[Split from "Bachmann DCC-equipped Berkshire question"]
ATLANTIC CENTRAL As the owner of several of these locos, yes the DCC onboard (no factory sound) versions have an eight pin socket. I am more than familiar with this as I run DC and remove the decoders and install jumpers for DC. And yes, I do believe all the tender floors are speaker ready. Sheldon
As the owner of several of these locos, yes the DCC onboard (no factory sound) versions have an eight pin socket. I am more than familiar with this as I run DC and remove the decoders and install jumpers for DC.
And yes, I do believe all the tender floors are speaker ready.
Sheldon
Hi, if I may borrow this thread to a limited degree, I just bought a used one of these Pere Marquette Berkshires. I run DC only and the box says this is compatable with a regular DC analog layout and power pack. It did not come with instructions, so my question is how do I get it to run on my DC layout? (I don't have any DCC power packs, etc.) It ran on the DCC test track where I bought it, but won't on my DC layout. I looked up the instructions on Bachmann's site, and it said you could install a dummy plug in place of a decoder. As I have no experience with "un-DCCing" anything, (this is my first DCC equipped loco) would it be better for me as a novice to go with the dummy plug (and where I can buy one), or go Sheldon's route? Also, if I went with Sheldon's method, what is involved and how hard is it to do? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
if you have a plug (possibly the one below), you could simply bend some wires and insert them into the plug. connect pins 1&8 and pins 2&7. if you want lights, you would have to solder little wyes.
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
Thanks Mel and Greg, mine and Rich's earlier efforts to answer this got deleted......
I remove all decoders because they will not work with my Aristo Craft Train Engineer throttles.
Are you guys suggestion he solder directly in the female socket or that he get one of these plugs and solder to that?
https://www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/train-control-systems/TCS-1254-8-pin-NMRA-plug-circuit-board/
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Bachmann included little three prong jumpers with their locos.
Sorry no photos.
Or you can solder the top of a plug, many brands of DCC ready locos came with just that.
BigDaddy Are you guys suggestion he solder directly in the female socket or that he get one of these plugs and solder to that? https://www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/train-control-systems/TCS-1254-8-pin-NMRA-plug-circuit-board/
thanks mel
BigDaddyAre you guys suggestion he solder directly in the female socket
no, just bend some thick enough wire and push it into the socket
Most if not all decoders made in the last 10-15 years are 'dual mode' meaning they will work on DC or DCC, so if your used engine has a DCC decoder installed, it will work on DC. However, there is a CV (control value) setting on decoders that allow you to set the decoder to not operate on DC. If the prior owner did that, you would need to find someone who can program decoders and they can adjust it for you.
If what you're saying is you bought a used engine that doesn't have a decoder, but also doesn't have the dummy plug installed, then as noted above you'll need to either get a dummy plug, or take out the light board and re-wire the engine. Given that dummy plugs can be found online for a dollar or two, I'd just buy a new dummy plug and plug it in.
ATLANTIC CENTRALThanks Mel and Greg, mine and Rich's earlier efforts to answer this got deleted....
Could you repost what you did in the original thread?
The Katos I have came with plugs in place for DC, and the plugs are like a 3 legged staple, one plug connecting 4,5 and 6, the other plug connecting 1,2 and 8.
Athearns RTR come with a jumper plug that plugs into the wire harness that comes off the light board.
I have a couple of Bachmann Spectrum dash8-40cw that came with DCC on board, I'll look and see what they are about as far as going to DC.
Mike.
My You Tube
wjstix Most if not all decoders made in the last 10-15 years are 'dual mode' meaning they will work on DC or DCC, so if your used engine has a DCC decoder installed, it will work on DC. However, there is a CV (control value) setting on decoders that allow you to set the decoder to not operate on DC. If the prior owner did that, you would need to find someone who can program decoders and they can adjust it for you. If what you're saying is you bought a used engine that doesn't have a decoder, but also doesn't have the dummy plug installed, then as noted above you'll need to either get a dummy plug, or take out the light board and re-wire the engine. Given that dummy plugs can be found online for a dollar or two, I'd just buy a new dummy plug and plug it in.
Respectfully, your information is not completely correct.
First, the OP explained that the loco has a decoder, was tested on a DCC SYSTEM, but will not run on DC.
Second, dual mode decoders will not work on ALL DC systems, their performance on DC is usually poor at best, with high starting voltages and poor throttle control.
Third, any DC system that uses pulse width modulation speed control will set a dual mode decoder crazy and the loco will not run correctly if at all.
That includes a number of the better DC throttles including the Aristo Craft Train Engineer.
