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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by cjcrescent Tom; After installing decoders in over 100 brass locos, for myself and mostly others, I can tell you this. Each one is different. So what works on one loco may or may not work on the next. There are several criteria I look at when installing a decoder into a brassie. 1. How smooth does it run on DC? If it is a good runner on DC, it'll be just as good if not better on DCC. 2. What room is available to install the decoder in? Can I put it into the boiler, or do I have to install it into the tender. 3. How easy will it be to isolate the motor? Will brush isolation work or do I need to isolate the motor from the whole frame? 4. If it has an open frame motor, what is the stall current, slip current and probably most important, what is the startup current? Many people forget that the startup current of a motor can be as high or higher than its stall current. Even though startup current lasts only momentarily, until the motor starts to turn, this is what will let the smoke out of a decoder just as fast if not faster than a short. If it is an open frame motor and tests shows it stays below the maximum rating of the decoder, no problem, the decoder gets installed using the open frame, unless the owner wants a new can installed. 5. If the motor is replaced, will new gearing be required? Some older brass comes with a somewhat slower running open frame, and installing a new higher speed can motor causes such breakneck starts that it requires that a new gearbox be installed. Like I said, I look at all this criteria, but overall installing a decoder into a brass engine is no more difficult than installing a decoder into any engine without a DCC plug. [/quote] Having done close to 100 installs in brass myself, all I can say is... True, true true,,, Even when working on working on multiple, identical make and model units, I find subtle differences from engine to engine when installing decoders. Gotta love that hand built quality!!!!!!! One thing different I do is recommend a can motor to replace ALL open frame motors. If its all torn apart anyway, the conversion expense is minimal, and the benefits are great![:D]
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