the old train set level junk. Given that the OP says this has sound, I suspect his model is one of the newer Spectrum locos with the 'sound value' decoder installed, which is a stripped down version of the Tsunami. I don't know of them ever selling sound only versions that would need a motor decoder for DCC, like a Broadway Blueline - they DID sell ones with a motor decoder and speaker installed to which you needed to add the sound module to get sound.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Clearly I need to study the engine further before going any further. It does seem like I can stick with the motor that's in there.
tedski Clearly I need to study the engine further before going any further. It does seem like I can stick with the motor that's in there.
I saw the "glow" light in the DCC ready diagram.
Looks like a solid frame for the tender though. The diagram did not how a speaker location. You did say sound though in your original post so still not sure what you really have.
Some have trouble opening the tender. Usually there is one or two screws at the front of the tender. You might have to swivel the front truck to get to the Phillips head screw. Just lift up the front of the shell. The rear of the shell has two tabs the fit into the frame.
Some decoders have a nine pin connector on them. Get a nine pin to 8 pin DCC adapter to plug in the decoder. Some decoders come with 8 pin plug.
There will be some capacitors on the PC board. Cut them out. I think I see one. The components with be labeled so not an issue.
Some toss the electronics but if you are not into soldering, don't bother.
Looks like the lights are light bulbs and not LED's. I just looked at the parts diagram. LED's require a 1k resistor.
Bachmann varies electrical parts a lot. Most locos so far do not use the NMRA wiring colors.
These are not the “Sound Value” types so far.
Parts diagram
http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=66_68_209
Before opening anything, try it on a DCC system. If it has sound, it probably has DCC installed (to my knowledge, only MRC did sound without DCC). What does the documentation say?
The parts link I just showed a short while ago, you cam see the DC adapter on the PC board. If yours is like this, all you will get is a “buzz” from the motor when trying on DCC. The lights will come on but the loco will not move.
If nothing, the adapter might have not been installed. Has happened.
If the loco has a decoder in it that is dual mode, it will run under DC and DCC normally.
Be careful of the wires between the loco and tender. Some have broke a wire by rough handling. Also make sure the connectors are fully seated.
Be very careful when unplugging the connectors. I use a small flat jewelers screwdriver to gently pry a plug out of a socket.
I've spent some time looking over the engine and learned a lot more. The diagrams were enormously helpful since I didn't get the manual with this engine. Since the box didn't indicate DCC ready, I assumed it wasn't. First, I was wrong about the sound. No sound installed & no speaker. The circuit board in the tender does have the spot to plug in an 8 pin decoder. Looking at the diagrams, I saw the plug installed where the decoder will go. I didn't understand the plug when I saw it. I thot it was soldered into the board and not a plug. This is embarassing because I used to build motherboards for desktop pc's as a hobby and should have recognized this.
The wires, as you describe, are an issue. There are two wires supplying juice to the bulb that lights the firebox. One is solidly held in place. The other has a tenuous connection. I'll go out on a limb and try make a dependable connection. I'm inclined to do this because I would hate to lose the firebox glow.
Now I'm down to selecting a decoder. You advise getting a 9 to 8 pin adapter. What is the advantage of the 9 pin decoder? Thanks for your help.
Ted