Hello, This will be my first post, so please be gentle. I am just getting into the hobby and wanted to share this conversion from analog to DCC of a budget engine. I had this engine around and wanted to use it to test the new DCC setup. I didn't find any content to describe this conversion. The images have descriptions which sum up the process. Bachmann GP50 by xenon_ion posted Apr 10, 2020 at 9:05 PM GP50 ready for surgery by xenon_ion posted Apr 10, 2020 at 9:05 PM Shell Removal by xenon_ion posted Apr 10, 2020 at 9:05 PM GP50 Side View by xenon_ion posted Apr 10, 2020 at 9:05 PM GP50 Top by xenon_ion posted Apr 10, 2020 at 9:05 PM Top side removed by xenon_ion posted Apr 10, 2020 at 9:05 PM Detail view by xenon_ion posted Apr 10, 2020 at 9:05 PM DCC Decoder by xenon_ion posted Apr 10, 2020 at 9:05 PM DCC Decoder Fit by xenon_ion posted Apr 10, 2020 at 9:05 PM DCC Decoder Wired Up by xenon_ion posted Apr 10, 2020 at 9:05 PM Reassembled GP50 by xenon_ion posted Apr 10, 2020 at 9:10 PM Function wire by xenon_ion posted Apr 10, 2020 at 9:10 PM Finished by xenon_ion posted Apr 10, 2020 at 9:10 PM Bachmann GP50 DCC Test by xenon_ion posted Apr 10, 2020 at 9:14 PM Thank You, Mark
Good first post! Folks here are good natured and supportive! A safe place to show both your successes and "failures". We love trains and modeling!!!
Thank You for your kind words and those of encouragement too. I didn't realize that image descriptions didn't show up in the post, i'll add those in the next one. It'll be a bit before I can commit to a full layout, but with the ground work i've laid I'll be setup to start building.
That's a well executed installation. Just one caveat: you might consider insulating the motor contacts like for instance demonstrated here http://n-scale-dcc.blogspot.com/2013/02/tcs-cn-gp-in-life-like-gp60.html. While running the engine, due to vibrations the motor contacts might otherwise get in contact with the frame and destroy the decoder.
AH! You are so correct and this is a HUGE thing to keep in mind, as you mention it'll destroy the decoder otherwise. Even though I didn't mention it in the post I did insulate the motor contacts before I put the metal bodies back together. I didn't get a picture of it because I initially had issues with the decoder and DCC++. I thought the decoder wasn't functioning properly, when it really was address assignment issues and using the loco on the main track rather than the programming track.
I added a decoder on my budget, old non-split framed LL GP-38 and it is one of my best runners. I also have one of those old Bachman GPs like you do, but, it isn't a good runner to begin with.
