Anyone have some tips on where to find some ?
No luck here, via the usual suspects.
mavrick00 wrote:The decoder you want for this beast is the Digitrax DN163K1C for easy installation. If you have to you can go with the DN163K1B but you have to file the front LED down to fit. Now as for how DCC friendly they are depends on the run of engine you have and the contacts on the motor. There was good write-up in one of the N-scale mags recently that talked about all the different styles Athearn has produced.
Thanks ! Yep, I recall the various (one 3 pole, and two 5 pole, iirc) motors made for this loco
mavrick00 wrote:Actually I think there is 3 five pole versons. One with the nice DCC tabs on the side, one with the very fine wire, and the last one had the tabs that came up and clipped onto the light board with a pair of clips.
Can you tell me what version I have; it has no motor contacts, nor anything else coming from the motor.
A Digitrax dn163k1b/c will definately not fit into the frame slots, fwiw. It does have a circuit/light board of similar construction, minus the above decoders motor contacts, just a different shape.
Sorry, no digital camera for pics.
Mailman wrote: mavrick00 wrote:Actually I think there is 3 five pole versons. One with the nice DCC tabs on the side, one with the very fine wire, and the last one had the tabs that came up and clipped onto the light board with a pair of clips. Can you tell me what version I have; it has no motor contacts, nor anything else coming from the motor. A Digitrax dn163k1b/c will definately not fit into the frame slots, fwiw. It does have a circuit/light board of similar construction, minus the above decoders motor contacts, just a different shape. Sorry, no digital camera for pics.I am in a similar Situtation to you. I have the some loco you do and I don't have any contacts on the motor sides. I do however have a Camera so if there isn't a response yet I'll take some pictures tomorrow
I am in a similar Situtation to you. I have the some loco you do and I don't have any contacts on the motor sides. I do however have a Camera so if there isn't a response yet I'll take some pictures tomorrow
The DN163K1C will fit, it's been a while since I did one but I believe I had to loosen the screws to allow the decoder to slide in then tighten them back up. The version you have has very fine motor contact wires that touch the top and bottom of each frame half. If you go here it tells you how to work with that type: http://www.athearn.com/ProdInfo/Files/ATH_N_DCC_Instructions.pdf
If you go here you will see the different versions: http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=34766&SearchTerms=sd70m,athearn
I didn't however file any of the material off of the decoder tabs I just made sure I had enough Kapton tape to ensure there wouldn't be any shorts made.
mavrick00 wrote: The DN163K1C will fit, it's been a while since I did one but I believe I had to loosen the screws to allow the decoder to slide in then tighten them back up. The version you have has very fine motor contact wires that touch the top and bottom of each frame half. If you go here it tells you how to work with that type: http://www.athearn.com/ProdInfo/Files/ATH_N_DCC_Instructions.pdfIf you go here you will see the different versions: http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=34766&SearchTerms=sd70m,athearnI didn't however file any of the material off of the decoder tabs I just made sure I had enough Kapton tape to ensure there wouldn't be any shorts made.
Outstanding mavrick, many thanks. Going by the versions thread, I have the "Version 3.5-pole, DCC not-so friendly" version........ugh.
The reason I was leary of the k1c, is because in the installation manual, it shows the usual Kato-like motor contacts off to the motor's sides, which this Athearn has none of.
That's what I (unclearly) meant when I said earlier a k1c "wouldn't fit". Judging by the install manual, it has contacts just like the k1b...............and my Athearn has nothing for them to contact with :)
But thanks to the info. you provided above, I see one is just supposed to file the leading edge of the decoder contacts down.
I'm with you though; I'd rather use Kapton tape.
Thanks again !!
Not a problem. The engines that I have added the K1C's too have been running for over a year now without an issue. I haven't yet asked my hobby shop but have thought about it to order me in a few of the newer style motors and just replacing them and then not having those very small wires doing all the work.
As for not filing down the tabs, I just didn't want to incase I ever decided to pull them out and use them in Kato engine, as well as if I ever did have issues with the decoder and had it sent back to digitrax I'd rather have it looking factory the hacked.
Well, got the decoder for this in the mail today. Installation went fine, exactly per the instructions maverick provided.
Program it up, runs great.
Cool, all set right ?
Noooooooooo........I decide to get fancy, figured I'd apply just a hair more Kapton tape for insurance.
Put everything back together.....hmmm......lights work, no loco movement. Motor contacts must not be contacting the decoder contacts well enough. Bend the ends up just a hair more....and oops, one of them comes off the motor
World's thinnest wire used as a motor contact.........ugh.
Knew I should have left well enough alone......................but sheesh Athearn, think you coulda made those contact wires any smaller, more fragile !?!!?
Ok, I feel better now