The best DC performance is only possible with the decoders removed.
mbinsewi ATLANTIC CENTRAL Thanks Mel and Greg, mine and Rich's earlier efforts to answer this got deleted.... Could you repost what you did in the original thread? The Katos I have came with plugs in place for DC, and the plugs are like a 3 legged staple, one plug connecting 4,5 and 6, the other plug connecting 1,2 and 8. Athearns RTR come with a jumper plug that plugs into the wire harness that comes off the light board. I have a couple of Bachmann Spectrum dash8-40cw that came with DCC on board, I'll look and see what they are about as far as going to DC. Mike.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Thanks Mel and Greg, mine and Rich's earlier efforts to answer this got deleted....
Mike, not sure what other info you mean, but I will try to get back to you later, have to go now.
Wolf359 As I have no experience with "un-DCCing" anything, (this is my first DCC equipped loco) would it be better for me as a novice to go with the dummy plug (and where I can buy one),
After rereading your post, yes, go with the dummy plugs. They look like a 3 prong staple, you need 2 of them.
Scroll down to the bottom left hand corner of page 3, it shows how to install the plugs.
https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/50901.pdf
I don't see the 2 plugs in the list of availiable parts for that locomotive, but they are kind of a generic thing that would work with any loco that comes DCC equiped, so you should be able to contact Bachmann about purchasing them.
As far as how the plugs go into the socket, it's the same arrangement that I talk about in my previous post about my Kato locomotives.
Good luck!
More infomation, here is the Bachmann part:
https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=L1144-PCB02
If this came with a dual mode decoder, ( runs on DC or DCC) before you try anything else, do a decoder reset.
If that doesn't work than get the plug.
I'm not sure the OP has access to a DCC system. In one of the "lost posts" I said that running on DC might have been disabled by the PO.
If he has no plans to get into DCC it sounds like removing the decoder is the best way to go.
BigDaddy I'm not sure the OP has access to a DCC system. In one of the "lost posts" I said that running on DC might have been disabled by the PO. If he has no plans to get into DCC it sounds like removing the decoder is the best way to go.
Anyone serious about staying with DC should remove decoders, as per my post above.
Your right Henry, if he doesn't have access to a DCC system, he can't do a reset.
So just remove the decoder and install the plug.
The diagram pages at the Bachmann site show the adapters and eight pin plug which I had posted last night.
The OP does not have to join. Just go an look. The loco diagram, parts list is there also. A full desccription of that loco.
https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=68_198&zenid=2t1uqsa3rm0j6km36sdr5dheh4
Someone posted a link.
Google bachmann forums. The link will pop right up. Excellent reference for any Bachmann owner. I have Bachmann locos.
I probably have the clips somewhere. never used them.
One time I bought an eight pin plug, they match, and soldered the correct pins for a friend years ago.
If he gets someone to change the CV, I do not think he will like the response of the loco. Takes at least five volts just to wake up the decoder.
Rich
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.
I agree with Sheldon: remove the decoder completely, as operation with it in place is unacceptable, with poor throttle response on DC.Basically, you need to connect the wipers on the drivers to one of the contacts on the motor, and connect the uninsulated wheels on the tender, using wire running from contacts inside the tender, to the other. I can't help you with headlight connections, though, as I don't use them.
Wayne
Thanks for all the tips. I'm getting a plug from Bachmann, seems like the easiest fix. I'll let you know how it works when I get it installed.
The adapter should do it all. Nothing else to do from all that I have heard.
All the wiring interacts at the eight pin plug.
I checked the wiring with my ohm meter some years ago.
Watch the tender trucks. Some tenders, the trucks can swivel all the way and that can cause a short. Each truck picks up from opposite rail. Drivers pick up from both rails. Be carefull with the two connectors. Easy to pull wires out. I pry out the connector with a flat blade small screwdriver first. I pulled out a wire once.
The two pin has driver power. Four pin, lights, motor power. PC board is marked. If yoiu see what looks like two green resistors, they are ferrite chokes. No resistance. Read the value. 4.7 micro henry. They work with the cap, caps as a filter for DCC. Some locos, they are hidden in the loco.
I guess I could've given the OP this link too, but with the board plug, there's no guessing.
https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_91&products_id=7545
Wolf359 Thanks for all the tips. I'm getting a plug from Bachmann, seems like the easiest fix. I'll let you know how it works when I get it installed.
Using the plugs will also increase the resale value of the loco, if that matters.
Simon
UPDATE: Good news! I got my dummy plug in the mail yesterday, (Tuesday, Feb. 19th) installed it the same day, and my Berkshire is now running smoothly. Thank you everyone for all your tips and suggestions.
Nice to know it all works. We all figured it would work.
Yep !