The Digitrax DH123AT
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/245-DH123AT
and the Digitrax DH163AT
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/245-DH163AT
are especially suited for Athearn BB installations. They tend to have too much excess wire so some trimming will be in order.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Welcome to the world of DCC. I believe I installed an NCE D13SR in my Athearn BB GP35. Here's the description from www.ncedcc.com:
If it fits, you can use it. I also have installed a very small TCS decoder in a BB switcher. Both work well with my NCE PowerCab. In the GP, I attached the decoder to the upper motor clip using some double-sided foam tape. In the switcher, space was at a premium. I ended up sticking the tiny TCS decoder to the shell above the front gear tower. Don't forget to isoate the motor from the frame. Hardwiring a decoder usually involves soldering - I hope that doesn't scare you off.
I just installed a D13SRJ into a Proto 2K GP38-2. That's a D13SR with a 9-pin harness. I ended up hardwiring the engine - by the time you pull out all 8 wires for the four lamps it uses, there's not a lot of benefit to using the 8-pin connector it comes with. I was actually thinking that next time, I might look for a decoder that I could solder the existing wires directly onto rather than having to strip and splice wires.
You might consider investing in a "more refined" engine (no offense intended! I have to converted BB's on my layout.) As I mentioned, I just bought a Proto 2000 GP38-2 (from Toms Trains in Wethersfield, CT) for not much more than the price of a BB. It is MUCH quieter, runs smoother, and has lots more (but more fragile) detail. They're supposed to be DCC ready, but I found that not too useful. I'm wishing I had left my BBs as DC to be handed off to the next potential Model Railroader I bump into.
But I digress..
I like NCE and TCS decoders. Digitraxx seems a bit pricier, and I found I would take several weeks to order the one I wanted for my P2K GP38, so it ended up with an NCE.
Jim
I have one F series and one GP that I am going to add decoders to. The bachman EZ command fit easily into my first F series diesel. So I wanted something about that size. However, I wanted a more advanced decoder for my remaining two locos. I only used the Bachman EZ command for my first F series because it was my first decoder installation and I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a decoder in case I screwed up the install and ruined the decoder. Now that I have a little experience I thought I would use a better decoder.
Thanks,
Smitty
Smitty,
Just about any basic fleet type decoder will work. I've used Digitrax DH123's, NCE 13 series, Model Rectifier 1650's for Athearn BB conversions. All work fine and provide the functions you want. The NCE 13 series and MRC 1650 are narrower which makes for an easier fit.
Tilden
What kind of engine? For a basic decoder installation, often the most important thing to match to the decoder is the shape of the space it needs to go in. F-units, GP's and switchers all have different internal space characteristics. Someone who has a similar engine can probably give you some guidance on what fits and what doesn't.
Are you planning on installing additional lighting yourself? That's what the advanced lighting things are for - stuff like ditch lights and strobes. Most pre-DCC engines only came with basic headlights.
Have you considered sound? This might be the time. Having equipped my entire fleet of engines with decoders, now I'm going back and upgrading them selectively to get sound capability.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Any advice on a decoder for Athearn BB locos would be greatly appreciated. After I installed a Bachman EZ Command Decoder in one of my athearn BBs this weekend I figured I would install decoders in my remaining two atheanrs. I am looking for a decoder with advanced lighting functions. I will be hardwiring the decoders since my Athearns are pre DCC. I was hoping someone could point me towards a decoder that goes well with my athearns engine.
Thanks for the help in advance!!!