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adding dcc to a HO scale Doodlebug

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  • Member since
    December 2013
  • From: Pickering ON. Canada
  • 30 posts
adding dcc to a HO scale Doodlebug
Posted by Duker on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 10:18 AM

ALL OF MY CURRENT LOCOS ARE DCC EQUIPPED, I RECENTLY WAS GIVEN A BACHMAN SPECTRUM EMC GAS ELECTRIC DOODLEBUG ITEM # 81401...I WOULD LIKE TO COVERT IT TO DCC, IS ANYONE AWARE OF HOW TO DO THIS, I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE, ALL HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

THANKS

  • Member since
    April 2011
  • From: About 20 minutes from IRM
  • 430 posts
Posted by CGW121 on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 12:10 PM

There is an 8 pin plug under the roof. At least there was on  mine. It has a jumper on it. Once the roof is off its a quick job.

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2014
  • From: 10,430’ (3,179 m)
  • 2,296 posts
Posted by jjdamnit on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 1:05 PM

Hello all,

Be careful when pulling the shell, lots of detail parts that could break.

On the Spectrum model I have there was a 8-pin dummy plug on the Printed Circit Board.

Pop out the dummy plug, plug in decoder of choice, program and run.

If there is no 8-pin plug on the PCB then you will need to hard wire the decoder.

This top has been discussed many times in these forums.

Use the search function at right. Try Decoder Installation.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

  • Member since
    December 2013
  • From: Pickering ON. Canada
  • 30 posts
Posted by Duker on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 1:06 PM

thank you for your reply,, i checked mine and it has an 8 pin,,,,what type of decoder do you suggest and do i just plug it in to the 8 pin,,,and no futher work is required other than programming

  • Member since
    April 2011
  • From: About 20 minutes from IRM
  • 430 posts
Posted by CGW121 on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 1:34 PM

I think I used a TCS m1 cant remember tho pretty sure most will work, Its an easy install.

  • Member since
    December 2013
  • From: Pickering ON. Canada
  • 30 posts
Posted by Duker on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 1:51 PM

thanks again for your help.

  • Member since
    December 2013
  • From: Pickering ON. Canada
  • 30 posts
Posted by Duker on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 1:51 PM

thanks for your comments, musch appreciated.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 9:43 PM

TCS has many installs for different brands. An excellant decoder. Store the link in Favorites.

http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/HO_Scale/Bachmann/Doodlebug/Bachmann%20Doodlebug.htm

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    August 2022
  • 3 posts
Posted by Drummie on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 7:53 AM

Dose anyone know which pin on the loco is pin 1 I already fried one decoder. Ray

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,716 posts
Posted by snjroy on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 10:13 AM

Hello Drummie and welcome to the forum, if this is your first post. Your first contributions will be moderated, so please be patient.

Is your question related to a Bachmann Doodlebug?  if not, you might want to start your own thread. If yes, I cannot see how you can get these wires crossed if it's plug and play. Unless you hardwired a decoder. If you still have the plug/board on the loco, I suggest you find a plug (that connects to the board on the loco) and hardwire your decoder wires to the plug wires. Just follow the color coding and you should be fine.

Simon

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,390 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 8:59 PM

I just replaced a very old decoder in my Doodlebug with a TCS DP2X. Runs better than it did before.

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