OK.... I find a bargain SD45, it has DCC chip installed. I have no DCC, and our club layout has NO DCC, but I have seen DCC locos try to run on the club layout, and they have problems. Can you remove the chip easily enough without damaging the unit? Thanks.. ------------------ RR: K, C, & Bird Butt Railroad - SP, NS, and ROCK admirer. Its a coal mining region of a place far far away, that runs, SP, NS, and some CSX.. Also some Custom RARE Bird RR sd40-2's coming! Era: Time stands still round these parts, and we have everything from Steam, to Diesels of today.
I don't know if I'm the one to answer this, I think "harron" probably knows more about this topic, but lets give it a try. 1. determine if the decoder is a (a)plug in; (b)hard wired; (c)wired with a plug. Let me know I have to go out for a few hours, I'll be back to finish unless someone else jumps in. ------------------ When in doubt, empty your magazine. Member #33
If this is nscale, it is likely that you will not be able to reomve the decoder. Is this a kato SD45 N scale...I might be able to help you out. I have a SantaFe SD45 that I have planned on converting to DCC. If your SD45 is DCC ready and mine is standard...we might be able to swap parts. If you are interested fire me an email Here is my updated email address pebcak2000@yahoo.com Later Matt
Someone call...? If this is a KATO N SD45 (assuming it is, you are in the N forum a lot) as Matt has asked, that would be your best bet, to try and trade with him. Almost all locos today have a cirucuit board that runs the lighting and motor. Sometimes the decoder plugs into this board, sometimes it replaces this board. In the N scale SD45 case (and most N scale cases), it replaces the board. So, you need a new board to put in it (hence the trade would be good). ------------------ Corey Lynch Pres - Rensselaer Model RR Society NEB&W RR http://www.rpi.edu/~lynchc/Railfanning/railfanning.htm - My Site http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/ - NEB&W
Corey, it is a N Scale SD45. This was about the last release from Kato with the individual small 'plug-in' light boards each end, unlike the full boards used now. The chassis would have been milled to allow the decoder to fit, possibly a Aztec mod. As you have suggested, I think a swap would be the best option here. Gary. ------------------ Gary A. Rose The Unofficial TC&W page TrainBoard Moderator and Member No.377 Partying in the Olympic City - Aussie, Aussie, Aussie... N to the Nth degree!
Well, since I don't own an SD45, I wouldn't know that! What actually might be better then is trading frames with the circuitry, since the work is already done on the models in terms of milling. That way you both end up with what you want. ------------------ Corey Lynch Pres - Rensselaer Model RR Society NEB&W RR http://www.rpi.edu/~lynchc/Railfanning/railfanning.htm - My Site http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/ - NEB&W
Team... thanks. the swap idea sounds like the go.. when it arrives i will sus it all out. Thanks. If only the people at work had this much knowledge.... ------------------ RR: K, C, & Bird Butt Railroad - SP, NS, and ROCK admirer. Its a coal mining region of a place far far away, that runs, SP, NS, and some CSX.. Also some Custom RARE Bird RR sd40-2's coming! Era: Time stands still round these parts, and we have everything from Steam, to Diesels of today.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Harron: Well, since I don't own an SD45, I wouldn't know that! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I wasn't sure either until I pulled 2 apart myself, one from each release. No offense intended, if any taken. Cheers, Gary.