I have a relatively new Bowser c630 chassis i will be using for a project. Both trucks have power connections with plugs to the board that may not need to be hard wired since there is an 8 pin decoder socket on the board. So my question is if I reuse the board am I limited to 8 pin decoders or is there an 8 to 21 conversion connector that i am not aware of? Thank you
Even if such a connector exists, you won´t be able to use more functions than the 8 pin interface allows.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
There are adapters out there, but as Tin Man says, you'd still be limited to what you can do throught the eight-pin connection.
Unless you really need/want to do set things up so the headlights, number boards, marker lights, roof-mounted strobe light etc. are all able to be adjusted and turned on and off independently, you'd be best just to plug in an eight-pin decoder and use that. Keep in mind, if your engine comes with an eight-pin plug, most likely you would have to add LEDs and a lot of wiring to get all the separate light features, as it probably just has basic headlights on each end.
The only adapters I am away of are replacement boards with the 21 pin socket on them. I see them that go the other way - to plug an 8 pin decoder to a 21 pin loco.
You could replace the factory board with one of the Nix Decoder Buddy boards, which would then give you convenient solder points for the extra LEDs. If you aren't planning on adding extra lighting beyond basic headlights, just use an 8 pin decoder (or a 9 pin one with a harness)
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
If you google "DCC 8-pin to 21-pin adapter" you'll see several companies make them.
I did - every one of them has an 8 pin socket with a 21 pin plug - to plug an 8 pin decoder into a 21 pin loco. Not the other way around. And TCS has one for a 9 pin decoder to plug in to a 21 pin loco socket.
If you want to use a 21 pin decoder in an 8 pin loco, you have to make your own, like in this YouTube video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMLRrJm914k
I'd just as soon get an 8 pin decoder if the loco is 8 pin.
Don't the recent Bowser Alco c-series engines all have chassis/light boards with a 21-pin connector as well?
My c430's do...