I just took an old proto 1000 erie-built PA NYC unit and converted it to DCC using an MRC decoder. I had not done this before so was a little aprehensive - but hey-presto - after about an hour of work it was complete and working!!
I really don't know what I was so worried about. I guess it was mis-wiring the decoder and watch it smoulder and melt when I turned on the power. The instructions were pretty clear and - when all is said and done - very few wires to actually deal with.
Chris.
Loco Guy - is a state of mind - not an affinity to locomotives.
Sit back and enjoy your track...
In my experience it's been a learning curve approach. My first conversion was Kato RS-2 from DC reday to DCC motor only with a TCS plug in 8-pin decoder. Then came a conversion to sound with two Bachmann 2-8-0's with Tsunami decoders and added HiBass speakers (in the tender). Then replacing an Athearn GP-9 decoder with a LokSound board replacement and changing the oval speaker to dual sugar cube (IPhone type) speakers plus teeny LED lighting. Then converting a P2K E6 from DCC to LokSound Select and adding dual HiBass speakers, plus LED lighting. Then converting two Kato RS-2s to LokSound with 2 sugarcube speakers. Then coverting a P2K GP50 and GP60 to LokSound plus 4 sugarcube speakers. The RS-2s and GP50/60s required some minor (first example) and significant (2nd example) weight milling. I've enjoyed the learning curve, helped alot by various threads on the forum.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
The creators of the DCC 8 pin socket were pretty smart. Even if you put it in backwards, it would still work. (Although your loco would run backwards of the intended direction)
And the programming track is very low voltage.* Even if you wire it up wrong and have the engine shorted to the track feed somehow, it was designed to prevent the decoder from blowing out. (*This is if you don't have a booster for sound decoders)
That said, congrats on your first install. Might I humbly recommend TCS, NCE, Digitrax, or Soundtraxx in the future? I don't know which model MRC decoder you are using, but they have a reputation for burning out.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
DigitalGriffin,
Thanks for the support and the info on the decoders. I know the MRC AD370 decoder was an old one and not as advanced as the newer ones. However, I got it for $24 on amazon so I thought I'd buy it and try the install. If I burnt it out then I still had a working speaker.
Actually, I run it with a bachmann e-z controller so you can mute the prime mover but still get access to the bell, horn and coupler clank - so it not all bad.
P.S. I actually hard wired the decoder - there was no compatible 8 pin socket.
Chris,
Congrats!
Use the programming track as Don mentioned EVERY time you work under the hood to check it out for shorts before it goes back on the track and you will be OK. It's saved me a bunch of grief over the years.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Mike,
Thanks for the support. I don't have a programming track right now - I use a power cab and some spare track to do testing and programming CV's.
With the prices of DCC/sound loco's gettting more affordable I may just stick with buying them. I looked at the price of some ESU Loksound decoders and they cost nearly as much as the factory produced locos with the decoder already installed.
But I love to fiddle about and really enjoy tinkering with electronics (not circuit boards or anything) just simple stuff - like LED lighting and electro luminescent wiring. So that may keep me happy for now.
Hi Chris:
Your existing set up can be used as a programming track just as it is. When your Power Cab is turned on, just press the 'PROG/ESC' button 4 times and the readout will show "USE PROGRAM TRACK". That's all you have to do.
You can then test your decoder installations without having to worry about frying anything.
As far as the Loksound decoder pricing goes, Loksound offers two different sound decoders - the V4.0 and the Select. The Select is the decoder that you want to work with. It has all the features and performance that you could possibly need, and it is about $40 less than the V4.0. The only reason that you would buy the V4.0 is if you want to get into some really advanced sound programming like putting your own recordings into the decoder, or changing a specific sound, like a horn, to your own preferences. You would be paying for a Mercedes Limo to go buy the groceries.
If you are comparing the price of a Loksound decoder to something like a Bachmann 'Sound On Board' locomotive you need to recognize that that is not necessarily an 'apples to apples' comparison. Loksound offers superb performance. Bachmann is offering a very basic unit. If the Bachmann performance and sound quality satisfy you then of course go for it. I bought one just to see how well it ran, and I felt it was a good value for the money, but I won't buy any more. I will stick to Loksound because they run so nicely right out of the box.
Bottom line is that it is your railroad and you can darn well run what you please!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!