I’m thinking of going over to DCC and I need to know if I can get a decoder for this and how hard is it. I was Googling for information and the only thing I found was sell it and buy a DCC ready. Well I don’t want to hear that, because I was told that I could convert this to DCC and that’s what I want to do.. Opps I forgot the photo
That's the decoder to use for Kato E8/9. MRC also has a decoder that includes sound. The TCS decoder has better motor functions.
Oh yes, that looks a little easier and alot more impressive. Thanks I had no idea that there more alternatives. From what I saw at another forum, I was just out of luck.
Sleeper, I think you might want to check with Kato. I remember reading that the older units, (Blue boxes) have different motor windings that drew more current. The issues is, if you have a high current draw it could blow the decoder board. I think that is the reasons someone suggested getting a newer unit and it may have merit. The link that you are looking at is to a newer model Kato #176-5307-1 I'm guessing that you have a 176-264. That was released in 1992. You might want to double check that. Inobu
Yes, I do have the 176-264. That’s a real bummer. I have both the A and B unit. Well thanks for the info
Check with Kato to be sure but those units are pushing 20 years old. I bet they do pull a lot of current. I just started to switch over to DCC and its the better move, it just takes time and cost a little more but the yield in capabilities is worth it. Good luck and enjoy and don't give up. Inobu
This is a thread that could go a long way to actually breaking my heart. As you can see from my avatar and signature, I'm not set on much except Amtrak E8s (well the E8 didn't make the Avatar, but trust me). My first loco (actually my sons), was an old LL E8. Fast forward a few years, a few different models (Arnold, new LL). I just bought an old Kato AB set, I'm waiting for arrival. I bought em based on: http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/katoe8a.html If you read this, it says the 1993 release is DCC ready. I'll contact Kato on Monday, but this page suggests that at worst Sleeper and I would need to purchase motors (926040) http://search.cartserver.com/search...9&maxhits=100&go=List+Parts&bool=AND&bool=AND As far as I know the Amtrak wasn't rerun, not sure about the UP, but this sounds like a cheaper fix. I'm thinking there's a board out there. Is there anyone who's actually running these, or had em fail with DCC?
Here is a link to an install done on a release in the early 90's. This guy used an older Digitrax DN145K which had a 1 Amp/1.5 Amp peak rating compared to the higher 1A/2A peak of the K0D8-A. You could do a Stall Test as described at the bottom of this Digitrax page if unsure about the current draw.
I have one of the older Kato E8's with a Digitrax DN163K0A in it and haven't had any trouble with it at all. It may draw more current than the newer ones, but I can not imagine it drawing more than 1 amp, which both the TCS and current Digitrax decoder can handle. In the example install on TCS's site they recommend you solder the motor contacts to the board. I also recommend you do that whether using the TCS decoder or Digitrax decoder. Do you still have that Life Like E8? Although not "DCC Ready," a hardwired decoder in those old Life Like E8's is fairly easy and they are good runners.
As has been stated, That generation of E units has no problems with Digitrax or TCS decoders. I have several of the first and second run locomotives all converted to DCC with no issues at all. I ran the Amtrak A-B-A set for 2 hours at a show yesterday, no problems at all.
I’ve waited a long time to go to DCC and almost bought the NEC power Cab yesterday and decided to take another look at what the final total was going to be before changing over. I have a lot of older Locos that probably can’t be changed, but I figure I can run them on my old layout. The E8s is part of my latest UP passenger train and is the reason why I built my latest Unitrack Layout. So it is a very disappointing to hear this. I got my 1st clue that this might be a problem from a YouTube video of someone installing a decoder in a Kato and he mentioned the ‘blue box’ not being DCC compatible. That’s when I started to panic and searching for solutions. I’m flying to Milwaukee tomorrow for a week and I have a of lot stuff to do today, so I’ll be out of touch for a while. I’m taking my work laptop with me and will be able to read posts, but I’m not allowed to log in. I hope the motor idea works if nothing else.
I have been running some of the older Digitrax decoders in my first run Kato E8s for years. Never had a problem. I did replace the Yellow LEDs with Sunny White ones.
The Blue Box Katos in general were not DCC ready. The Kato E8/9 is the lone exception. It is a very easy conversion that works just fine. I have 26 locomotives from the 1993/1994 releases, and even at 16 or 17 years of age are still excellent runners. All of them have been converted using the Digitrax DN163K0A decoder. So you really have nothing to worry about. The other Blue Box locomotives vary as well. The F units need frame milling. But a lot of the others can use the TCS CN decoder. I have two of the first release SD40's using that decoder and they run fine. That decoder will also work in the SD45's, U30C, C30-7. I am not sure about the GP50 or the GP38 because I do not have any of those units. So the rule that all Blue Box Kato locomotives are not DCC ready, is false. Just like saying all of the Kato Green boxes are DCC ready. The SD45, C30-7, F-7 and the 2-8-2 Mikado all came in green boxes and were not DCC ready at the time of release. As for the current draw, it is insignificant when compared to a recent production release, maybe 1/10 of an amp more if that much. So fear not, go forth and have fun!
I didn’t know there was a stall test, but a while back I posted that my controller was overloading and I thought it was the light kits in the passenger cars. Now I’m wondering if the locos were the culprits. Although I haven’t noticed a problem since I changed power supplies, it might me a clue that they will burnout a decoder. I don’t know if I have time today unless I can find my DC current meter without much trouble.
Ok, I guess maybe I will be able to do this. I’ll order a decoder today for one unit and hope it gets here by the time I get back. Then I’ll check it out, Thanks.
I agree, it's a great runner. The front coupler was a pain to swap when I first started in n scale. As such, to avoiid damaging a loco my son payed for, I bought 3 on ebay.... They look like they may actually be new. I may put decoders in em, in time. To all who replied, thanks! I was gonna reconsider n scale, if the Kato E8s couldn't be DCC (Sorry to hijack this Steve) Marty
Ok! I just ordered 2 Digitrax DN163K0A decoders AND a NEC PowerCab from one of Trainboards sponsors. :thumbs_up: It’s my very 1st DCC system and I already can’t wait to get back from Milwaukee to hook it up. Hope there aren't any shipping delays. I bought 3 or 4 DCC equipped locos about 3 years ago and have never took them out of the box, so that ought to be fun as well.biggrin:
