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LokSound Select Direct install in an Athearn RTR

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  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, September 18, 2017 3:52 PM

If you've never soldered before, you should ask more questions.

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, September 18, 2017 1:54 PM

 The whole thing comes off - that board is just part of the top clip of the motor. So to replace the board, you either need to drill out the rivets, and then solder a wire to the top clip for the other motor lead, or remove clip and all and replace with a plain Athearn motor clip (be careful removing the clip, as not only does it hold the motor together, it also holds the brush and brush spring.)

                            --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, September 18, 2017 8:40 AM

Wow sound has directions to plug into the circuit board, which is not what the Loksound does, but it at leasts shows you how to access the circuit board.  Many people prefer to replace the circuit board anywhay, instead of using the plug option.

https://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/HO_Scale/Athearn/AMD-103/AMD-103.html

I have no idea which Athearn's use LED's and which use bulbs; but most people like to install LED's  The Loksound manual has specific directions on what to do about bulbs leds and resistors in chapter 4.2.4.3.2  If you haven't downloaded the manual from the ESU site, you need to.  DCC is not intuitive.

LED's have a polarity with respect to current flow.  Wired backward and they won't light.  If you are soldering, you might want to test with a battery first to make sure you have light.  Same with the leads to the motor, except it will run backwards.  Best to wire it correctly than to monkey with CV's

If the motor leads are those two connections at the side of the board, it is about where the motor leads attach on the loksound.  Those little black clips just pull off and the wire is held by friction.

The only thing that gives me pause is the copper rivet looking things holding the board.  It's not clear how they come off.  You don't want to drill them out and have shavings flying everywhere.  Perhaps they just pop off, it doesn't really look like a good place to put a rivet.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • 32 posts
LokSound Select Direct install in an Athearn RTR
Posted by pamelapeterson on Monday, September 18, 2017 6:13 AM

I have an Athearn AMD-103 P42 that I would like to install a LokSound Select Direct Sound decoder into. Any and all assistance would be Greatly appreciated.

Amtrak Bob

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