I have a Spectrum Doodlebug that I want to put a Digitrax decoder in. The Doodle bug has an 8 pin plug & Digitrax recommends DH165IP direct plug in decoder
What I need to know is which pin is Pin 1 on the Doodlebug, I have looked for any kind of marking but have not seen anything.
On the enclosed photos. Front is at the top of the photos
Do you have an ordinary volt meter with a continuity setting? You can place the doodlebug on a short length of track and use your meter to check for continuity from the Right rail to the socket. This will tell you which is pin 8. Pin #1 is directly across from it.
It really won't hurt to plug the decoder in 'backwards' as only the motor direction and lights will be affected, then just flip the decoder 180°.
https://mrdccu.com/index.php/dcc-info/dcc-ready
(click to open the 'HO and larger' tab)
'Usually' pin one is designated by a small arrow or sometimes the solder pad on the PC board is square when all the others are round.
Hard to tell from the photo but looking at how the red wire is routed it seems to trace to the right side of the 8 pin socket. Therefore pin 1 would be just across from where the red wire (through the PC trace and apparently that jumper wire on the board) connects to the socket.
Pin 1 is wired to the motor + terminal but you can't always be sure, without testing, which is motor +.
Hope that helps, Ed
TO..gmpullman: Thank you for the reply, I decided to give it 'ole "trial & error method".
Plugged it in... got it right the first time
I did however save the link to that page you recommended for future reference.
Now I have to paint the inside of the car body where the lighting is shining through
As the decoder you are using has still some unassigned functions, you might want to consider installing lights in the passenger area which you could then control independently.
JW
Just an FYI the 8 pin decoder was designed (NMRA) so if you did plug it in backwards it would cause harm to the decoder or loco.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Geared Steam Just an FYI the 8 pin decoder was designed (NMRA) so if you did plug it in backwards it would cause harm to the decoder or loco.
I don't think this was what you intended to type.