DC to DCC conversion

[Stitch]

Is there any hobby shops in the Wayne county area that at a reasonable price will convert DC engines over to DCC? For those of us not comfortable with their soddering knowledge....

[SousaKerry]

I have done many conversions very few actually require soldering if using the drop in decoders, What type of engines are you wanting to get done and what type of DCC system are you using?

[Stitch]

Have not actually jumped to DCC yet but will probably get the Prodigy setup. The engines that will be converted are Athearn I've been told you need to isolate the motor before installing the decoder which I thought you had to solder in???

[sd70accsxt700]

Depending on what decodors you use, (and all will work together) some have mounts that connect directley to the metal tabs used for electiical pick up. No sodering. If you go to digitrax, or even lenz's web sites, they should give a list of what fits what, with no connections to make. In fact they even make full electrical boards that fit right into the new atlas's and athearn's all you have to do is disconnect the wires, and insert the new board. There are lots of options.

[BB]

The decoders you buy should illustrate how to install in your locomotives in the instructions. Soldering is rather easy to do. All you need is a low temp soldering iron. Anyone use those cold heat soldering irons they show on TV?

[Stitch]

Well its sounding a bit easier everyday glad to hear there are some decoders that don't require soldering. I was told the other way around. Thanks for the info. I will check out the websites mentioned.

[Railzfan]

Decoder installation is a piece of cake nowadays, almost all manufactures offer drop-in decoders. For example; Atlas has decoders that you just “plug-in” to the circuit board on top of the locomotive drive system. If you rather save money, go with the ones that the modeler has to install, the directions aren’t hard to follow and are fairly simple. On my layout I use DCC; and let me tell you, it makes things a lot easier. I have some friends that have the old “Block Control System” it cuts down on operation drastically, even worse; you lose the futures of DCC that allow you to operate the headlights, horn/whistle, bell, brake squeal, and all the others that are available nowadays. Go to a local hobby shop and ask one of the employees about the different DCC systems.

Have Fun.

[SousaKerry]

For Athearn loco's I recoment the digitraxx dh121at it comes with all the necesary clips to convert it to dcc with no solder whatsoever the hardest part of the instalation is prying the motor out of the frame to install the new bottom clip

Sousa

[BB]

For Athearn loco's I recoment the digitraxx dh121at it comes with all the necesary clips to convert it to dcc with no solder whatsoever the hardest part of the instalation is prying the motor out of the frame to install the new bottom clip

Sousa

I don't like those old style rubber motor mounts Athearn uses. I think the new motor mounts use screws.

[SousaKerry]

Anyone use those cold heat soldering irons they show on TV?

Well if they sell it on TV and not in the stores there is usually a reason

Everythig I have ever bought that had that dorky "as seen on tv" logo fell apart in a week or didn't work at all.

Sousa[/quote]

[BerkshireKid]

DH 121 decoders are no longer produced. The mounting system for athearn locomotives will work with just about any Digitrax decoder.

I LOVE my AA GP35's from athearn. Just unplug dummy plug and plug in your decoder.