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Decoder recommendation for Bowser s-12

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  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 102 posts
Decoder recommendation for Bowser s-12
Posted by Brammy on Thursday, August 8, 2019 8:49 AM

I have an older Bowser s-12 with the 8-pin connector. I bought one of the my usual drop in decoders (NCE NCE5240103). What I didnt' realize is I need to use the extender pins to clear an obstruction on the board. If I use the extender pins, the hood doesn't close all the way.

Does anyone have a recommendation for either a: a cable that will let me use the decoder I have to clear the board, or a decoder they usually use for these switchers?

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, August 8, 2019 9:43 AM

 I have a TCS T1 with harness in mine. Any smaller decoder with an 8 pin plug on the end of a wiring harness should fit.

                                   --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
    July 2016
  • 102 posts
Posted by Brammy on Thursday, August 8, 2019 9:47 AM

rrinker

 I have a TCS T1 with harness in mine. Any smaller decoder with an 8 pin plug on the end of a wiring harness should fit.

                                   --Randy

 

 

 

Perfect, thanks!

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, August 8, 2019 6:47 PM

 Mine are VO-1000, since the Reading didn;t have S-12s, but same chassis, really.

                        --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 Thursday, August 8, 2019 7:40 PM

Not sure if this is of use to the OP, photos are pretty low res.  For anyone wanting sound, the frame needs to be milled.

Bowser Instructions

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,199 posts
Posted by tstage on Thursday, August 8, 2019 8:35 PM

Here's a link to a TCS DP2X decoder for a DS-4-4-1000:

https://tcsdcc.com/installation/ho-scale/1486

The lightboard in the DS-4-4-1000 appears to be the same lightboard in Randy's VO-1000 photo and the DP2X needs no harness.  I would think it should also work in your S-12, since they have similar shells.

Can you post a photo of your S-12 chassis with the lightboard?

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 102 posts
Posted by Brammy on Thursday, August 8, 2019 9:56 PM
My hobby store had a Digitrax decoder with a harness that worked. It was still a tight fit. My dis-4-4-1000 I could use the non-harnessed decoder, but the s-12 was just a slight difference on the shell.

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