does anyone know what kind of dcc boards came out in the factory installed sd 50/60s??? i've got an engine on order that has it and was thinking of getting my other sd60 a board to match so i can run them both together. thanks!!
Carl: The Atlas SD-60 use a Lenz decoder. The part number from Atlas for this decoder is: PC Board with Decoder: # 490099 Both the SD -50 and 60 use the same parts.
running two locos together does not depent on if the decoders are the same. they probably will run slightly different with exactly the same decoder. i have more than 200 dcc equipped locos. matching their speeds is a very time consuming task but worth the effort. this can be done by adjusting start/mid/max voltage or by adjusting the speed curve. from my experience i'd recommend to choose a digitrax over a lenz decoder. in my locos the factory installed lenz decoders have been replaced by digitrax products.
thanks for the input guys!!! i've got 2 sd60s, in hand plus a sd60m and a sd50 on the way, but i found a kato ac4400cw in cefx livery i couldn't pass up, & i thought those engines would look great on my grain drag and i figured dcc would be the only way i'd be able to get it to run w/o tearing something up.
what digitrax works on the kato ac440cw???? is it better to have all one brand of decoder? i never had really considered dcc much before. again, thanks for the info.!
In pairing identical loco's I find it helpful to use the same decoder in identical loco's. However you can speed match the loco's by setting up a speed curve by hand or by using the Decoder Pro program which does it for you automatically. Have fun...
Powersteamguy, Thanks again for the information. It raises another question or two. Can you program the different manufacturer's decoders with the same program??? Also, I had read on some other threads about having to cut the kato 4400ac shell to get a certain digitrax chip in. is there an alternative to this??? Thanks again????
You can program different manufacturer's decoders with the same program. You can also program different decoders by hand, which takes a bit longer to do. But you survive doing it. Many of my decoders were programmed before the program became available. BTW, I'm always fine tuning the decoders periodically. That's the beauty of DCC. The Kato 4400AC is out of my railroads timeframe. It uses a Digitrax DN 163K1a. Here is a link to Tony's Trains and their assessment on how to do the installation: Review of Kato AC 4400 for decoder installation-Tony's Trains Have fun:
Bob, Thank you so much for the information and link. Now I'll just have to wait until I can get my $$ rounded up to get about 5 decoders! Richard (beast5420)
I'm sure you'll be able to fit the decoders in those "babies". Just follow Tony's suggestion about the two frame screws. They look great. Just not in my era for the JJJ&E. I don't wander to far from the loco power that I can use. Same goes for the freight cars. When you put in the decoders, make sure the Kapton tape which Digitrax supplies with the decoders is placed on the loco frame , so it insulates the decoder from the frame. Enjoy... Glad I could help you.
Bob, I did some looking and if I am reading it right, the Lenz and Digitrax decoders we've been talking about have roughly the same options and capabilites. Is this a good assumption? I made it based on the information on the Tony's link you had on that earlier post. Thanks again!! Richard
Richard: Digitrax will probably have a Plug N' Play decoder for the Kato AC4400. The Lenz decoders aren't plug N' play for that loco. Most of the later Kato diesels have Digitrax Plug N' play decoders that are available for the Kato loco's. As much as I prefer Lenz decoders, I use Digitrax decoders for their plug n' play option, which makes installation much easier. I only use decoders that have BEMF, as that option stabilizes the motor of the loco's on my 95% graded layout. on ascending and descending grades. ( 2% grade). The grades make it very interesting for operations. [ 13. August 2004, 23:52: Message edited by: Powersteamguy1790 ]
