Can someone please help me. I had purchased a Atlas, n scale MP-15DC locomotive, decoder ready. I want to purchase a Digitrax (1st choice) decoder for it. I looked here, http://www.digitrax.com/decsel.php#N , but couldn't find the MP-15DC listed. Don't know where else to look. Any help would be appreciatted. Thanks, CAS
I don't think Digitrax make a drop in to lis loco. NCE does: http://www.nscalesupply.com/NCE/NCE-Nmp15.html And so does TCS: http://www.nscalesupply.com/TCS/TCS-MP15N.html Eric
Atlas also have a decoder for the MP15, thats what I used before TCS and NCE came out with one. I cannot remember the part number you would have to contact them directly by phone.
TCS in my opinion is the only way to go. As I understand the Atlas decoder isn't silent running whereas the TCS one is. Only drawback with TCS (that I found) is the decoder is just a wee bit fat to fit into the slots in the frame. Didn't take but a minute to widen the slots for a perfect fit. Brian
Thanks everyone for the help. But after trying to take the loco's shell off, and breaking a few detailed parts off :angry: . I will just probably buy loco's DCC equipped. CAS
I really like the TCS decoders too, I found they give a much easier and better connection on the Atlas locomotives. The only problem I have had, is the one you describe above in getting it to fit in the slots. How did you widen these?
Southern Rail Fan, It’s kind of embarrassing to admit it, but I used a very sharp (well it use to be anyway) ¼ in. wood chisel and ever so carefully scraped the sides of the slots just a wee bit. I liken it to using a hammer to do the dishes. LOL!! It worked, but so much for making any kind of decent mortises on my next furniture project. Brian
After a few more trys, to get the shell off this loco. It finally came off. There is a, looks like a circuit board with lights on each side. No wires connected anywhere to this board. There is no harness to plug wires into. It is fasten by, what looks like a weight of some sort. Which it is in 2 halves. I was not able to slide, or prye it off. Try to seperate the 2 halves, but didn't want to force it too much. It sorta looks like this http://www.nscalesupply.com/TCS/TCS-MP15N.html but, the width of the board is the same, the whole length of the board. This loco is suppose to be DCC ready. CAS
It is DCC ready. Loosen the frame screws at both ends, slip out the exisitng light board and install the TCS board as per the instructions. There are no harnesses or plugs involved - just a straight one-for-one swap of the boards. Take your time and have a look at how it comes apart so you can reassemble it without heartache. It's reasonably straight-forward.
Here is the page from the TCS website giving the instructions for installation. Somewhat brief but maybe helpful. http://www.tcsdcc.com/decoderpics/Atlas%20MP-15/Atlas%20MP_15.htm Good luck, Ben
