Can I change this Kato E8 to DCC?

SleeperN06 Feb 28, 2010

  1. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

    10,785
    10
    115
    You'll have fun with DCC. You'll never look back.
     
  2. inobu

    inobu Permanently dispatched

    123
    0
    11
    Sleeper,

    Good that there is conformation that it works but there's one thing you have to watch for on your install.

    The brass motor contacts. They don't make good connections and can give you problems. Another guy posted the same issue that I had so I know it does happen.

    That little gray clip cannot force/hold the brass motor clip onto the board. This causes sporadic operations. Just keep that in mind. I know its your first install so don't worry. We are behind you.

    Inobu
     
  3. CSX Robert

    CSX Robert TrainBoard Member

    1,502
    638
    41
    That is why I suggested to solder the motor contacts to the board like in the TCS sample install. Do that and you'll get rock solid performance.
     
  4. inobu

    inobu Permanently dispatched

    123
    0
    11
    Robert,

    Now, I know........ Plug and Play decoders are a lot like Santa Claus, the older you get the more you realize their not what you thought they were.


    Inobu
     
  5. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

    3,386
    50
    45
    Hey I did it and it works!

    I put in the decoder today and it works great. It was a piece of cake, the hardest part was keeping the rails in place. I was afraid of breaking off the tabs, so I didn’t bend them as much as in the video. I didn’t solder the tabs yet and I’ll wait on that for now.


    Thanks everybody for all your help :thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up:
     
  6. inobu

    inobu Permanently dispatched

    123
    0
    11
    Good,

    I saw you on last night and was going to ask you if you got it installed. Make sure that your connections are solid. Poor connection cause heat that can destroy your shell.

    Inobu
     
  7. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

    3,386
    50
    45
    Oh, thanks for the info Inobu! I was just so happy that it worked and was so easy that I didn’t think about overheating. Maybe I should solder the tabs right away.

    I was going through all my other locos to see what I needed to convert them and I discovered a couple had decoders already installed that I wasn’t even aware of. I‘m not sure, but I may have even put an Atlas GP40-2 on my old DC only layout. It was not running so good on DCC and I’m hoping that it just needs cleaned.

    Years ago I was trying to buy a decoder for a Spectrum and was told at the LHS that I couldn’t do it. Then today I opened up a Bachmann SD45 Spectrum and it had a decoder already installed. It looks like a drop in.

    I also have a Bachmann Spectrum F7A & B set that’s never been out of the box and I don’t even remember buying it. I was hoping that I might get lucky, but it didn’t happen. I don’t know if I should pursue it or not. I like it because it’s a Southern Pacific, but I don’t know how it runs.
     
  8. ThirdCoastRail

    ThirdCoastRail TrainBoard Member

    186
    5
    9
    Sleeper, is it a decoder, or is it an LED light board? I'm new to DCC myself (still looking at systems) and the newer decoder-ready locos come from the factory with a computer circuit board that runs the lights, you have to pull out these circuit boards and drop in the DCC decoder circuit board in their place, and they look pretty much alike to a novice like me. Anyways, I'm looking at getting a CB&Q E8 from Kato's 2000ish run, so I'm assuming that by 2000 Kato made em so the Digitrax decoder made for the E8 will drop in.

    Also, what were you doing in Milwaukee? I generally recommend coming here in the summer, or maybe November during Trainfest. Hopefully you enjoyed your visit.
     
  9. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

    3,386
    50
    45
    You know I can’t remember now. I was converting all of my locals at the time and some had light boards and others had decoders.
    I was attending a Kohler training class in Sheboygan. It was in the middle of the winter and sure was beautiful. I would like to go back in the summer. :pbiggrin:
     
  10. ThirdCoastRail

    ThirdCoastRail TrainBoard Member

    186
    5
    9
    Well, I just put in an order for two Kato CB&Q E8s this afternoon, so hopefully they're website is accurate and they actually have them in stock. If so I'll have to pick up some Digitrax decoders for em eventually. It might be fun to have sound, but it's kinda pricey and a lot more work dealing with frame milling, etc. I might just go with a Mars light, assuming I can find out what type Burlington has, and which of the two headlights gets it.

    And Kohler makes some pretty nice porcelain thrones (among other things), they'd have to be to travel to Sheboygan in the middle of winter for!
     
  11. TetsuUma

    TetsuUma TrainBoard Member

    1,247
    14
    20
    Mars light goes on top. On a Kato E8, you'll have to install a lower headlight if you want the Mars light.

    Andy
    Tetsu Uma
     
  12. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

    3,386
    50
    45
    As far as Kohler goes, they also make emergency backup power systems, which is what I do. I’m a Power Systems Tech and technology is always moving forward, so I have to travel all around to different manufactures for factory training to keep ahead of it. It’s a little embarrassing to show up somewhere to fix something that you know nothing about. :pbiggrin:
     
  13. ThirdCoastRail

    ThirdCoastRail TrainBoard Member

    186
    5
    9
    TetsuUma, that's kinda what I thought. I'm assuming the Digitrax decoder comes with two LEDS, one front and one back, I was thinking I might have to take the one off the back and use it to light up the other front headlight, then hook the other LED up to some kinda Mars circuit. We'll see, all this electronic circuit board stuff is new to me.

    Sleeper, sounds like when I was helping build a demonstration solar house in DC, people would ask about the electric systems and I'd be like, gosh, if you want specifics, you'd best talk to our engineering team, I've just been dealing with the architecture stuff.
     
  14. temp

    temp TrainBoard Member

    123
    1
    10
    Assuming you are ordering the DN163K0A there is one 3mm LED attached to each side. It's really easy to unsolder them (for example to cut down the length of the LED's legs and then solder them back on, as required if you want to use this decoder for some of Kato's Japanese prototypes).

    Attaching both to the 'same end' is more tricky. There are seperate pads along the edges for the 4 unused functions. When using them you need to be careful not to short against the pickup strips.

    The manual has a diagram with all the pad locations, along with an example of doing ditch lights with a P42.

    http://www.digitrax.com/ftp/DN163K0aInstr0708.pdf
     
  15. ThirdCoastRail

    ThirdCoastRail TrainBoard Member

    186
    5
    9
    Hmm, I was thinking what I might have to do is make the front LED reach down to light the lower headlight, and then add the Mars light to the top headlight, either running wires back to the rear headlight pads or using two of the extra front pads. I was thinking about using the Ngineering super Mars light simulator, unless the Digitrax decoder already comes with a decent Mars light function. We'll see how much grinding I'd have to do on the frame first...
     
  16. temp

    temp TrainBoard Member

    123
    1
    10
    Any of the light functions can be setup with a Mars light (you'll need to read the Digitrax FX3 manual pages to find out the right CV value). Whether it's a good one is a matter of opinion. It can be tricky to make LEDs with a fixed resistor simulate multiple levels of brightness, instead of just on/off.
     
  17. Bob Horn

    Bob Horn TrainBoard Member

    444
    0
    20
    I have done this by adding an LED from the rear light pads and laying it on top of the front light. Worked very well. Bob.
     
  18. markwr

    markwr TrainBoard Member

    339
    6
    11
  19. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

    3,386
    50
    45
    This is interesting. I’ve never thought much about adding lighting, but now that I read this, I just may do this myself. Well not until after I finish the layout when I have more time. :pcool:
     
  20. kmcsjr

    kmcsjr TrainBoard Member

    1,702
    60
    32
    As I sit here playing it's E8s and decoders, this is still my favorite thread.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

Share This Page